The B.A. major in biology is designed to allow students to combine coursework in biology with classes towards a major or minor in a liberal arts field, business, or education. It is appropriate for students preparing for admission to doctoral or master’s degree programs in physical therapy, hospital administration, and genetic counseling; it can also be used to meet admission requirements for programs in occupational therapy, optometry, environmental law, scientific illustration, public health, and science communication, among many other possibilities. The degree program requires 120 credit hours.
University Core Curriculum Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See Core Curriculum Requirements
Two of the three core requirements in the Scientific and Quantitative Literacy and Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the major.
BIO 277/278 and the Capstone courses are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.A. in Biology.
College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Requirements — 24-33 credit hours
See College Requirements, B.A.
Major Requirements – 34-35 credit hours
Required Courses — 19-20 credit hours
| BIO 207 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 277 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIO 208 | Introduction to Evolution and Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 278 | Introduction to Evolution and Ecology Lab | 1 |
| CHM 207 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 277 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CHM 208 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 278 | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| MTH 161 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Or | |
| MTH 201 | Calculus I | 4 |
At least three upper-division biology labs with corresponding lectures - 12 credit hours
Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture from each content area and organizational level.
Molecule and Cell Labs
Select one course from the following:
Organismal labs
Select one course from the following:
| BIO 365 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 1 | 1 |
| BIO 366 | Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 2 | 1 |
| BIO 376 | Developmental Biology Lab | 1 |
Population/System labs
Select one course from the following:
Capstone - 3 credit hours
Select one course from the following:
BIO 493, BIO 499, or 497 internships from outside Biology may fulfill the capstone requirement with pre-approval of the department chair.
Upper-division biology electives - 12 credit hours
A maximum of six non-classroom credit hours (from
BIO 397/493/497/499) may be used for completion of the major. A maximum of three upper-division electives in
BIO 397 or 497 may be Pass/No Pass for completion of the major.
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours