Lydia Fredrick ’23, Cydney Pittenger ’22 awarded TriBeta research grants
In both of the last two years, Ripon College students have been awarded the TriBeta Biological Honors Society Research grant. Each year, TriBeta awards grants […]
This interdisciplinary program is designed for students interested in the health sciences, molecular and cell biology, environmental disciplines such as toxicology, and any other field in which a good preparation in both chemistry and biology is needed.
Majors take a basic core of courses in science and math, and a course of study that emphasizes either a molecular-biochemical or an environmental concentration.
Latest News
Cormac Madigan earns prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
Ripon College senior Cormac Madigan of Rosendale, Wisconsin, has been awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships annually. […]
Madigan named Academic All-America Division III Football Team Member of the Year
Capping his standout final season playing Red Hawks football, Cormac Madigan ’22 of Rosendale, Wisconsin, has received the highest honor College Sports Communicators (CSC) offer. […]
Faculty
Byron, Colleen
Professor of Chemistry, L. Leone Oyster 1919 Chair in Chemistry
Kainz, Mark
Professor of Biology, Patricia and Philip McCullough Class of 1969 Professor in Biology
Sisson, Barbara
Associate Professor of Biology, Chair of Health Professions Advising Committee
Willoughby, Patrick
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Advising
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers. Our collaboration with Student Support Services provides tutoring and additional academic and skill development, as well as tools to help with note-taking, exam preparation, goal-setting and time management. Likewise, Mentors in the Franzen Center provide in-depth, one-on-one or group mentoring for students about class projects and college-level writing, and can share problem-solving strategies to overcome academic obstacles.
Advising at RiponRequirements
Core requirements for a major in chemistry-biology: The basic core of required courses includes BIO 121; CHM 111, 112 and 211; PHY 171 and 172; MTH 201 or higher level calculus; and BIO 501 and 502 or CHM 501 and 502. A senior thesis is required. For students electing to take BIO 501 and 502, MTH 120 or PSC 211 and BIO 200 or PSC 211-212 are prerequisites. For students electing to take CHM 501 and 502, one writing prerequisite course is required from among the following BIO 200, PSC 212, CHM 333, 334, 342, or 414, or another course approved by the instructor.
Molecular-biochemical emphasis: BIO 219 and three courses in biology selected from the following: BIO 211, 216, 226, 312, 314, 327, 328 and 329. Two of the following courses: CHM 214, 321, and 333 or 334. Students who plan to attend graduate school in biochemistry are advised to take both CHM 333 and 334, and CHM 422.
Environmental emphasis: ENV 120; BIO 247 and two additional courses in
biology including one of the following: BIO 314, 337, 338, 339 and 450. Two of the
following courses: CHM 214, 321, and 333 or 334.
Career Tracks
An undergraduate degree in chemistry-biology can lead to careers in medicine, chemistry, veterinary science, nursing, pharmacology, business, teaching and environmental protection.
Many chemistry-biology graduates become doctors, nurses, pharmacists, environmental scientists, college and university professors, elementary or secondary teachers, corporate or academic researchers, and lawyers.
Alumni of our program are enrolled in a variety of graduate-level programs at some of the nation’s most prestigious research universities, including the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, the Wisconsin School of Medicine, Duke University, Yale University and Georgetown University.
Unique Opportunities
- Prerequisites for most medical professional programs are included as basic requirements for the chemistry-biology major
- Essential, sophisticated instrumentation is available to carry out experiments and research across organic, inorganic, analytical and physical chemistry and in genetics, developmental biology, environmental biology, zoology and molecular biology.
- The Oak Ridge Science Semester enables students to join ongoing investigations at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee in research areas as diverse as astrophysics, cell biology, DNA sequencing, genetic mutagenesis, parallel computing, robotics, toxicology and more.