BSU Catalog Home | Aquatic Biology Program | Aquatic Biology Course Desciptions

Aquatic Biology Major, B.S.

Dr. Donald Cloutman (Coordinator)

The Aquatic Biology major is designed for students preparing for careers with local, state, and federal agencies involved with water quality and natural resource management. With the appropriate selection of elective course work, it can also provide an ideal foundation for students intending to pursue graduate studies in limnology, aquatic ecology, fisheries biology, and wetland studies. Students should consult with their academic advisor in Aquatic Biology prior to developing their program.

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)
BIOL 2620 Field and Laboratory Methods in General Ecology (1 credit)

Subtotal 16 Credits

II. Required Aquatic Biology Core Courses

BIOL 3200 Freshwater Invertebrates (4 credits)
BIOL 3361 Limnology I (4 credits)
BIOL 3362 Limnology II (4 credits)
BIOL 3554 Readings in Aquatic Biology (1 credit)
BIOL 3830 Aquatic Plants (4 credits)

Subtotal 17 Credits

III. Capstone Experience

Complete Option A, B, or C:

1. BIOL 4894 Advanced Laboratory Projects in Biology I (2 credits)
   and BIOL 4895 Advanced Laboratory Projects in Biology II (2 credits)

2. BIOL 4896 Advanced Field Projects in Biology I (2 credits)
   and BIOL 4897 Advanced Field Projects in Biology II (2 credits)

3. BIOL 4970 Internship: Aquatic Biology (2 credits)
   and any one of the above Advanced Projects courses (BIOL 4894, BIOL 4895, BIOL 4896, or BIOL 4897) (2 credits)

Students selecting Option C should complete their Advanced Projects course during the semester immediately following their Aquatic Biology Internship.

Subtotal 4 Credits

IV. Required Emphasis

Choose one of the following emphases:

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

A. Aquatic Systems Emphasis

1. Required Core Course

BIOL 4534 Ichthyology (4 credits)

2. Elective Core Courses

Select a minimum of 12 credits from the following:

BIOL 2310 Comparative Invertebrate Anatomy (4 credits)
BIOL 3310 Entomology (4 credits)
BIOL 3615 Advanced Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL 3630/GEOG 3630 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
BIOL 3723 Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL 3850 Marine Biology (3 credits)
BIOL 4620 Organic Evolution (3 credits)
CHEM 3150 Standard Methods of Water Analysis (3 credits)
GEOG 2231 Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
*GEOL 2430 Introduction to Oceanography (3 credits)

3. Additional Electives

Select an additional 3-4 credits of Biology electives at the 3000 level or above. These may include, but are not limited to, the Biology courses listed above.

Subtotal 19-20 Credits

B. Fisheries Biology Emphasis

1. Required Core Courses

BIOL 4534 Ichthyology (4 credits)
BIOL 4545 Fisheries Management (4 credits)

2. Elective Core Courses

Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following:

BIOL 3150 Animal Behavior (3 credits)
BIOL 4210 Parasitology (4 credits)
BIOL 4620 Organic Evolution (3 credits)
CHEM 3150 Standard Methods of Water Analysis (3 credits)
*ENVR 3040/ECON 3040 Environmental Economics (3 credits)
*ENVR 4210 Environmental Law and Policy (3 credits)
GEOG 2231 Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)

3. Additional Electives

Select an additional 5-6 credits of Biology electives at the 3000 level or above. These may include, but are not limited to, the Biology courses listed above. Students interested in American Fisheries Society certification or employment with government agencies are encouraged to also take Concepts of Calculus I (MATH 2171), Public Speaking (SPCM 1100), and Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 2231).

Subtotal 19-20 Credits

C. Wetlands Ecology Emphasis

1. Required Core Courses

BIOL 3840/ENVR 3840 Wetlands Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL 3844 Wetlands Ecology Lab (1 credit)
BIOL 4030 Wetland Delineation and Classification (3 credits)

2. Elective Core Courses

Select a minimum of 8 credits from the following:

BIOL 3120/GEOL 3120 Soils (4 credits)
BIOL 3615 Advanced Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL 3630/GEOG 3630 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
BIOL 3723 Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL 4031 Advanced Wetland Delineation (2 credits)
CHEM 3150 Standard Methods of Water Analysis (3 credits)
*ENVR 4210 Environmental Law and Policy (3 credits)
GEOG 2231 Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
*GEOG 2232 Techniques in GIS (3 credits )
*GEOL 3211 Hydrogeology I (3 credits)

Students with interest in state/federal wetland delineator certification programs are encouraged to select Soils (BIOL 3120/GEOL 3120) and Advanced Wetland Delineation (BIOL 4031).

3. Additional Electives

Select an additional 4-5 credits of Biology electives at the 3000 level or above. These may include, but are not limited to, the Biology courses listed above.

Subtotal 19-20 Credits

V. 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)

VI. Required Courses in Related Fields

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites not included in this major. Please check the course description and consult with the instructor. Students planning to pursue graduate school in Aquatic Biology should take PHYS 2101, 2102 and MATH 2471, 2472 instead of PHYS 1101, 1102.

CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I (4 credits)
CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II (4 credits)
PHYS 1101 General Physics I (4 credits)
or *PHYS 2101 Physics I (5 credits)
PHYS 1102 General Physics II (4 credits)
or *PHYS 2102 Physics II (5 credits)
*STAT 2610 Applied Statistics (4 credits)
or PSY 3401 Basic Statistics for Research (4 credits)

Subtotal 20-22 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 79-82 Credits

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

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SUGGESTED SEMESTER SCHEDULE FOR AQUATIC BIOLOGY MAJOR, B.S.

The following is a list of required Aquatic Biology Major, B.S. 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 academic advisor in Aquatic Biology as to the proper courses and sequence of courses needed for graduation.

Note: With proper student planning and in consultation with the Aquatic Biology academic advisor a student may complete his or her academic degree in 128 semester credits. It is possible, in some circumstances, that courses in a student's Liberal Education program may be used in his or her academic major.

Freshman

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II
CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I
CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II
Liberal Education requirements

Sophomore

BIOL 2360 Genetics
BIOL 2610 General Ecology
BIOL 2620 Field and Laboratory Methods in General Ecology
PHYS 1101 General Physics I
PHYS 1102 General Physics II
*STAT 2610 Applied Statistics
or PSY 3401 Basic Statistics for Research
Liberal Education requirements

Junior

BIOL 3200 Freshwater Invertebrates
BIOL 3361 Limnology I
BIOL 3362 Limnology II
BIOL 3554 Readings in Aquatic Biology
BIOL 3830 Aquatic Plants
Complete Liberal Education requirements
Writing course
Elective courses in field of emphasis

Senior

Capstone Experience: Option A, B, or C
Elective courses in field of emphasis