Department of Biology and Chemistry

The Department of Biology and Chemistry serves God through the integration of a Christian perspective into the disciplines of biology and chemistry, providing an environment in which students can develop a Christian worldview and learn to integrate their faith into their lives as scientists.

The Department of Biology and Chemistry serves God through the integration of a Christian perspective into the disciplines of biology and chemistry, providing an environment in which students can develop a Christian worldview, learn to integrate their faith into their lives as scientists, and prepare for success in further studies and/or their chosen careers.

The department offers science courses that are consistent with the majors offered, that meet the goals of the APU Core general education program, and that serve as support courses for students in other majors.

Standards for Allied Health, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, and Chemistry Majors

While the Department of Biology and Chemistry does not cap enrollment in these majors, students are expected to demonstrate certain levels of achievement (detailed below) to remain in these majors.

Admissions Standards

Incoming students to any program in the Department of Biology and Chemistry must meet the minimum GPA standard required for regular admission to APU.

It is strongly recommended that any student applying to a program in the department have completed at least three years of high school math, one year of high school biology, and one year of high school chemistry (or equivalent courses) with an average grade of B or better.

Matriculated APU Students

To qualify for a major in allied health, biological sciences, biochemistry, or chemistry, matriculated APU students must complete prospective major advising in the Department of Biology and Chemistry. Students should contact biologyandchemistry@apu.edu to schedule an advising appointment.

Program Progress

Students may be required to take the ALEKS math placement assessment before enrolling in classes to determine whether the appropriate math prerequisites have been met for CHEM 151 and BIOL 151, as applicable. More information can be found on the Math Placement Assessment webpage.

All students who have not satisfied the prerequisites for CHEM 151 and BIOL 151 should instead take the appropriate prerequisite courses. In some cases, such students may require more than eight semesters to complete the requirements for the major.

Department Policies

The following are policies that apply to all students in courses offered by the department:

  • A student must complete all prerequisites for a BIOC, BIOL, or CHEM course with a C- or higher before taking the course (except as noted in the course description).
  • Students with a total of three unsuccessful attempts (below C-) in any combination of BIOC, BIOL, and CHEM courses will be automatically dropped from subsequent enrollment in department courses.
  • Any single BIOC, BIOL, or CHEM course may be taken only two times at APU.
  • Students may not earn a chemistry minor if they are majoring in biochemistry, nor may they earn a biology minor if they are majoring in allied health or biochemistry.
  • Students missing more than three labs in a course receive an automatic F in the course.
  • Courses with labs in an online or correspondence format are not allowed to transfer as BIOC, BIOL, or CHEM courses.

Additional Requirements for Allied Health, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, and Chemistry Majors and Biology or Chemistry Minors

All of the following requirements must be met to continue as an allied health, biological sciences, biochemistry, or chemistry major or as a biology or chemistry minor. Failure to maintain these requirements will result in a student being dropped from the major or minor. Reentry to the major or minor is by department petition only.

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all biology, chemistry, biochemistry, math, and physics courses required for the major or minor must be maintained.
  • A student must complete each course required for the major or minor with a C- or higher for the course to meet a degree requirement in the Department of Biology and Chemistry.
  • Any single class within the major or minor can be taken only two times at APU; students must change to a major or minor outside the department after two unsuccessful (below C-) attempts in a single required course.
  • Only two courses total within the major or minor can be repeated; students must change to a major or minor outside the department after unsuccessful (below C-) attempts in any three required courses.
  • While courses required of the major or minor may be taken at other accredited institutions, subject to approval via a transfer credit form, lecture and laboratory components must be taken at the same institution in the same semester.
  • It is strongly recommended that freshmen in the biological sciences and biochemistry majors take General Chemistry I (CHEM 151) and General Biology I (BIOL 151) their first semester, and that chemistry majors start with General Chemistry I (CHEM 151) and Calculus I (MATH 165) their first semester. If the math placement assessment requires the student to take algebra and/or the student needs to take preparatory chemistry and/or preparatory biology, these courses should be taken during the first year, and a five-year program or longer may be necessary.
  • Some medical schools and graduate programs may not accept AP credit to meet requirements for admission, so students who receive AP biology or AP chemistry credit should consider taking BIOL 151 and/or CHEM 151, respectively, should this be applicable.
  • The following courses may not be taken to meet upper-division elective requirements in any major or minor in the department: BIOL 325, BIOL 330, and BIOL 470.

Dismissal Policy

The department will audit student compliance with these policies each semester. Failure to maintain these requirements will result in the student being dropped from the major or minor. Reentry to the major or minor is by department petition only.

Science at the Secondary Level

Students planning a career in teaching science at the secondary level should prepare for the CSET examination. Students should major in biological sciences, chemistry, or physics to obtain subject-matter proficiency in one of these areas for the specialization test. In addition, to prepare for the breadth part of the test, students should take:

BIOL 151General Biology I4
BIOL 152General Biology II4
CHEM 151General Chemistry I4
CHEM 152General Chemistry II4
PHYC 125Earth Science Concepts and Applications3
Select one of the following:8-10
PHYC 155
& PHYC 156
Physics for Life Sciences I
and Physics for Life Sciences II
PHYC 165
& PHYC 166
Physics for Science and Engineering: Mechanics
and Physics for Science and Engineering: Electricity and Magnetism
PHYC 145Physics Laboratory I1
PHYC 146Physics Laboratory II1

Biology and Chemistry Fellowships

Each year, the Department of Biology and Chemistry offers a limited number of fellowships to selected undergraduates to participate in the Student-to-Scholar (S2S) Program involving laboratory research with a faculty mentor.

Faculty

Chair

Jennifer Young, PhD, Chemistry

Director, MS in Biotechnology Program

David Dyer, PhD

Professors

Matthew Berezuk, PhD, Chemistry

Charles Chen, PhD, Biology

Kevin Sheng-Lin Huang, PhD, Chemistry

Sarah Richart, PhD, Biology

Cahleen Shrier, PhD, Biology

Jennifer Young, PhD, Chemistry

Associate Professors

Elijah Roth, PhD, Chemistry

Willetta Toole-Simms, PhD, Biology

Assistant Professors

Marian Saleh, MA, MS, Biology

Ryan Somers, PT, DPT, Biology

Adjunct Faculty

Mary DerMovsesian, MS, Biology

Mackenzie Pekary, MS, Biology

Christopher Perucho, MS, Biology

Zizette Saleh, MD, Biology

Ruthia Soh, PhD, Biology

Paul Spielman, BS, Chemistry

Professors Emeriti

Scott Kinnes, PhD, Biology

Jon Milhon, PhD, Biology

Bruce Spalding, PhD, Biology

James White, PhD, Chemistry

Laboratory Technicians

Faith Ortiz, BS

Paul Spielman, BS

Yun-Lan Wong, MS, Research Assistant