Notice: You are accessing outdated information from an archived catalog, this content is for reference only.
For up-to-date content, please refer to the current catalog.

BSU Catalog Home | Biology Program | Biology Course Descriptions


Biology Major, B.A.

This program is designed primarily for the student pursuing a liberal arts program. Specific course requirements are minimal, thus allowing the student considerable flexibility in selecting courses to satisfy his or her interests and vocational objectives. Although the program provides for a diverse background in biology, the student should augment the major with a minor in one of the sciences or use the major to complement another major area of study.

I. Required Biology Core Courses

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I (4 credits)
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II (4 credits)
BIOL 2360 Genetics (4 credits)
BIOL 2610 General Ecology (3 credits)

Subtotal 15 Credits

II. Required Writing Course

Note: ENGL 3150 is recommended, but the other courses will meet this requirement, if that course is not available.

Select one of the following courses:

ENGL 2150 Technical Writing (3 credits)
ENGL 3150 Writing in the Disciplines (3 credits)
ENGL 3155 Professional Writing (3 credits)

Subtotal 3 Credits

III. Required Biology Electives

Note: Asterisked (*) courses either have prerequisites not included/required in this major or require consent of instructor.

A. Suborganismal

Select one of the following courses:

*BIOL 3260 Medical Physiology (4 credits)
BIOL 3380 Molecular Genetics: Theory and Practice (5 credits)
*BIOL 3580 Immunology (5 credits)
*BIOL 3590 Cell Biology (4 credits)
BIOL 3660 Radiobiology (4 credits)
*BIOL 3720 Plant Form and Function (4 credits)
*BIOL 3755 Medical Microbiology (3 credits)
*BIOL 4220 Histology (4 credits)

B. Organismal

Select one of the following courses:

BIOL 2110 Human Anatomy and Physiology (5 credits)
BIOL 2310 Invertebrate Zoology (4 credits)
BIOL 3250 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 credits)
BIOL 3310 Entomology (4 credits)
BIOL 3510 Ornithology (4 credits)
*BIOL 3710 Microbiology (4 credits)
BIOL 3730 Plant Diversity (4 credits)
BIOL 3830 Aquatic Plants (4 credits)
BIOL 4210 Parasitology (4 credits)
BIOL 4520 Mammalogy (4 credits)
BIOL 4534 Ichthyology (4 credits)

Subtotal 7-10 Credits

IV. Required General Biology Electives

Select electives from Biology courses (except 1000-level BIOL classes and BIOL 2925) to achieve a minimum of 40 semester credits in Biology BIOL courses. These electives can also include one of the following courses from other departments (these courses have prerequisites not included in this major or require consent of instructor).

CHEM 3411 Biochemistry I (3 credits)
ENVR 4400 Environmental Microbiology (3 credits)
ENVR 4500 Environmental Toxicology (4 credits)

Subtotal 15-18 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 43 Credits

A Total of 128 Semester Credits is Required for a Bachelor's Degree


SUGGESTED SEMESTER SCHEDULE FOR BIOLOGY MAJOR, B.A.

The following is a list of required Biology Major, B.A. courses arranged by year. This schedule is intended to assist students in planning their courses. There is some flexibility in this schedule, but graduation within four years will require close adherence to the specified sequence of courses. Always consult your Biology academic advisor as to the proper courses and sequence of courses needed for graduation.

Freshman

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II
Liberal Education requirements
Consult with your Biology academic advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 2360 Genetics
BIOL 2610 General Ecology
Writing course
Biology degree requirements
Liberal Education requirements
Consult with your Biology academic advisor

Junior

BIOL 3140 Biology Writing Certification
Biology degree requirements
Liberal Education requirements
Consult with your Biology academic advisor

Senior

Complete Biology degree requirements
Complete Liberal Education requirements
Consult with your Biology academic advisor


Biology Program | Biology Course Descriptions
BSU Catalog Home | BSU Home
Catalog Editor: catalog@bemidjistate.edu