This option is available within the Biology major at the following location:

• Corvallis

The Biology major Genetics option is designed to provide a solid background in genetic theory and methods, as well as their application to evolutionary questions. Option students couple the core biological sciences background from the Biology major with genetics laboratory-intensive course work in addition to genetics and genomics electives. Undergraduate research or internship experience is strongly recommended for option students, and three credits can be applied to the option. The Genetics option is an excellent way to prepare for graduate programs in genetics and evolutionary biology.

Option Code: 517

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Explain and apply the fundamental concepts of the biological sciences, including biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and genetics; physiology and organismal biology; and ecology and evolution.
• Identify and access information (from primary literature and other relevant works) for a particular topic and evaluate the scientific content and context of these sources.
• Generate relevant and testable scientific questions, formulate testable hypotheses, and identify measurable predictions based on observations or previous research.
• Design and implement observational or experimental investigations to collect relevant data, and employ appropriate analytical methods to analyze that data.
• Interpret data and/or observations to support or refute hypotheses, draw conclusions, put findings in the context of current scientific knowledge and literature, and/or suggest future avenues of research.
• Use effective formal and informal communication (i.e., written, oral, graphical, multimedia) to convey scientific information in ways that are appropriate for scientific and non-scientific audiences for a particular topic and evaluating the scientific content and context of these sources.
• Integrate and analyze information within and across spatial and temporal scales as well as levels of biological organization.
• Identify, reflect upon, and evaluate assumptions, biases, and alternative hypotheses or interpretations for their own scientific claims or those of others.
• Justify the importance of science and science literacy for individuals and society.
• Integrate biology with other disciplines to make evidence-based decisions on socio-scientific issues.
• Explain how biases and societal factors affect the processes of science (and vice versa), access to participation in science, and the differential outcomes and impacts (both positive and negative) of science on individuals.
• Explain and justify the ethical standards of their discipline, evaluate the ethics of published science, and articulate their personal code of ethics.
• Use effective and appropriate forms of collaboration.
• Produce a self-assessment of interpersonal and academic behaviors needed to achieve their individual career goals.

The Genetics option requires 15 or fewer additional credits beyond the basic Biology major, and most students can complete the additional option coursework in four years. Courses used to satisfy the Genetics option requirements also satisfy the Physics or Computational and Quantitative Electives, Cellular, Molecular and Genomics Elective, Writing Intensive Course, and Experiential Learning or Integrative Biology Elective requirements for the Biology major. Option courses also fulfill the Core Education Beyond OSU II requirement.

Students may not declare more than one option in the Biology major. Option requirements can be shared with other programs unless those programs have restrictions on sharing.

For further information, see MyDegrees or the Integrative Biology website.

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Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025

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Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond

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Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course

Option Code: 517