Learning Goals for the Major

Students who successfully complete a major in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry will be able to:

• Describe basic biochemical and molecular biological concepts and principles
• Appreciate the different levels of biological organization, from molecules to organisms
• Understand that Molecular Biology has a chemical, physical, informational and mathematical basis
• Explain the importance of the scientific method to understanding natural phenomena
• Effectively communicate scientific data and ideas, both orally and in writing to a liberal arts audience
• Critically evaluate experimental data and primary papers, develop a hypothesis, and design experiments to address an interesting and novel problem
• Collaborate with other researchers
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in a specialized field of biochemistry and molecular biology
• Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues in the molecular life sciences
• Demonstrate the ability to think in an integrated manner and look at problems from different perspectives.