B.S. in Biology

Major Requirements

Summary of Requirements

Requirements for a Major in Biology with a B.S. Degree

The Bachelor of Science degree in biology is designed for students who want a more intensive background in the sciences. It is especially tailored for students who aspire for graduate studies in biology or a related field, or who wish to enter medical, dental, or veterinary school. The Bachelor of Science degree in biology differs from the Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in that it requires additional courses in physics, mathematics, research methods in biology, and a senior capstone.

Students must complete Principles of Biology for Science Majors I and II (BIO 107, 108) with a grade of C or better before declaring a major in biology.

Required pre-major courses 8 hours

BIO 107 Principles of Biology for Science Majors I (4)
BIO 108 Principles of Biology for Science Majors II (4)

Required biology courses 6 hours

BIO 201 Research Methods in Biology I (3)
BIO 403 Senior Capstone I (3)

Required chemistry courses 16 hours

CHE 107 General Chemistry I (3)
CHE 108 General Chemistry II (3)
CHE 109 General Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHE 110 General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
CHE 211 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHE 212 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHE 213 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE 214 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)

Required physics courses 8 hours

PHY 151 Physics I (3)
PHY 152 Physics II (3)
PHY 153 Physics I Laboratory (1)
PHY 154 Physics II Laboratory (1)

Required mathematics course 8 hours

MAT 130 Pre-Calculus (4)
MAT 150 Calculus I (4)

Elective biology courses 24 hours

Take at least one course from each of these four areas, for a total of 24 credits.

Genetics

BIO 211 Genetics (4)
BIO 411 Human Genetics (3)

Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology
BIO 221 Microbiology (5)
BIO 222 Molecular Cell Biology (4)
BIO 321 Pathogenic Microbiology (5)
BIO 421 Molecular Cell Biology (4)
CHE 325 Biochemistry: Proteins and DNA (3)
CHE 327 Biochemistry Laboratory (1)

Organismal Biology
BIO 231 Invertebrate Zoology (4)
BIO 232 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BIO 233 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4)
BIO 332 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
BIO 235 Developmental Biology (4)
BIO 331 Vertebrate Histology (5)
BIO 236 Animal Physiology (4)

Ecology
BIO 241 Ecology (4)
BIO 242 Evolution (3)
BIO 243 Botany (4)
BIO 341 Field Biology (3)
BIO 342 Marine Biology (3)  

Other Electives

These courses count as biology electives but do not count toward the requirement for any one area.

BIO 106 Medical Terminology (3)
BIO 195 Special Topics (1-5)
BIO 202 Internship in Biology (2)
BIO 295 Special Topics (1-5)
BIO 296 Research Experience (1-3)
BIO 395 Special Topics (1-5)
BIO 396 Research Experience II (1-3)
BIO 404 Senior Capstone II (3)
BIO 495 Special Topics (1-5)
BIO 496 Research Experience III (1-3)
BIO 499 Independent Study (1-3)