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Biology Major, B.S.

This program is designed for students who desire to prepare themselves for a variety of entry-level professional positions in the biological sciences or for graduate school in the biological or medical sciences. The program is flexible and the judicious choice of restricted electives, selected in consultation with one's academic advisor in Biology, will allow the student to specialize in areas such as morphology, physiology, systematics, environmental biology, natural history, or molecular biology.

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)

III. Required Biology Electives

A. Suborganismal

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites not required in this major.
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 4270 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. Capstone Experience

This requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

1. Complete a two-semester, 4-credit research course (2 credits per semester) -- Advanced Laboratory Projects in Biology (BIOL 4894, BIOL 4895) or Advanced Field Projects in Biology (BIOL 4896, BIOL 4897).
2. Complete some other capstone experience approved by your biology academic advisor and the department.

Subtotal 4 Credits

V. 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. 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 4411 Biochemistry I (3 credits)
ENVR 4400 Environmental Microbiology (3 credits)
ENVR 4500 Environmental Toxicology (4 credits)

Subtotal 11-14 Credits

VI. Required Courses in Related Fields

Note: Students planning to pursue graduate school in the biological or medical sciences should consult with their Biology academic advisor to assure appropriate preparation in areas not required for a Biology degree. For example, calculus, calculus-based physics, etc., may be required for admission to graduate and/or professional schools.

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites not included in this major. Please check the course description and consult with the instructor.

1. CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
   CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
   or
   CHEM 2211 Principles of Chemistry I (4 credits)
   CHEM 2212 Principles of Chemistry II (4 credits)
   
   
2. *STAT 2610 Applied Statistics (4 credits)
   or PSY 3401 Basic Statistics for Research (4 credits)
   
   
3. *PHYS 2101 Physics I (5 credits)
   *PHYS 2102 Physics II (5 credits)
   or
   PHYS 1101 General Physics I (4 credits)
   PHYS 1102 General Physics II (4 credits)
   
   
4. CHEM 3311 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
   CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
   CHEM 3371 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
   CHEM 3372 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)

Subtotal 28-30 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 71-73 Credits

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

The following is a list of required Biology Major, B.S. courses arranged by year. This schedule is intended to assist students in planning their courses in an orderly fashion. 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.

Note: Consult with your Biology academic advisor regarding asterisked(*) courses.

Freshman

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I
or *CHEM 2211 Principles of Chemistry I
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II
or *CHEM 2212 Principles of Chemistry II
Liberal Education requirements
Consult with your Biology academic advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 2360 Genetics
BIOL 2610 General Ecology
CHEM 3311 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 3371 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 3372 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
*PHYS 1101 General Physics I
or PHYS 2101 Physics I
*PHYS 1102 General Physics II
or PHYS 2102 Physics II
Biology degree requirements
Writing course
Liberal Education requirements
Consult with your Biology academic advisor

Junior

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