Requirements
In addition to satisfying general University requirements, a student majoring in biology must meet general department requirements as well as fulfill the biology major requirements.
General requirements are completion of two terms of statistics or two terms of calculus; three terms of science majors’ introductory chemistry with laboratory; one term of organic chemistry; Ph 201, Ph 214; and 12 elective credits from geology, physics, computer science, environmental science, or chemistry at the 200 level or higher. All biology majors must complete at least 60 credits in biology including three terms of science majors’ introductory biology with laboratory. Of the 60 credits in biology at least 44 credits must be upper-division coursework for the major.
Biology courses taken pass/no pass are not acceptable toward fulfilling departmental major requirements, with the exception of courses numbered Bi 401, Bi 404, Bi 405, Bi 406, and Bi 407 which are only offered pass/no pass. Of the 60 credits required in biology, at least 46 credits must be in courses other than Bi 401, Bi 404, Bi 405, Bi 406, and Bi 407. The remaining 14 credits may include no more than a total of 6 credits in Bi 401, Bi 404, Bi 405, and Bi 406.
Biology majors interested in the Biology Honors Research Program may obtain information in the Biology Dept. Office.
General Departmental Requirements
All Biology majors must complete the coursework listed below in addition to the Biology major requirements.
| Ch 221 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Ch 222 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| Ch 223 | General Chemistry III | 4 |
| Ch 227 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Ch 228 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Ch 229 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| | | |
| Ch 331 | Elements of Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| | Or | |
| Ch 334 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| | | |
| Ph 201 | General Physics | 4 |
| Ph 214 | Lab for Ph 201, 202, 203 or Ph 211, 212, 213 or Ph 221, 222, 223 | 1 |
| | | |
| Mth 251 | Calculus I | 0-4 |
| | And | |
| Mth 252 | Calculus II | 4 |
| | Or | |
| Stat 243 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics I | 4 |
| | And | |
| Stat 244 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics II | 4 |
| | | |
| | Science Electives: Any combination of courses at the 200+ level (not including requirements listed above) from the following departments: Ch, ESM, G, Ph, or CS | 12 |
Biology Major Requirements
Lower Division Biology Core
Enrollment requires concurrent enrollment in CH 221 & CH 227 or prior completion of CH 221 & CH 227
Upper Division Biology Core
Complete a minimum of 44 upper division Biology credits and satisfy Requirements 1, 2, and 3 below
Requirement 1
Complete at least one course from each of Areas A, B, and C
Area A: Cellular/Molecular
Area B: Systems/Organisms
| Bi 320 | Introduction to Organismal Physiology | 4 |
| Bi 330 | Introduction to Plant Biology | 4 |
| Bi 380 | Microbiology | 4 |
| Bi 386 | Invertebrate Zoology | 6 |
| Bi 387 | Vertebrate Zoology | 6 |
Area C: Ecology/Evolution
Requirement 2
Choose at least two courses at the 300 or 400 level with a major laboratory or field component. Bi 386 and Bi 387 will satisfy Requirement 2 only if the course is not used to satisfy Requirement 1
Approved Lab--Field Courses Choose at least two
Requirement 3
Choose at least 12 credits from courses with a Bi prefix numbered between 412-499 (can include courses listed in Requirement 2, but cannot be counted twice)
Additional Courses That Meet the 44 Credit Upper Division Requirements
1. Research Teaching and Workshops with credit limitations
A maximum of 6 credits total from
Bi 401 Research,
Bi 404 Cooperative Education,
Bi 405 Reading and Conference,
Bi 406 Laboratory Project may be applied to the 44 credit upper-division Biology credit requirement
2. Courses approved for use from other departments from the list below
A maximum of 8 credits taken at the 300-400 level and passed with a C- or better from the following departments may be applied toward major requirements with prior Biology department approval. These credits cannot be substituted for those in Areas A, B, and C, or for the Bi 412-499 credit requirements.
Anthropology (Anth) Business (BA) Chemistry (Ch)
Computer Science (CS) Economics (Ec) Environmental Science and Management (ESM)
Geography (Geog) Geology (G) Philosophy (Phl)
Physics (Ph) Psychology (Psy) Public Health Education (PHE)
Statistics (Stat)
Total Credit Hours: 27-30