Requirements

The Department of Biology offers a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Biology. As a B.S. biology major, you can choose one of three tracks: the general track, a concentration in Cellular/Molecular Biology, or a concentration in Environmental Biology. For both the B.A. and B.S. only three hours of non-traditional credit and one non-lab course may be counted toward the required electives.


Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Major in Biology--General (60 hours)
37 hours must be in biology

  • BIO 153-154 Foundations of Biology I,II
  • BIO 221 Introduction to Genetics
  • BIO 385 Introduction to Research
  • BIO 485 Research in Biology
  • One of the following (cellular/physiological course):
    • BIO 230 Molecular Cell Biology
    • BIO 317 Microbiology
    • BIO 328 Compartive and Human Physiology
  • One of the following (field course):
    • BIO 209 Marine Biology
    • BIO 301 Field Biology
    • BIO 308 Vertebrate Natural History
    • BIO 323 Ecology
    • BIO 324 Field Botany
    • BIO 332 Ornithology
  • One of the following (organismal course):
    • BIO 213 Introductory Human Anatomy
    • BIO 220 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
    • BIO 308 Vertebrate Natural History
    • BIO 320 Parasitology
    • BIO 332 Ornithology
  • One of the following (botanical course):
    • BIO 313 Economic Botany
    • BIO 324 Field Botany
    • BIO 335 Plant-Animal Interactions 
  • Electives to total 37 hours in biology. Up to three hours of non-traditional credits and a maximum of two non-lab courses of three hours each may be counted toward the required elective hours in biology.
  • Required supporting courses:
    • CHEM 121-122 Principles of Chemistry I,II
    • CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I
    • One of the following sequences for two semesters of Math:
      • MATH 115-116 Calculus for the Life Sciences I,II
      • MATH 131-132 Calculus I,II
      • MATH 133, 225 Theory and Applications of Calculus/Foundations of Higher Mathematics
    • Additional science courses to bring the total to 60 hours if needed

 

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Major in Biology--Concentration in Cellular/Molecular Biology (60 hours)
37 hours must be in biology

  • BIO 153-154 Foundations of Biology I,II
  • BIO 221 Introduction to Genetics
  • BIO 230 Molecular Cell Biology
  • BIO 317 Microbiology
  • BIO 328 Comparative and Human Physiology
  • BIO 330 Seminar in Molecular/Cellular Biology
  • BIO 331 Biotechnology
  • BIO 385 Introduction to Research
  • BIO 485 Research in Biology
  • Electives to total 37 hours in biology. Up to three hours of non-traditional credits and a maximum of two non-lab courses of three hours each may be counted toward the required elective hours in biology.
  • Required supporting courses:
    • CHEM 121-122 Principles of Chemistry I,II
    • CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I
    • One of the following sequences for two semesters of Math:
      • MATH 115-116 Calculus for the Life Sciences I,II
      • MATH 131-132 Calculus I,II
      • MATH 133, 225 Theory and Applications of Calculus/Foundations of Higher Mathematics
    • Additional science courses to bring the total to 60 hours if needed

 

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Major in Biology--Concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (60 hours)
37 hours must be in biology

  • BIO 153-154 Foundations of Biology I,II
  • BIO 221 Introduction to Genetics
  • BIO 248 Issue in Environmental Biology
  • BIO 312 Evolution
  • BIO 315 Statistical Methods for Biologists
  • BIO 323 Ecology
  • BIO 385 Introduction to Research
  • BIO 485 Research in Biology
  • Two of the following:
    • BIO 209 Marine Biology
    • BIO 301 Field Biology
    • BIO 308 Vertebrate Natural History
    • BIO 316 Conservation Biology
    • BIO 324 Field Botany
    • BIO 332 Ornithology
    • BIO 335 Plant-Animal Interactions
  • Electives to total 37 hours in biology. Up to three hours of non-traditional credits and a maximum of two non-lab courses of three hours each may be counted toward the required elective hours in biology.
  • Required supporting courses:
    • CHEM 121-122 Principles of Chemistry I,II
    • CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I
    • One of the following sequences for two semesters of Math:
      • MATH 115-116 Calculus for the Life Sciences I,II
      • MATH 131-132 Calculus I,II
      • MATH 133, 225 Theory and Applications of Calculus/Foundations of Higher Mathematics
    • Additional science courses to bring the total to 60 hours if needed

 

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Major in Biology (56-57 hours)
33 hours must be in biology

  • BIO 153-154 Foundations of Biology I,II
  • BIO 221 Introduction to Genetics
  • BIO 385 Introduction to Research
  • BIO 485 Research in Biology
  • One of the following (cellular/physiological course):
    • BIO 230 Molecular Cell Biology
    • BIO 317 Microbiology
    • BIO 328 Compartive and Human Physiology
  • One of the following (field course):
    • BIO 209 Marine Biology
    • BIO 301 Field Biology
    • BIO 308 Vertebrate Natural History
    • BIO 316 Conservation Biology
    • BIO 323 Ecology
    • BIO 324 Field Botany
    • BIO 332 Ornithology
  • One of the following (organismal course):
    • BIO 213 Introductory Human Anatomy
    • BIO 220 Comparative Vertebrate and Human Anatomy
    • BIO 308 Vertebrate Natural History
    • BIO 320 Parasitology
    • BIO 332 Ornithology
  • One of the following (botanical course):
    • BIO 313 Economic Botany
    • BIO 324 Field Botany
    • BIO 335 Plant-Animal Interactions
  • Required supporting courses:
    • CHEM 121-122 Principles of Chemistry I,II
    • CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I
    • One of the following sequences for two semesters of Math:
      • MATH 115-116 Calculus for the Life Sciences I,II
      • MATH 131-132 Calculus I,II
      • MATH 133, 225 Theory and Applications of Calculus/Foundations of Higher Mathematics
    • Additional science courses to bring the total to 60 hours if needed