Biology B.A.
Degree Requirements
A major in Biology is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:
Required Core Courses
The Biology core requires six credits.
| BIO 110 | Modern Biology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 113 | Experimental Zoology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 114 | Botany | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 330 | Genetics | 1 Course Credit |
| One approved Field Course | |
Field Courses: BIO 310 Ecology, BIO 324 Parasitology, BIO 326 Invertebrate Zoology, BIO 327 Herpetology, BIO 332 Mammology, BIO 342 Field Botany, BIO 344 Dendrology and Forest Ecology, SENS 226 Coral Reef Ecosystems or approved BIO 286/386/486 courses
Required Capstone Course
Approved Cross-Disciplinary Courses
| ANR 310 | Nutritional Studies | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 345 | Biochemistry | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 221 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 1 Course Credit |
| ECO 250 | Applied Statistics | 1 Course Credit |
| HHP 340 | Integ Biomec & Exercise Phy II | 1 Course Credit |
| PHI 212 | Science in Contemporary World | 1 Course Credit |
| PSY 212 | Behavioral Neuroscience w/ Lab | 1 Course Credit |
Required "Plus Four" Courses
A minimum of four (4) course credits from the Biology Program courses listed below, any current Biology Program-approved cross-disciplinary course, or any Biology Program-approved transfer course (domestic or international):
| BIO 207 | Pathophysiology:Altered Health | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 220 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 222 | Microbiology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 310 | Ecology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 323 | Human Physiology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 324 | Parasitology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 325 | Neurobiology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 326 | Invertebrate Zoology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 327 | Herpetology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 331 | Developmental Biology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 332 | Mammalogy | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 342 | Field Botany | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 344 | Dendrology & Forest Ecology | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 441 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 1 Course Credit |
Students may select no more than two (2) non-Biology Program courses or courses transferred in from other institutions (domestic or international) to meet their Plus Four course requirements.
Note: No significant redundancies exist between any Plus Four Biology Program courses or with any approved cross-disciplinary courses. As such, there is no restriction as to the combination of courses students can take to meet Plus Four requirements.
Required Collateral courses
| MAT 115 | College Algebra with Modeling | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 131 | Accelerated General Chemistry | 1 Course Credit |
| or | |
| CHM 134 | Accelerated Environmental Chem | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 222 | Organic Chemistry II | 1 Course Credit |
Biology majors must satisfy the International Perspective of the General Education with foreign language (generally two terms of the same language unless students waive a level or more. A student who waives must take still take one foreign language course at the appropriate level).
Exploring the Major— Students considering a major in Biology should waive or complete MAT 012 and enroll in BIO 110 and CHM 131 or CHM 134. (Students should complete CHM 101 prior to enrolling in CHM 131/CHM 134 if they have a limited high-school chemistry background.) BIO 100, BIO 101, and BIO 102 cannot be used toward the Biology major. These courses are general access courses or are service courses for other programs.
Admission to the Major— Completion or waiver of MAT 012 is a prerequisite for all major Biology courses. To be admitted to the Biology major, students must complete BIO 110, BIO 113, and BIO 114 with a combined GPA of 2.37 (two B- grades and one C- grade are the minimum requirement; grades below a C- are not acceptable). NOTE: This GPA requirement applies to entrance into the Biology major; it is not a graduation requirement.
Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within eight terms)— Students considering a major in Biology should waive or complete MAT 115 during their first year. If possible, students should complete BIO 110, BIO 113, and BIO 114 by the second term of their sophomore year. Students also are advised to complete their collateral Chemistry courses by sophomore year, whenever possible. BIO 494 should be taken in senior year.
Other Considerations and Recommendations— Pre-medical/dental/veterinary students should enroll in CHM 131 rather than CHM 134, if possible. Students preparing for graduate or professional school are strongly encouraged to complete CHM 311, CHM 345, MAT 135 (or waiver), and PHY 127 and PHY 128 in addition to the courses and collaterals in the Biology major.