Department of Applied Biological Sciences

www.poly.asu.edu/ecollege/appliedbiologicalsciences

480/727-1444

WANER Third Floor

Ward W. Brady, Chair

Professors

Brady, Brock, Mushkatel, Sommerfeld, Stutz

Associate Professors

Green, Martin, Miller, Steele, Whysong

Assistant Professors

Hu, Marcum

Lecturer

Huffman

APPLIED BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES—BS

The Department of Applied Biological Sciences offers rigorous and practical programs in applications of the biological sciences. Consistent with a polytechnic vision, programs involve extensive student interaction with faculty through experience-based learning activities, including laboratories, field trips, internships, and faculty-guided research and service-learning projects. Mastery of fundamental biological principles is emphasized through quality learning in the classroom and hands-on activities in laboratories and in the living laboratories of the Sonoran desert and surrounding ecosystems.

Graduates can pursue entry-level careers in wildlife and restoration ecology, urban horticulture, and secondary education. The general program in Applied Biological Sciences also prepares graduates to succeed in graduate and professional schools in disciplines such as animal health, environmental biotechnology, medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, ecology, horticulture, and wildlife biology.

Mission

The mission of the department is to provide excellence by way of

 1. academic programs that are rigorous and experience-based and involve extensive student-faculty interaction;

 2. research, scholarship, and practice that advance knowledge, address practical problems, and explore emerging opportunities; and

 3. service and outreach to the local and global communities.

Goal

The goal of the department’s academic programs is to prepare practitioners, managers, and research scholars in fields related to the applied biological sciences who

 1. are problem solvers, comfortable with interdisciplinary work and aware that many breakthroughs occur where fields overlap and multiple disciplines work together;

 2. are technically proficient whether they work in the field or at the laboratory bench, understand why and how equipment and procedures work, and are capable of designing new protocols and techniques to meet new challenges;

 3. constantly stay abreast of scientific advances, actively reading broadly and deeply, understanding not only the critical nature of the primary literature in their chosen field, but also the importance of keeping step with emerging data and technology and incorporating new ideas and technologies into their discipline;

 4. understand ethical and policy implications of their work and are capable of debating science in a context beyond the technical details of their discipline;

 5. are articulate in oral and written communication, forming cogent arguments and communicating them clearly; and

 6. understand that groundbreaking science requires knowledge and creativity and that creativity is central to discovery.

For the latest information about program requirements and courses, access the Web site at www.asu.edu/ecollege/appliedbiologicalsciences, or call 480/727-1444.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 120 semester hours, with a minimum of 45 semester hours of upper-division credit, is required for graduation. As part of the undergraduate degree program, students complete the ASU General Studies requirement. For courses that meet ASU General Studies requirement, see General Studies. It is strongly recommended that students work with an East College academic advisor when selecting courses to meet the General Studies requirement since otherwise required courses can often be used to meet the General Studies requirement.

Applied Biological Sciences Core

All Applied Biological Sciences students are required to complete the following courses:

Applied Biological Sciences Core

ABS 300 Environmental Biology (3)

ABS 302 Ethical and Policy Issues in Biology (2)

ABS 350 Applied Statistics CS (3)

BIO 187 General Biology I SG (4)

BIO 188 General Biology II SQ (4)

BIO 340 General Genetics (4)

BIO 360 Animal Physiology (3)
or PLB 308 Plant Physiology (4)
or ABS 311 Applied Cellular Biology (3)

CHM 113 General Chemistry I SQ (4)

MAT 210 Brief Calculus MA (3)

Total 30–31

Students majoring in Applied Biological Sciences must select one of the concentrations listed below.

Applied Biological Sciences Concentration

This concentration offers students the opportunity to acquire a rigorous education in the biological and related sciences while providing flexibility to meet specific student interests. Students who plan to pursue research careers and postgraduate studies in biology, environmental biotechnology, and ecology may find this concentration appropriate. In addition, the concentration is designed for students planning to enter the health professions, including animal health, medicine, medical technology, epidemiology, dentistry, physical therapy, public health, and physician’s assistant programs.

Students planning to enter professional programs need to include two semester sequences in physics and organic chemistry in their programs of study. BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry is also suggested.

