Information for Employers
Department Philosophy
The Department of Biological Sciences is committed to providing its students with a strong theoretical background in the biological sciences paired with extensive
hands-on laboratory experience using state-of-the-art techniques.
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Overview of Selected Courses
Conservation Biology
Biol 163 - Conservation Biology and Management:
Principles of conservation biology, including management for the preservation of
biodiversity and maintenance of viable populations. Examples from plants and animals.
Biol 164 - Conservation and Management Techniques (6 hours of lab per week):
Techniques for evaluating and managing the abundance and diversity of plants and
animals.
Microbiology
Micr 101 - General Microbiology (6 hours of lab per week):
Studies of the microbial world and its ecological interrelationships; skills required
for the study of micro-organisms.
Micr 122--Bacterial Diversity (6 hours of lab per week): Enrichment, isolation and
limited characterization of ecologically important and unusual bacteria. Their role
in biogeochemical cycles.
Micr 123 - Food Microbiology (6 hours of lab per week):
Detection and enumeration of both normal microbiological flora and spoilage organisms
of specific foods. Control of sanitation problems in food production and processing.
Micr 141L (9 hours of lab per week) and 142L (9 hours of lab per week) - Pathogenic
Microbiology Laboratory:
Application of principles of medical microbiology to pathogen isolation, characterization
and identification.
Micr 170 - General Virology:
Molecular and biological aspects of animal, plant and microbial viruses and their
relationships with their hosts.
Molecular Biology
Bio 3 - Introductory Cell Biology (3 hours of lab per week):
Explores life at the cellular and subcellular levels of organization. Cell structure,
metabolism and communication. Gene organization and expression. Students learn basic
cell and molecular
biology techniques including plant cell culture and gel electrophoresis.
Bio 116L - Genetics Laboratory (6 hours of lab per week):
Selected experiments to demonstrate genetic concepts using Drosophila, bacteria
and other organisms. Techniques include those of classical, bacterial and molecular
genetics.
Biol 135L - Molecular Cell Biology Lab (6 hours of lab per week):
Lab experience in nucleic acid and protein purification, enzyme assay, bacterial
and mammalian cell culture, immunofluorescence, radioisotopic labeling, column chromatography,
agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, liquid scintillation
counting, etc.
Biol 107 - Immunology (3 hours of lab per week):
Concepts and principles. Mechanisms of cellular cooperation and regulation of immune
responses. Practical considerations and applications.
Biol 205 - Advanced Molecular Techniques (6 hours of lab per week):
Graduate course that emphasizes the laboratory techniques of modern molecular biology.
Depending on instructor, focus will be on animal, plant, yeast, bacterial or viral
systems.
Biol 233 - Immunological Techniques (9 hours of lab per week):
Graduate course that covers principles, concepts and mechanisms relative to serological
and other immunological procedures and reactions with emphasis on practical applications.
Physiology and Pharmacology
Biol 125 - Mammalian Physiology Lab (6 hours per week):
Selected lab units to demonstrate complex physiological mechanisms and the physiology
of organ systems. Methods include physiological recording and stimulation.
Biol 131 - Endocrine Physiology:
Emphasis on mammalian systems. Mechanisms of hormone action, secretion and physiological
effects; hormone assay techniques.
Biol 136 - Vertebrate Neurophysiology:
Functional organization and flow of information from cellular to organismic levels.
Membrane phenomena, sensory mechanisms, information coding, motor control, neurochemistry,
neural plasticity, motivation and consciousness.
Biol 227 - Advanced Physiology/Pharmacology Laboratory (6 hours of lab per week):
Performance of lab units designed to illustrate complexities of physiological regulation
and principles of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics and physiological responses
to drugs and hormones. Techniques utilized include anesthesia, small animal surgery,
use of the polygraph, electrophoresis, RIA and GLC.
Computer Literacy and Biostatistics
Biol 005 - Computer Literacy in Biology (6 hours of lab per week):
Hardware description; input device application. Use of database, spreadsheet, graphic,
literature search and word processing software.
Biol 155 - Hypothesis Testing (3 hours of lab per week):
Experimental design and statistical analysis of biological data from manipulative
experiments. This course provides experience in designing and analyzing experiments
using t-tests, 1- and 2-way ANOVA, Randomized Block ANOVA, Nested ANOVA, Linear
Regression and Tests of Independence.
Biol 156 - Pattern Recognition and Analysis (3 hours of lab per week):
Sampling design and statistical analysis of biological patterns. In this course,
students design and execute a field experiment (one required weekend field trip)
that incorporates multivariate measurements. Students analyze the data with Log
Linear analysis, Logistic Regression, Principal Components Analysis, Canonical Correlation
and various Regression techniques.
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Continuing Education
Courses Leading to the Master's Degree
The Department of Biological Sciences offers graduate and upper division laboratory
and seminar courses that can be applied to a Master of Arts Degree (coursework only)
or Master of Science Degree (thesis required). Both the M.A. and M.S. require 30
units of coursework, however, the MS can include up to 8 units of credit for research.
Research can be done on campus under the supervision of a Biology faculty member
or, if arranged in advance, off campus under the supervision of an industry or government
scientist.
Custom-Tailored and / or On-Site Courses Leading to the Master's Degree
Companies interested in custom-tailored, or on-site courses that can be applied
to a Master's Degree should contact the chair of the Department of Biological Sciences
at (408) 924-4900 or biology@email.sjsu.edu.
Minor in Biology
Professionals with training in other disciplines (e.g., business) can take courses
equivalent to those of a minor in biology.
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Advertising Positions
Employers who wish to advertise positions should contact the
San Jose State Career Center.
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Internships
To explore the possibility of establishing an internship program, contact the Department
of Biological Sciences at (408) 924-4900 or
biology@email.sjsu.edu. To advertise internships contact the
San Jose State Career Center and the Department of Biological Sciences
biology@email.sjsu.edu.
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Research Opportunities for Graduate Students
If you have research opportunities for graduate students pursing a Master of Science
Degree (the thesis-based degree), please contact us at (408) 924-4900 or
biology@email.sjsu.edu.
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Collaborative Research
Our faculty are always interested in exploring possibilities for collaborative research
with scientists from industry and government.
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Equipment and Supply Donations
If you have equipment, furniture, or supplies you wish to donate to the Department
of Biological Sciences, please contact the department chair at (408) 924-4900 or
biology@email.sjsu.edu.
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Feedback About Our Students
We would like feedback about our students. We would greatly appreciate it if you
could assist us by taking a few minutes to answer the questions below. Thank you
for your input. Please email your comments to
biology@email.sjsu.edu.
- In what ways are the graduates of the Biological Sciences Department at SJSU well
prepared?
- In what ways could they be better prepared?
- How do they compare with graduates from other academic institutions in the region?
- Overall, how do you rate the academic preparation of our students? excellent/very
good/good/fair/poor
- Other comments?
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