Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Academic Programs

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Hybrid
96 credits
For students entering the program at the Sophomore level
(holders of a recognized Baccalaureate or Freshman diploma - equivalent to 30 credits)

Courses

General Education
Arts and Humanities
3 credits
Behavioral and Social Sciences
3 credits
Civic Engagement
2 credits
English and French Communication
6 credits
MAT216General Mathematics
3 credits
This course provides the basics needed by students to progress in their specialty courses. Topics covered include: function of a real variable, elementary functions, Taylor's expansion, simple integral and methods of integration, differential equations, multivariable functions, continuity, partial derivative, the chain rule, differential, introduction to double integrals, methods of integration, Matrix calculus, determinants, and linear systems.
History of Lebanon
3 credits
STA220Probability and Applied Statistics
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: MAT213 Or MAT215 Or MAT216 Or MAT218 Or NUT210 Or NTR210
This course prepares students for the practical use of probability and statistics in the biomedical field (agronomy, chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, medicine, etc.). Topics covered are: elements of descriptive statistics, population, statistical unit, frequency distribution characteristic of central tendency and dispersion; concepts of probability and combinatorics, conditional probability and Bayes' formula, applications, discrete and continuous random variables, expectation and moments, weak law of large numbers, empirical frequencies and probabilities customary laws (Binomial, Multinomial, Poisson, Normal) and asymptotic behavior, the law of large numbers, sampling and estimation, introduction to the use of hypothesis tests, and the Chi­2 contingency table.
Religious Sciences
3 credits
Sports
1 credits
Common Core
PHY211Fundamental of Physics for Life Sciences I
3 credits
BIO201General Biology I
3 credits
This course is an integrated approach to the biology of organisms, covering the chemical and cellular organization of life, the transfer of energy through living systems, as well as heredity, diversity and evolution.
BIO202General Biology II
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO201
This course is designed to provide in-depth knowledge of the evolution, diversity, and function of plants; the evolution, structure, function, and physiology of animals; and the ecology of organisms, populations, communities, and the globe.
BIO271Laboratory of General Biology I
1 credits
This laboratory provides a hands-on approach of several biological processes and concepts that have been studied in the accompanying course.
CHM270Laboratory of General Chemistry
1 credits
PHY270Laboratory of General physics
1 credits
The general chemistry laboratory aims to develop different skills for the practical application of theoretical knowledge of general chemistry. Techniques to be learned: preparation and dilution of solutions, experimental verification of the Nernst equation, realization of different types of acid­base and redox titration by volumetric, calorimetric, pH­metric or potentiometric monitoring, and the study of solubility and precipitation reactions and characterization of ions present in a given matrix. The goal of the lab course is to ensure that students are capable of understanding the chemical concepts and to carry out experiments safely and carefully in the laboratory, to obtain data accurately and to manipulate the data correctly.
CHM371Laboratory of Organic Chemistry
1 credits
CHM317Organic chemistry I
3 credits
BCH320Structural Biochemistry
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: CHM317 Or CHM311 Or CHE311
This course is based on an understanding of the different biochemical processes taking place in the human body. It enables students to acquire a basic foundation in biochemistry so they are able to competently address all areas related to medical biochemistry. Structural biochemistry defines the structure of the various molecules of living matter such as carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins, enzymes, nucleotides and vitamins.
Specialization
BIO430Applied Cell Biology
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO413
This course intends to equip the students with basic knowledge of how drugs affect cells, organs and entire organisms. The pharmacological part will mainly focus on general pharmacological principles. The toxicology part intends to give the students’ knowledge of toxicological principles such as dose response, and how bioactivation and toxicity of xenobiotic substances are studied.
BCH445Fundamentals of cell signaling
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BCH320
The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, we discuss the structure and dynamics of membranes, the students will receive specialized information concerning lipid and protein composition of the cell membrane, membrane fluidity and cellular traffic. Then, the domain of the translocation of proteins across the membrane will be detailed explaining to the student the destination of a non-cytoplasmic protein (ER, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, nucleus, and peroxisomes). In the second part, the students will receive a concept on the cell signaling and signal transduction. The different types of membrane receptors and channels of cellular signaling will be described. The various effectors; the coupling mechanisms between receptor and effector, as well as the second messengers produced by these effectors will be detailed.
