Undergraduate programs
The biology program is designed to prepare students for careers in biological research, development, teaching, and in health sciences, nursing, biotechnology, conservation biology and wildlife management, forestry, and other applied fields. It also provides the necessary background for advanced study leading to graduate degrees in the more specialized fields of the biological sciences.
A student planning to enter medicine, dentistry, or other professional fields should consult the catalog of the professional school to which the student intends to apply following pre-professional work in biology and other sciences at Portland State. Biology is also a teaching endorsement area in the program of secondary education.
Biology Minor
Requirements
To earn a minor in biology, a student must complete at least 27 credits in Biology (at least 9 credits of which must be taken in residence at PSU) to. Courses must include three terms of science majors’ introductory biology with laboratory (Bi 251, Bi 252, Bi 253) and at least one course from each of Areas A, B, and C.
Lower Division Biology Core
Enrollment requires concurrent enrollment in Ch 221 & Ch 227 or prior completion of Ch 221 & Ch 227
Upper-division credits to include at least one course from each of the following three areas (12-15 credits)
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
Total Credit Hours: 27-30
Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) cannot be used to fulfill biology minor requirements. Bi 401, Bi 404, Bi 405, Bi 406, and Bi 407 are not allowed for the minor. Additional courses may be required as prerequisites.