Applied Biological Sciences Concentration

ABS 355 Vertebrate Zoology (4)

ABS 370 Ecology (3)

ABS 490 Applied Biological Sciences Seminar (1)

CHM 116 General Chemistry SQ (4)

Choose between the organic chemistry course combinations below (4 or 8)

CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry SQ¹ (3)

CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry Lab SQ¹ (1)

––– or –––

CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)

CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)

CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)

CHM 238 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

Choose between the physics course combinations below (4 or 8)

PHY 101 Introduction to Physics SQ (4)

––– or –––

PHY 111 General Physics SQ² (3)

PHY 112 General Physics SQ³ (3)

PHY 113 General Physics Laboratory SQ² (1)

PHY 114 General Physics Laboratory SQ ³ (1)

Approved electives in Applied Biological Sciences (12)

Total 32–40

¹ Both CHM 231 and 235 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

² Both PHY 111 and 113 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

³ Both PHY 112 and 114 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

Applied Biological Sciences/Secondary Education Concentration

The applied biological sciences/secondary education concentration qualifies students for the State of Arizona Certification in Secondary Biology Education. Students interested in pursuing this concentration need to complete the science content courses related to biology and the courses specific to the secondary education curriculum. The program concludes with full-time student teaching in a secondary science classroom. Students interested in pursuing the concentration need to be admitted into the Teacher Education unit before taking the secondary methods courses (approximately during the junior year). See Applied Biological Sciences–BS Secondary Education Concentration, for application requirements.

Secondary Education Concentration General Studies Requirement

For students choosing the secondary education concentration, the following courses must be used as General Studies courses in order to graduate in 120 hours:

ABS 350 Applied Statistics or equivalent CS (3)

BIO 187 General Biology I SG (4)

BIO 188 General Biology II SQ (4)

MAT 210 Brief Calculus MA (3)

Applied Biological Sciences/Secondary Education Concentration

ABS 355 Vertebrate Zoology 4
or ABS 207 Applied Plant Taxonomy (3)

ABS 370 Ecology (3)

ABS 490 Applied Biological Sciences Seminar (1)

CHM 116 General Chemistry SQ (4)

MIC 205 Microbiology SG* (3)

MIC 206 Microbiology Laboratory SG* (1)

PHY 101 Introduction to Physics SQ (4)

Upper-division electives (3)

Total 22–23

* Both MIC 205 and 206 must be taken to secure SG credit.

Secondary Education Curricula

BIO 480 Methods of Teaching Biology (3)

BIO 482 Advanced Methods of Teaching Biology (3)

EDC 350 Educational Technology I: Applications (1)

EDC 351 Educational Technology II: Instruction and Evaluation (1)

EDC 352 Educational Technology III: Design (1)

EDC 494 ST: Professional Knowledge (2)

EDP 303 Human Development L/SB (3)

EDP 310 Educational Psychology SB (3)

RDG 301 Literacy and Instruction in the Content Areas (3)

SED 403 Middle and Secondary School Principles, Curricula, and Methods (3)

SED 478 Student Teaching in Secondary Schools (10–12)

SED 496 Field Experience 0

SPE 394 ST: Inclusion Practices at the Secondary Level (3)

Total 36–38

Strongly Recommended

MCE 446 Understanding the Culturally Diverse Child C (3)

SPE 311 Orientation to Education of Exceptional Children SB, C (3)

Urban Horticulture Concentration

Urban horticulture emphasizes the relationship of plants and people in city environments. Set in a unique southwestern desert location, Polytechnic campus’s program strives to teach urban horticulture students how to practice principles and develop skills that help create aesthetically pleasing urban environments. This approach is coupled with an appreciation of environmental conservation and stewardship. To achieve this goal, the program specializes in teaching students about the unique aspects of desert horticulture. Through course offerings, students can gain expertise in a diverse array of topics such as landscape plant identification culture and use; creation of public and private gardens in arid climates; management practices of landscape planting and irrigation design; installation and maintenance; xeriscape and water conservation; integrated pest management; installation and management of golf, sports, and recreational turf grass; plant propagation and greenhouse/nursery management. Graduates are qualified to identify and grow ornamental landscape trees, shrubs, ground covers, grasses, flowering potted plants, and bedding plants. They also design, install, and maintain outdoor and indoor landscape environments that enhance urban aesthetics.

Urban Horticulture Concentration

ABS 225 Soils SQ¹ (3)

ABS 226 Soils Laboratory SQ¹ (1)

ABS 260 Fundamentals of Urban Horticulture SG (4)

ABS 362 Landscape Plants and Design (4)

ABS 363 Landscape and Turf Irrigation (4)

ABS 364 Urban Forestry (3)

ABS 462 Greenhouse/Nursery Management 4
or ABS 463 Golf and Sports Turf Management (3)

Choose one of the three courses below (3)

ABS 465 Senior Enterprise Project (3)

ABS 484 Internship (3)

ABS 492 Honors Directed Study (3)

CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry SQ ² (3)

PLB 414 Plant Pathology L (3)
or PGM 466 Integrated Pest Control (2)

Approved upper-division electives (6)

Total 36–38

¹ Both ABS 225 and 226 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

² Both CHM 231 and 235 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

Wildlife and Restoration Ecology

Applied ecology is the focus of the wildlife and restoration ecology concentration. Introductory course work emphasizes a core understanding of biological science, principles of plant and animal ecology, and the techniques and principles of ecosystem management. Students can choose to focus their course work on wildlife ecology or restoration ecology.

