2020-2021 Catalog

Life Sciences, Bachelor of Science

(194 credits)

Program Description

The Life Sciences program at SKC is a four-year degree program that is designed to teach students about how molecules interact within living cells, through the study of molecular and cellular biology and chemistry. An active, hands-on research experience is an integral part of the program. This program offers paid laboratory internships, as well as academic credit for working in SKC’s two research laboratories – the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (SKC-ECL), and the Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory (SKC-CMBL). Students with productive research projects often travel to national meetings ranging from Hawaii to Washington D.C. to present their work.

The Life Sciences program offers two tracks that differ only in the classes taken in the senior year. One is the “Cellular Biology” track, which focuses this last year on a more in-depth study of molecular and cellular processes, and the other the “Environmental Health” track that focuses more on tribal environmental health issues, epidemiology, environmental chemistry and toxicology.

The Life Sciences Program welcomes students with Associate of Science degrees from other programs. Such students will need to work closely with an advisor to ensure that the course requirements of the Freshman and Sophomore years are met and students can progress.

Life Sciences Research Laboratories

Salish Kootenai College Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory (SKC-CMBL)

The Salish Kootenai College Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory (SKC-CMBL) is a student’s link between class work and the latest instrumentation and discoveries in biology, medicine and biotechnology. The variety of instrumentation available within the SKC-CMBL allows students to pursue interests ranging from viruses to whole cells, tissues and organs. The SKC-CMBL utilizes PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) in combination with other techniques to study DNA, genomes, gene regulation, proteins and cells. Additionally, SKC-CMBL is hunting for new viruses, in hopes of discovering new anti-bacterial agents (antibiotics) as well as gaining important insights into how living organisms, including man, adapt to their environments. SKC-CMBL’s new microscopy facility allows students to view detailed structure and function of cells, tissues and organs as well as perform independent study and research relating to disease, diversity of species, and the environment.

The Salish Kootenai College Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (SKC-ECL)

The Salish Kootenai College Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (SKC-ECL) specializes in the analysis of environmental contaminants in water and soil, as well as plant and animal tissues. SKC-ECL serves as a student-centered training and research lab that offers full analytical chemistry capabilities for students in the General Science, Natural Resources and the Life Sciences Programs. Through laboratory internships, SKC-ECL allows students to gain valuable experience on state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation, such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) and atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence spectroscopies (AAS, AFS). Current ongoing projects include investigations of the movement and adverse health effects of heavy metals, such as mercury, and organic contaminants, such as PCBs, in wildlife, and the environment.

Career Opportunities

The knowledge gained within this program will prepare students for a wide range of career options in science. These include a research graduate track, as well as healthcare, industry and government. Depending on the choice of tracks, you could go on to become a pharmacist, a medical doctor, dentist, research scientist, medical technologist, cellular biologist, toxicologist, biochemist, microbiologist, or tribal environmental health specialist.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Bachelor Degree in Life Sciences will be able to:

  • Apply the scientific process to study chemical and biological systems
  • Apply appropriate quantitative analysis to scientific data
  • Communicate scientific information effectively in writing and oral presentations
  • Work as part of a productive research group
  • Demonstrate an understanding of ethical standards for the responsible conduct of scientific research
  • Articulate the relevance of their research to tribal cultural values and indigenous scientific frameworks

Requirements

A student must earn a “C” or better in all required core courses and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate with the B.S. (Life Sciences). Students who graduate with less than a "B" (GPA of 3.0) average may not be eligible for graduate studies. Students should consult with their advisors on their GPA status to align with future career goals.

Students may need to strengthen math, English and writing skills with additional coursework prior to entering the Life Sciences program. Math and science courses that are more than five years old may need to be repeated within the Life Sciences degree program. Your Academic Advisor will help you plan coursework that meets your specific needs and goals.