BIO417Fundamentals of Pharmacology and Toxicology
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO321 and BCH421
This course intends to equip the students with basic knowledge of how drugs affect cells, organs and entire organisms. The pharmacological part will mainly focus on general pharmacological principles. The toxicology part intends to give the students’ knowledge of toxicological principles such as dose response, and how bioactivation and toxicity of xenobiotic substances are studied.
BIO228General Botany
3 credits
The course has two parts: plant histology and biology. Histology is the study of meristems, parenchyma and plant tissues, their origins, their characteristics, and role. Plant biology looks at the lower and higher plants, their characteristics and their classifications.
BIO336General Immunology
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO211
This course provides the basics of immunology from a daily practice point of view. It begins with a presentation of the main findings in the field, and biographical excerpts from prominent authors that have contributed to the development of this science. The main immune effectors are described as well as the two major immune processes: non­specific or innate and specific or adaptive immunity. The establishment of immune responses is clearly stated. The course also describes organ transplantation and rejection reactions and outlines major diseases involving the immune system. Finally, some immunological techniques are presented.
BIO411General Microbiology
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO322 And (BCH410 Or BCH415 Or BCH300 Or BCH320)
This course is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of bacterial physiology, metabolism, growth conditions, identification, pathogenesis and microbial control methods. It equips students with the tools they will need to understand and address the complex microbial issues related to environmental science, food science, industrial processes and public health. The first part is devoted to the description of bacterial structure (cytoplasm, cytoplasmic membrane, cell wall, glycocalyx, flagella, pili, etc.). The second part studies bacterial metabolism and growth (different trophic types, growth conditions, culture media, etc.). In the third part the main antibiotic families and bacterial genetics are discussed (mechanism of action, spectrum of activity, resistance mechanisms, operons, horizontal genetic transfers, etc.). The fourth part discusses the mechanisms of pathogenicity in bacteria (virulence, toxigenesis, interactions between host and bacteria). The fifth and last part concerns viruses. The basics of virology are explained as well as the different virus families and types, the mechanism of pathogenicity of the virus and the way it affects host cells.
BIO322Genetics
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO211 Or BIO210 Or BLG211
The purpose of this course is to provide basic knowledge of genetics: cytogenetic (the study of chromosomes), formal genetics (the study of hereditary transmission mechanisms), molecular genetics (the study of nucleic acids, their replication, transcription and translation), and bacterial genetics.
BIO321Human Anatomy and Physiology
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO202
This course introduces the basics of human anatomy and physiology, including homeostasis, and the cellular functions of the nervous and endocrine systems. This course will enable the student to establish links between the structure and the function and will present the mechanisms regulating the physiological functions of the human organism.
BIO490Internship
3 credits
6-week internship in a laboratory or company specializing in areas related to biology.
BIO473Lab of Biology and Physiology of Plants
1 credits
These laboratory sessions contribute to the understanding of how plants function. It provides students with hands­on experience in basic physiological principles related to nutrient deficiencies, membrane permeability and composition, water/nutrient absorption and translocation, transpiration, photosynthesis and physiological functions of growth regulators.
BIO272Laboratory of General Biology II
1 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO202
This laboratory provides a hands-on approach of several biological processes and concepts that have been studied in the accompanying course.
BIO471Laboratory of Microbiology
1 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO411 Or BIO270
The main purpose of this lab is to teach students all the basics to be able to undertake different types of microbiological analysis (water analysis, food and liquid analysis). It will focus on the basics of good manipulation in a microbiology lab and all the precautions to take to avoid contamination. The students will also learn to identify the types and species of bacteria.
BIO472Laboratory of Molecular Biology
1 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO413
This course provides students with the opportunity to practice most of the concepts covered in the course of Molecular Biology (BLG413): genomic and DNA plasmid extractions, PCR amplification, enzyme digestion, SDS­PAGE, Western blot and bacterial transformation.
BCH421Metabolic Biochemistry
3 credits
BIO413Molecular Biology
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO411
The course begins with a review of nucleic acids and looks at the methods for their extraction, separation and analysis. Secondly, the course extensively studies the regulation of gene expression and provides an update on the changes to the nucleic acids transcriptionally, post­ transcriptional and translational. Finally, detailed molecular analysis techniques, cloning, PCR, sequencing and development of DNA banks are described.
