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

BIOL 1210 Introductory Biology: Botany( 4 credits)
BIOL 1220 Introductory Biology: Zoology (4 credits)
BIOL 2360 Genetics (4 credits)
BIOL 3140 Biology Writing Certification (0 credits)

Subtotal 12 Credits

II. Required Biology Electives

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites not included in this major.

A. Suborganismal

Select one of the following courses:

BIOL 2375 Molecular Genetics (4 credits)
BIOL 2385 Molecular Genetics Laboratory (3 credits)
*BIOL 3260 Vertebrate Physiology (4 credits)
*BIOL 3580 Immunology (5 credits)
BIOL 3660 Radiobiology (4 credits)
*BIOL 3720 Plant Form and Function (4 credits)
*BIOL 4220 Histology (4 credits)
*BIOL 4590 Cell Biology (4 credits)

B. Organismal

Select one of the following courses:

BIOL 2110 Human Anatomy and Physiology (5 credits)
BIOL 2310 Comparative Invertebrate Anatomy (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 Taxonomy of Seed Plants (3 credits)
BIOL 3830 Aquatic Plants (4 credits)
BIOL 4210 Parasitology (4 credits)
*BIOL 4410 Comparative Embryology (3 credits)
BIOL 4520 Mammalogy (4 credits)
BIOL 4534 Ichthyology (4 credits)

C. Community

Select one of the following courses:

BIOL 2610 General Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL/GEOL 3120 Soils (4 credits)
*BIOL 3361 Limnology I (4 credits)
BIOL/GEOG 3630 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
*BIOL 4545 Fisheries Management (4 credits)
BIOL 4620 Organic Evolution (3 credits)

Subtotal 9-14 Credits

III. Required General Biology Electives

Select electives from Biology courses (except BIOL 2925) to achieve a minimum of 40 semester credits in Biology.

Subtotal 14-19 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 40 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 1210 Introductory Biology: Botany
BIOL 1220 Introductory Biology: Zoology
Liberal Education requirements
Consult with your Biology academic advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 2360 Genetics
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