The B.S. major in biology is designed to give students a rigorous and comprehensive background in biology, with additional supporting coursework in the physical sciences and mathematics. The program is suitable for either a terminal degree or as preparation for medical or dental schools, veterinary professional programs, or graduate study in the biological sciences. 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.
At least 10 credit hours of electives and/or Exploration Level courses in the University Core Curriculum must be upper-division courses.
BIO 277/278 and the Capstone courses are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.S. in Biology.
College of Arts and Sciences B.S. Requirements — 6 credit hours
See College Requirements, B.S.
Major Requirements — 62-63 credit hours
Required Courses — 35-36 credit hours
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 of the following
Organismal labs — select one of 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 of 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
At least 10 credit hours of electives and/or Exploration Level courses in the University Core Curriculum must be upper-division courses.