BIO415Systems Physiology
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: BIO319 Or BIO320 Or BIO321
This course is designed to provide students with un understanding of the function and the regulation of the human body and physiological integration of the organ systems. This course content will include the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and urinary systems.
Electives
CHM426Food Chemistry
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: CHM311 Or CHM317
This course gives students information on various matter changes during conservation and technological treatments. It defines the main biochemical compositions of foodstuffs such as milk, meat, cereals, oils, etc. It also outlines the various toxic compounds naturally present in food as well as the range of additives.
Fundamentals of Physics for Life Sciences II
3 credits
This course brings together the necessary knowledge to understand the reactions in solutions that are the fundamentals of many methods used both in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry or biology, as well as in pharmaceutical analysis. After a reminder of key points and generalities, the course develops four main components: acid­base equilibria, complexation equilibria, redox reactions and the formation reactions of poorly soluble compounds.
INF304Informatics for Chemistry and Life and Earth Sciences
3 credits
The course is divided into three parts. In the first part, we discuss the structure and dynamics of membranes. The students will receive specialized information concerning lipid and protein composition of the cell membrane, membrane fluidity and cellular traffic. Then, the domain of the translocation of proteins across the membrane will be detailed explaining to students the destination of a non­cytoplasmic protein (ER, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, nucleus, and peroxisomes). In the last part, the students will be introduced to the concept of cell signaling and signal transduction. The different types of membrane receptors and channels of cellular signaling will be described. The various effectors, the coupling mechanisms between receiver and effector, as well as the second messengers produced by these effectors will be detailed.
CHM321Inorganic Chemistry
3 credits
BCH470Laboratory of Biochemistry
3 credits
Enzymology is one of the key disciplines that a student in biology, biochemistry or even chemistry must master. This course presents the basic concepts of enzymology. Students will discover the applications of enzymes in several fields such as scientific research, industry, food, medicine and the environment. Many examples have been included to clarify or supplement the topics covered. Some exercises and solutions will enable students to improve or to assess their level of knowledge.
Laboratory of Physics II
1 credits
This course is intended to provide a set of basic knowledge on a number of methods encountered in chemical and biochemical analyzes, qualitative and quantitative, in sectors as varied as the chemical industry, food processing, environmental science, pollution and medical science.
CHM411Organic Chemistry II
3 credits    |    Pre-requisite: CHM311 Or CHM317
This course covers: types of reactions (substitution, addition, elimination, radical, rearrangement); energetic diagrams (kinetic); mechanisms and reaction intermediates (SN1, SN2, E1, E2, etc.); reactivity and reactions: alkanes, alkenes (Markovnikov rule, Kharash, polymerisation), dienes (Diels­Alder), alkynes; reactivity of halogenated derives (SN2 and Walden inversion, SN1, effect of different parameters, E2 and rule of Saîtzef, E1); benzenic hydrocarbons: electrophilic substitution SE2 (Friedel Crafts alkylation, acylation, effect of the substituent, etc.); aldehydes and ketones (Canizzaro, Wittig, etc.); and organometalics.

Mission

The mission of the BS in Biology is to provide its graduates an excellent foundation for careers or further studies in biotechnology, medicine, genetics, physiology and pharmacology, education.

Program Educational Objectives

1. Graduates will be able to develop analytical and critical-thinking skills and be prepared to succeed in a wide variety of post-baccalaureate paths, including graduate and post-graduate schools, as well as research in biology and related disciplines.
2. Graduates will be able to work in many biology related fields and continue their professional development while engaging in life-long learning necessary for a sustainable career.
3. Graduates will be able to function effectively and ethically within an organization and society as productive members of interdisciplinary teams.

Program Outcomes

Students will have:
a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and applied sciences.
b. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
c. An ability to formulate or design a system, process, or program to meet desired needs.
d. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
e. An ability to identify and solve applied science problems.
f. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
g. An ability to communicate effectively.
h. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of solutions in a global and societal context. i. A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
j. A knowledge of contemporary issues.
k. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice.
Holy Spirit University of Kaslik
Tel.: (+961) 9 600 000
Fax : (+961) 9 600 100
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