The Biology Program | Prospective Students | Academic Requirements & Concentrations | Student Learning Outcomes | Minor in Biology | Courses | Faculty | Facilities | Internships | Research | Senior Projects

The Biology Program:
Academic Requirements and Concentrations

B.A. Degree | B.S. Degree | Concentrations

B.S. Academic Requirements
There are two categories of requirements for all biology majors: biology courses and basic science support courses. General Biology I and II and the eight upper-level electives in the “biology courses” category must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Students must attain at least a 2.0 (C) GPA in courses used to satisfy the requirements for the major, including the “biology courses” category (excluding the senior project) and the “basic science support courses” category. Students majoring in biology may choose a concentration, but one is not required.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the B.S. degree in biology. In addition to meeting general degree requirements, all B.S. majors in biology must complete the following courses:

Biology Courses:

1. BIO 1550/General Biology I with lab
2. BIO 1560/General Biology II with lab
3. BIO 1880/Biology Freshman Seminar
4. BIO 2890/Biology Program Seminar
5. Eight upper-level biology electives, as follows:
   1. BIO 3530/Cell Biology
   2. BIO 4620/Molecular Biology or
      CHE 4610/Biochemistry
   3. One of the following courses in biological mechanisms:
      BIO 3160/Genetics (lab not required)
      BIO 3170/Developmental Biology (lab not required)
      BIO 3250/Animal Physiology
      BIO 4620/Molecular Biology
      
   4. One of the following courses in biodiversity and ecology:
      BIO 3360/Microbiology
      BIO 3430/Vertebrate Zoology
      BIO 3440/Invertebrate Zoology
      ENV 3120/General Ecology
   5. Four additional upper-level biology courses
6. BIO 3890/Biology Junior Seminar
7. BIO 4990/Senior Project (must be an original research project)

Note: The eight upper-level biology electives must include at least two at the 4000 level and at least four lab courses, taken either in conjunction with lecture courses or as separately registered lab courses.

Basic Science Support Courses:

1. Two of the following courses:
   MAT 1500/Calculus I
   MAT 1510/Calculus II
   MAT 1520/Computer Science I
   MAT 1600/Introductory Statistics
   MAT 3680/Informatics in Biology and Medicine
   PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics
2. CHE 1550/General Chemistry I with lab
3. CHE 1560/General Chemistry II with lab
4. CHE 3310/Organic Chemistry I with lab
5. CHE 3320/Organic Chemistry II with lab

Additional notes for biology majors:

1. Many students will want to study additional mathematics. Graduate schools generally require Calculus I; professional schools may require either Calculus I or Statistics.
2. A year of physics is highly recommended (PHY 1510 and 1520/Introductory Physics I and II). Professional and graduate schools generally require physics.
3. Some professional and graduate schools may not accept high school AP courses as substitutes for college introductory science courses (e.g., General Biology, General Chemistry, Introductory Physics).

Updated July 11, 2011

Updates
Please direct updates for this page to the managing editor in the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs. Because internal and external links may change or expire from time to time, please report any changed or broken links to the managing editor as well. For curricular revisions, please refer to the Faculty Handbook.