BS in Biology: General Biology specialization
Career Options
Our alumni have found careers in biological and medical research laboratories, field biology, and biotechnology companies. Other students have furthered their education by entering graduate, medical, dental, optometry, veterinary, and law schools, as well as schools for allied health professions.
The general biology degree exposes students to an examination of life from the molecular to the community level, thus providing students with a well rounded education in the biological sciences. Required courses in chemistry, mathematics and physics reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the biological sciences.
Courses & Requirements
The major in Biology requires a minimum of 70 credit hours in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math. (University degree requirements also include Core Curriculum and other courses for a minimum of 120 credit hours total.) A grade of C- or higher is required for all courses listed below, which includes Biology courses as well as the additional science and math courses. You can find complete Biology course descriptions under Course List.
Download requirement checklists for the following academic years:
*Effective Fall 2010, course requirements for the major are:
1) All six core courses
2) One elective lecture/laboratory combination from each of the three areas: Organismal Biology, Ecology, Cellular and Functional Biology
3) Two additional biology lecture courses or one biology lecture/laboratory course with prefix numbers of 200 or above
4) One of two sets of additional math and science courses given below
| BIO 105 | Biological Principles I: Cellular Biology | 3.0 Credits |
| BIO 106 | Biological Principles: Laboratory Biology | 1.5 Credits |
| BIO 107 | Biological Principles II: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ecology | 4.5 Credits |
| BIO 109 | Biological Principles III: Functional Biology | 3.0 Credits |
| BIO 201 | Genetics | 3.0 Credits |
| BIO 217 | Evolution | 3.0 Credits |
Elective courses, by area
Additional Math & Science courses
Mathematics
| MAT 152 | Calculus A | 4.0 Credits |
| MAT 220 | Statistics for the Biological Sciences | 4.0 Credits |
Chemistry
| CHY 113 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3.0 Credits |
| CHY 114 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1.0 Credit |
| CHY 115 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3.0 Credits |
| CHY 116 | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1.0 Credit |
| CHY 251 | Organic Chemistry I | 3.0 Credits |
| CHY 252 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 2.0 Credits |
| CHY 253 | Organic Chemistry II | 3.0 Credits |
Physics
| EITHER | ||
| PHY 111 | Elements of Physics I | 4.0 Credits |
| PHY 114 | Elements of Physics I Laboratory | 1.0 Credit |
| PHY 112 | Elements of Physics II | 4.0 Credits |
| PHY 116 | Elements of Physics II Laboratory | 1.0 Credit |
| OR | ||
| PHY 121 | General Physics I | 4.0 Credits |
| PHY 114 | Elements of Physics I Laboratory | 1.0 Credit |
| PHY 123 | General Physics II | 4.0 Credits |
| PHY 116 | Elements of Physics II Laboratory | 1.0 Credit |
Year 1 | ||
Fall semester |
|
|
BIO 105 | Biological Principles I: Cellular Biology | 3 |
BIO 106 | Laboratory Biology | 1.5 |
CHY 113 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
CHY 114 | Laboratory Techniques I | 1 |
ENG 100 | College Writing | 3 |
EYE | Entry Year Experience | 3 |
| Total credits | 14.5 |
Spring semester |
|
|
BIO 107 | Biological Principles II: Evolution, Biodiversity and Evolution (Science Exploration) | 4.5 |
CHY 115 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
CHY 116 | Laboratory Techniques II | 1 |
MAT 152 | Calculus A | 4 |
Core curriculum course | Creative Expression, Socio-cultural Analysis or Cultural Interpretation | 3 |
| Total credits | 15.5 |
Year 2 |
|
|
Fall semester |
|
|
BIO 109 | Biological Principles III: Functional Biology | 3 |
BIO 201 | Genetics | 3 |
CHY 251 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
CHY 252 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
MAT 220 | Statistics for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| Total credits | 15 |
Spring semester |
|
|
BIO 217 | Evolution | 3 |
BIO Area requirement |
| 3 – 5 |
CHY 253 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
Core curriculum course | Creative Expression, Socio-cultural Analysis or Cultural Interpretation | 3 |
Core curriculum course | Creative Expression, Socio-cultural Analysis or Cultural Interpretation | 3 |
| Total credits | 15 -- 17 |
Year 3 |
|
|
Fall semester |
|
|
BIO Area requirement |
| 3 – 5 |
Physics | Elements of Physics I or General Physics I | 4 |
PHY 114 | Introductory Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility and Citizenship |
| 3 |
Thematic cluster course |
| 3 |
| Total credits | 14 -- 16 |
Spring semester |
|
|
BIO Area requirement |
| 3 – 5 |
Physics | Elements of Physics II or General Physics II | 4 |
PHY 116 | Introductory Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
Thematic cluster course |
| 3 |
Thematic cluster course |
| 3 |
| Total credits | 14 -- 16 |
Year 4 |
|
|
Fall semester |
|
|
BIO elective(s) |
| variable |
Diversity course |
| 3 |
International course |
| 3 |
| Total credits | variable |
Spring semester |
|
|
BIO elective(s) |
| variable |
Capstone course |
| variable |
| Total credits | variable |
|
|
Note: Total credits must add up to 120. Suggested schedule is based on 8 semesters with approximately 15 credits per semester. Summer courses can reduce course load during the year.
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