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 110Modern Biology

1 Course Credit

BIO 113Experimental Zoology

1 Course Credit

BIO 114Botany

1 Course Credit

BIO 330Genetics

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

BIO 494Evolution

1 Course Credit

Approved Cross-Disciplinary Courses


ANR 310Nutritional Studies

1 Course Credit

CHM 345Biochemistry

1 Course Credit

CFS 221Fundamentals of Nutrition

1 Course Credit

ECO 250Applied Statistics

1 Course Credit

HHP 340Integ Biomec & Exercise Phy II

1 Course Credit

PHI 212Science in Contemporary World

1 Course Credit

PSY 212Behavioral 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 207Pathophysiology:Altered Health

1 Course Credit

BIO 220Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

1 Course Credit

BIO 222Microbiology

1 Course Credit

BIO 310Ecology

1 Course Credit

BIO 323Human Physiology

1 Course Credit

BIO 324Parasitology

1 Course Credit

BIO 325Neurobiology

1 Course Credit

BIO 326Invertebrate Zoology

1 Course Credit

BIO 327Herpetology

1 Course Credit

BIO 331Developmental Biology

1 Course Credit

BIO 332Mammalogy

1 Course Credit

BIO 342Field Botany

1 Course Credit

BIO 344Dendrology & Forest Ecology

1 Course Credit

BIO 441Cell 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 115College Algebra with Modeling

1 Course Credit

CHM 131Accelerated General Chemistry

1 Course Credit

or

CHM 134Accelerated Environmental Chem

1 Course Credit

CHM 221Organic Chemistry I

1 Course Credit

CHM 222Organic 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.