Biology, B.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Requirements for the major in biology, B.S. program

This curriculum is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in the sciences, including medicine and health-related fields.

A minimum of 52 credits in biology (BIO 111 and above) is required, including at least ten lecture courses and a minimum of five BIO laboratory courses. Students must complete:

1. Required courses

BIO 111 - Biology (4)
BIO 113 - Biology (4)
BIO 116 - Biology Laboratory (1)
BIO 325 - Biochemistry I (4)
BIO 341 - Genetics (4)
BIO 387 - Evolutionary Biology (4)
BIO 425 - Biochemistry II (4)
BIO 495 - Scientific Inquiry and Communication (3)

2. One course from each of the following areas

Cell-Molecular/Biomedical

Systems Biology

3. Three additional biology elective courses, one of which must be a 400-level lecture course

(BIO 405 , BIO 425 , BIO 490 , BIO 495 and BIO 497 do not satisfy this requirement).

4. Minimum of four biology laboratory courses above the introductory level

(One of which may be BIO 490 ).

5. 20 credits of chemistry

CHM 157 - General Chemistry I (0 or 5)
CHM 158 - General Chemistry II (5)
CHM 234 - Organic Chemistry I (4) and either
CHM 235 - Organic Chemistry II (4) and
CHM 237 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)
or
CHM 220 - Introduction to Computational Chemistry (2) and
CHM 325 - Analytical Chemistry (4)

6. 10 credits of physics

PHY 101 - General Physics I (4) and
PHY 102 - General Physics II (4)
or
PHY 151 - Introductory Physics I (4) and
PHY 152 - Introductory Physics II (4)
(depending on MTH option)
PHY 158 - General Physics Laboratory (2)

7. 8 credits of mathematics

MTH 141 - Precalculus (0 or 4)
MTH 122 - Calculus for the Social Sciences (4) or
MTH 154 - Calculus I (4) (or course competency as determined by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics)

8. 4 credits of statistics

STA 228 - Statistical Methods for Biology (4) (recommended) or
STA 225 - Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Reasoning (4)

Note

Corresponding lecture and lab courses should normally be taken simultaneously. Note that some courses have incorporated labs into lecture credit while other labs are given separate credit.

Requirements for a modified major in biology (B.S.) with a specialization in anatomy

Adviser: Feona M. Hansen

Students may elect this specialization in their sophomore year. The selection of all courses should be planned by consultation with the adviser.

Biology courses required for the anatomy specialization are

BIO 205 - Human Anatomy (4)
BIO 206 - Human Anatomy Laboratory (1)
BIO 305 - Histology (4)
BIO 306 - Histology Laboratory (1)
BIO 317 - Vertebrate Zoology (5)
BIO 323 - Developmental Biology (4)
BIO 324 - Developmental Biology Laboratory (1)
BIO 381 - Gross Human Anatomy (4)
BIO 460 - Neuroanatomy (4)

Requirements for a modified major in biology (B.S.) with a specialization in cell-molecular biology

Adviser: Anne L. Hitt

Students considering a career in cell biology, biotechnology or molecular biology may elect this specialization in their sophomore year. The selection of all courses should be planned in consultation with the adviser.

Biology courses required are

BIO 309 - Biology of the Cell (4)
BIO 310 - Biology of the Cell Laboratory (1)
BIO 319 - General Microbiology (4)
BIO 320 - General Microbiology Laboratory (1)
BIO 326 - Biochemistry I Laboratory (1)
BIO 342 - Genetics Laboratory (1)
BIO 417 - Molecular Biology (4)
BIO 418 - Molecular Biology Laboratory (2)
BIO 441 - Microbial Biotechnology (4)
BIO 425 - Biochemistry II (4) or
BIO 437 - Virology (4)

Requirements for a modified major in biology (B.S.) with a specialization in microbiology

Adviser: Satish K. Walia

Students may elect this specialization in their sophomore or junior year. The selection of all courses should be planned in consultation with the adviser.

Biology courses required for the microbiology specialization are

BIO 319 - General Microbiology (4)
BIO 320 - General Microbiology Laboratory (1)
BIO 421 - Medical Microbiology (4)
BIO 437 - Virology (4)

And one of the following electives

BIO 417 - Molecular Biology (4)
BIO 423 - Immunology (4)
BIO 441 - Microbial Biotechnology (4)
BIO 443 - Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics (4)

Requirements for the modified major in biology (B.S.) with a concentration in applied statistics

Adviser: Keith A. Berven

This concentration is open to students pursuing either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Students should elect this concentration in their sophomore year.

Required courses are

STA 226 - Applied Probability and Statistics (4) and either 323 or 324, as well as
BIO 490 - Independent Research (1 to 4)

Concentration in pre-medical studies: medicine, dentistry, optometry and veterinary medicine

Pre-medical Studies: Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry and Veterinary Medicine Concentration