Curriculum

Fall (First Year)

BIOS108Biology of Living Systems

4

BIOS109Biology of Living Systems Laboratory

1

ENGL101English Composition I

3

IDST101SKC Seminar

3

MATH100College Algebra

5

Total Credit Hours:16

Winter (First Year)

CHEM124Introduction to General & Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

4

CHEM125Introduction to General & Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry lab

1

ENGL203Technical Writing for STEM Majors

3

OR

ENGL202English Composition II

3

MATH108Advanced Functions & Modeling

3

NASD101History of Indians in the United States

3

ELECTIVEFine Arts Humanities General Education from List

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Spring (First Year)

BIOS130Introduction to Microbiology

4

BIOS131Introduction to Microbiology Lab

1

MATH109Trigonometry

3

SPCH100Basic Communications

3

ELECTIVESocial Science General Education from List

5

Total Credit Hours:16

Fall (Second Year)

LFSC225Science Ethics and Responsible Conduct I

3

CHEM150Principles of General Chemistry I

3

CHEM151Principles of General Chemistry I Laboratory

2

BIOS233Molecular and Cellular Biology I

5

MATH110Calculus I

5

Total Credit Hours:18

Winter (Second Year)

BIOS235Cellular and Molecular Biology II

5

CHEM152Principles of General Chemistry II

3

CHEM153Principles of General Chemistry II Laboratory

2

LFSC245Bioinformatics I

3

NASD210Introduction to Indigenous Science

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring (Second Year)

CHEM270College Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

5

BIOS235Cellular and Molecular Biology II

5

MATH241Statistics

5

ELECTIVEHumanities Intro General Education from List

3

Total Credit Hours:18

Fall (Third Year)

CHEM360Organic Chemistry I

3

CHEM361Organic Chemistry Laboratory I

2

LFSC320Mammalian Physiology

5

LFSC375ALife Science Seminar I

1

PHYS201College Physics I

5

PHYS207Physics Tutorial I

1

Total Credit Hours:17

Winter (Third Year)

CHEM362Organic Chemistry II

3

CHEM363Organic Chemistry Laboratory II

2

LFSC330Genetics and Adaptation

5

LFSC375BLife Science Seminar I

1

PHYS203College Physics II

5

PHYS208Physics Tutorial II

1

Total Credit Hours:17

Spring (Third Year)

CHEM364Organic Chemistry III

3

CHEM365Organic Chemistry Laboratory III

2

LFSC340Biochemistry

4

LFSC 375CLife Science Seminar I

1

MATH342Statistical Methods

3

LFSC309Essentials of Environmental Health

2

ELECTIVENative American Studies Advanced General Education from List

3

Total Credit Hours:18

Fall (Fourth Year) – Cellular Biology Track

ENGL306Writing Research Papers

3

LFSC411Medical Microbiology

3

LFSC 420Cellular Biology I: Cell Structure and Function

5

LFSC425Science Ethics and Responsible Conduct II

1

LFSC475ALife Science Seminar II

1

Total Credit Hours:13

Winter (Fourth Year) – Cellular Biology Track

LFSC422Cellular Biology II: Genomes

5

LFSC452Virology

4

LFSC475BLife Science Seminar II

1

ELECTIVENative American Studies Advanced General Education from List

3

LFSC445Bioinformatics II

1

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring (Fourth Year) – Cellular Biology Track

LFSC424Cellular Biology III: Complex Cellular Systems

5

LFSC454Immunology

4

LFSC470One Health

3

 

SPCH360Professional Presentation Skills

3

OR

LFSC495Life Science: Senior Research Capstone

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Fall (Fourth Year) – Environmental Health Track

CHEM415Environmental Chemistry I

3

ENGL306Writing Research Papers

3

LFSC405Instrumental Analysis

3

LFSC425Science Ethics and Responsible Conduct II

1

LFSC430Principles of Epidemiology

3

LFSC475ALife Science Seminar II

1

Total Credit Hours:14

Winter (Fourth Year) – Environmental Health Track

CHEM417Environmental Chemistry II

3

LFSC460Environmental Toxicology I

3

LFSC445Bioinformatics II

1

LFSC475BLife Science Seminar II

1

NATR460Restoration Ecology

3

ELECTIVENative American Studies Advanced General Education from List

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring (Fourth Year) – Environmental Health Track

LFSC462Environmental Toxicology II

3

NATR390Environmental Law

3

LFSC470One Health

3

SPCH360Professional Presentation Skills

3

Total Credit Hours:12

Total Degree Credits for Environmental Health Track:  185 credits

Total Degree Credits for Cellular Biology Track:  185 credits