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

Aquatic Biology Major, B.S.

Mr. Dann Siems (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, and fisheries biology. Students should consult their academic advisor in Aquatic Biology prior to developing his or her program in Aquatic Biology.

I. Required Biology Background Courses

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I (4 credits)
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II (4 credits)
BIOL 2310 Comparative Invertebrate Anatomy (4 credits)
BIOL 2360 Genetics (4 credits)
BIOL 2614 General Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL 3130 Scientific Communication in Biology (2 credits)
BIOL 3140 Biology Writing Certification (0 credits)

Subtotal 21 Credits

II. Required Biology Core Courses

Updated:
BIOL 3361 Limnology I (4 credits)
BIOL 3362 Limnology II (4 credits)
BIOL 3554 Readings in Aquatic Biology I (1 credit)
BIOL 3555 Readings in Aquatic Biology II (1 credit)
BIOL 3830 Aquatic Plants (4 credits)
BIOL 4200 Freshwater Invertebrates (4 credits)
BIOL 4534 Ichthyology (4 credits)
BIOL 4545 Fisheries Management (4 credits)
BIOL 4620 Organic Evolution (3 credits)
BIOL 4891 Independent Research in Aquatic Biology and Fisheries (2 credits)
BIOL 4920 Directed Group Study: Aquatic Biology Seminar (2 credits)
BIOL 4970 Aquatic Biology Internship (5 credits)

Subtotal 40 Credits

III. Required Supporting Courses

Note: MATH 2171 and MATH 2610 have prerequisites not included in this major. Please check the course descriptions and consult with the instructors.

Note: Students planning to pursue graduate school in Aquatic Biology should take PHYS 2101, PHYS 2102 and MATH 2471, MATH 2472 instead of PHYS 1101, PHYS 1102 and MATH 2171, MATH 2172.

CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I (3 credits)
CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II (3 credits)
CHEM 1240 Fundamental Laboratory Techniques in Chemistry (2 credits)
CHEM 3150 Standard Methods of Water Analysis (3 credits)
MATH 2171 Concepts of Calculus I (5 credits)
MATH 2610 Applied Statistics (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)

Subtotal 28-30 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 89-91 Credits

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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
CHEM 1240 Fundamental Laboratory Techniques in Chemistry
MATH 2171 Concepts of Calculus I
Liberal Education requirements

Sophomore

BIOL 2310 Comparative Invertebrate Anatomy
BIOL 2360 Genetics
BIOL 2614 General Ecology
MATH 2610 Applied Statistics
PHYS 1101 General Physics I
PHYS 1102 General Physics II
Liberal Education requirements

Junior

BIOL 3130 Scientific Communication in Biology
BIOL 3140 Biology Writing Certification
BIOL 3361 Limnology I
BIOL 3362 Limnology II
BIOL 3554 Readings in Aquatic Biology I
BIOL 3555 Readings in Aquatic Biology II
BIOL 3830 Aquatic Plants
CHEM 3150 Standard Methods of Water Analysis
Complete Liberal Education requirements

Senior

BIOL 4200 Freshwater Invertebrates
BIOL 4534 Ichthyology
BIOL 4545 Fisheries Management
BIOL 4620 Organic Evolution
BIOL 4891 Independent Research in Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
BIOL 4920 Directed Group Study: Aquatic Biology Seminar
BIOL 4970 Aquatic Biology Internship
Electives