The discipline of ecological restoration provides a scientific basis for the reconstruction of degraded ecosystems and focuses on practices designed to improve the ecological structure and function, and on meeting societal needs for sustainable and functional ecosystems. The restoration process includes identifying the causes of degradation, devising methods and goals for the restoration effort, developing management strategies for the restored sites, monitoring changes on the site and assessing restoration success. Restoration practices may include improving wildlife habitat, reintroducing missing plants or animals, removal of invasive species, rebuilding of soils, and returning natural processes such as fire and flooding to ecosystems that historically experienced these disturbance regimes. Successful restoration projects require community involvement and demand consideration of the economic and social context in which restoration is carried out

The wildlife ecology course work is distinguished by its strong emphasis on habitat management. While students are expected to master the material found in traditional wildlife biology curricula, students are also expected to develop a strong expertise in habitat management. This background in habitat management requires proficiency in the botanical sciences, including plant ecology and provides a synergistic link with the ecological restoration concentration. The applied nature of the concentration is emphasized by the requirement for mastery of the analytic technologies (ranging from quantitative ecology and ecological modeling to the use of geographic information systems) as well as a comprehensive understanding of the economic and policy contexts in which wildlife habitat management occurs.

Wildlife and Restoration Ecology Concentration General Studies Requirements

For students choosing the wildlife and restoration ecology concentration, the following courses must be used as General Studies courses in order to graduate in 120 hours:

ABS 350 Applied Statistics or equivalent CS (3)

ABS 480 Ecosystem Management and Planning L (3)

BIO 187 General Biology I SG (4)

BIO 188 General Biology II SQ (4)

MAT 210 Brief Calculus MA (3)

Wildlife and Restoration Ecology Concentration

ABS 207 Applied Plant Taxonomy (3)

ABS 370 Ecology (3)

ABS 374 Introduction to Wildlife Management (4)

ABS 381 Natural Resources Policy (3)

ABS 402 Vegetation and Wildlife Measurements (3)

ABS 440 Ecological Restoration Techniques (3)

ABS 480 Ecosystem Management and Planning L (3)

ABS 485 GIS in Natural Resources (3)

CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry SQ ¹ (3)

Choose one of the following course groupings:

ABS 225 Soils SQ² (3)

ABS 226 Soils Laboratory SQ² (1)

ABS 433 Riparian and Wetland Ecology (3)

ABS 441 Ecological Restoration Practicum (1)

ABS 482 Ecology and Planning for Restoration (3)

ABS 483 Restoration Planning Practicum (2)

Approved supporting courses (15)

––– or –––

ABS 355 Vertebrate Zoology (4)

ABS 376 Wildlife Ecology (3)

ABS 475 Habitat Management for Small Wildlife (4)

ABS 476 Big Game Habitat Management (3)

Approved supporting courses (15)

¹ Both CHM 231 and 235 must be taken to secure SQ credit

² Both ABS 225 and 226 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

Biology and plant biology courses regularly offered on the Polytechnic campus include BIO 100, BIO 187, BIO 188, BIO 201, BIO 202, BIO 340, BIO 360, PLB 308, and PLB 414. For courses, see School of Life Sciences.

BIS CONCENTRATION

A concentration in applied biological sciences is available under the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree, a program intended for the student who has academic interests that might not be satisfied with existing majors. Building on two academic concentrations (or one double concentration) and interdisciplinary core, students in the BIS program take active roles creating their educational plans and defining their career goals. For more information, see School of Interdisciplinary Studies.

MINOR

The Applied Biological Sciences minor consists of 24 semester hours, including BIO 187 General Biology I, BIO 188 General Biology II, and at least 15 hours selected with the approval of an advisor; at least nine hours must be in the upper-division courses offered by the Department of Applied Biological Sciences.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Faculty associated with the Applied Biological Sciences program also offer a program leading to an MS degree in Applied Biological Sciences. Selected faculty also participate with the Division of Graduate Studies and the Colleges of Architecture and Environmental Design and Liberal Arts and Sciences in programs leading to PhD degrees in Environmental Design and Planning, with a concentration in Planning, and a PhD degree in Plant Biology. See the Graduate Catalog for requirements.

Omnibus Courses. For an explanation of courses offered but not specifically listed in this catalog, see Omnibus Courses.

Graduate-Level Courses. For information about courses numbered from 500 to 799, see the Graduate Catalog, or access www.asu.edu/aad/catalogs on the Web. In some situations, undergraduate students may be eligible to take these courses; for more information, see Graduate-Level Courses.