Biology, B.S.

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The Bachelor of Science program emphasizes mathematics and science courses that prepare students for careers in biological research, laboratory work or master’s and doctoral programs in the biological sciences. It can lead to careers in organismal biology like botany or zoology, environmental management, health care, technical writing and pharmaceutical sales. Graduates from our Bachelor of Science program also pursue professional degrees in medicine, dentistry or pharmacy.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students will have the knowledge base and intellectual (conceptual) framework to use reasoning and problem-solving skills to; (1) read critically, (2) evaluate support for competing hypotheses, and (3) critique experimental design.
2. Students will have the laboratory and inquiry skills and technical ability to formulate hypotheses, design and run experiments using instruments to test their hypotheses, and analyze and interpret the results. They will be able to build on earlier work to design further experiments.
3. Students will be able to communicate biological ideas from literature or their own laboratory investigations to audiences of biologists and non-biologists in a variety of formats including written reports, poster and oral presentations.
4. Students will recognize the importance of scientific integrity and ethical research and applications of biology to science policy. They will be able to work independently and in teams for life-long learning.
5. Students will be able to demonstrate a broad and diverse background in biology and related sciences and a strong foundation for graduate and professional programs of study or employment.
6. Students will recognize evolution as the central tenet of biology, which explains the unity and diversity of life and interrelatedness of levels of biological organization.

General Education Requirements (30-46 Credits)

Prerequisite coursework may be required to satisfy certain General Education courses and will count as elective credit.

Total Credits Required to Complete Major: 71-72

Students must attain a grade of C- or better in all required biology courses, excluding electives.

Basic Requirements: (36-37 Credits)

BIOL 116 - N/General Biology Laboratory Credit(s): 2
BIOL 117 - General Biology: Cells, Genetics, Evolution Credit(s): 3
BIOL 119 - N/General Biology: Diversity, Physiology, Ecology Credit(s): 3
BIOL 203 - Principles of Ecology Credit(s): 3
BIOL 222 - Genetics Credit(s): 3
BIOL 335 - Foundations of Biochemistry Credit(s): 3

One of the following:

BIOL 204 - Ecology Laboratory Credit(s): 1
BIOL 216 - Biology Second Year Laboratory Credit(s): 1
BIOL 223 - Genetics Laboratory Credit(s): 1

Electives in Biology including the following:

Three additional laboratory courses (of which only one can be at the 200-level).
A minimum of 18 credits at the 300-level or above.
No more than 4 credits from the following may count for elective credit: BIOL 395 , BIOL 396 , BIOL 397 , BIOL 398 , BIOL 399 .

Related Requirements: (31-32 Credits)

CHEM 116 - Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 118 - Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 119 - N/Introductory Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 2
or
CHEM 203 - N/Principles of Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 204 - Principles of Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 119 - N/Introductory Chemistry Lab
Credit(s): 2
CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 213 - Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 216 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
or
CHEM 223 - Principles of Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 224 - Principles of Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 216 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Credit(s): 2
MATH 221 - R/Calculus I Credit(s): 4
One of the following:
BIOL 350 - Foundations of Biostatistics Credit(s): 3
MATH 222 - Calculus II Credit(s): 4
MATH 228 - Calculus II for Biologists Credit(s): 4
PHYS 113 - General Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 114 - N/Physics I Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 115 - N/General Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 116 - N/Physics II Lab Credit(s): 1
or
PHYS 123 - Analytical Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 114 - N/Physics I Lab
Credit(s): 1
PHYS 125 - N/Analytical Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 116 - N/Physics II Lab
Credit(s): 1

Biology Other Requirements:

Minimum Competence Requirement

To graduate with a biology major, students must attain a grade of C- or better in all required biology courses, excluding electives. A grade of C- must be achieved in any course before it can be used as a prerequisite for another course. A student may only repeat a required biology course or related requirement once for major credit and the course must be taken at the next offering of the class. If a student does not earn at least a “C-” on the second taking of the class, she, he, or they will not be able to complete the major.

Department Writing Requirement

Students must demonstrate writing skills to the satisfaction of the Biology department. These skills will be evaluated in laboratory reports and in written assignments in 200- and 300-level biology courses.

Outline/Advising Guide

For Students who Matriculated prior to Fall 2022:

First Year

Fall (16 Credit Hours)

BIOL 117 - General Biology: Cells, Genetics, Evolution Credit(s): 3
CHEM 116 - Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
INTD 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
INTD 106 - Conventions of College Writing Credit(s): 1
MATH 221 - R/Calculus I Credit(s): 4
BIOL 116 - N/General Biology Laboratory Credit(s): 2 or
CHEM 119 - N/Introductory Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 2

Spring (14-15 Credit Hours)

Foreign Language Credit(s): 3
BIOL 119 - N/General Biology: Diversity, Physiology, Ecology Credit(s): 3
CHEM 118 - Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 119 - N/Introductory Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 2 or
BIOL 116 - N/General Biology Laboratory Credit(s): 2
MATH 222 - Calculus II Credit(s): 4 or
MATH 228 - Calculus II for Biologists Credit(s): 4 or
BIOL 350 - Foundations of Biostatistics Credit(s): 3

Second Year

Fall (13-14 Credit Hours)

Foreign Language Credit(s): 3
M/ Credit(s): 3
CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
BIOL 203 - Principles of Ecology Credit(s): 3 or
BIOL 222 - Genetics Credit(s): 3
BIOL 204 - Ecology Laboratory Credit(s): 1 or
BIOL 216 - Biology Second Year Laboratory Credit(s): 1 or
BIOL 223 - Genetics Laboratory Credit(s): 1 or
CHEM 216 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2

Spring (14-15 Credit Hours)

Foreign Language Credit(s): 3
CHEM 213 - Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
BIOL 204 - Ecology Laboratory Credit(s): 1 or
BIOL 216 - Biology Second Year Laboratory Credit(s): 1 or
BIOL 223 - Genetics Laboratory Credit(s): 1 or
CHEM 216 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
BIOL 203 - Principles of Ecology Credit(s): 3 or
BIOL 222 - Genetics Credit(s): 3 or
HUMN 220 - W/H/Western Humanities I Credit(s): 4 or
HUMN 221 - W/H/Western Humanities II Credit(s): 4

Third Year

Fall (14 Credit Hours)

BIOL 335 - Foundations of Biochemistry Credit(s): 3
F/ Credit(s): 3
BIOL Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 1
PHYS 113 - General Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 114 - N/Physics I Lab Credit(s): 1
or
PHYS 123 - Analytical Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 114 - N/Physics I Lab Credit(s): 1

Spring (17 Credit Hours)

S/ Credit(s): 3
U/ Credit(s): 3
BIOL elective Credit(s): 3
BIOL elective Credit(s): 4
PHYS 115 - N/General Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 116 - N/Physics II Lab Credit(s): 1
or
PHYS 125 - N/Analytical Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 116 Physics II Lab Credit(s): 1

Fourth Year

Fall (14 Credit Hours)

S/ Credit(s): 3
BIOL elective Credit(s): 4
Electives Credit(s): 7

Spring (15 Credit Hours)

F/ Credit(s): 3
BIOL elective Credit(s): 4
Electives Credit(s): 8

Total Credit Hours: 120

Program notes: CHEM 119 and BIOL 116 are both 2-credit labs; generally students take one in the fall and one in the spring, in either order. Students typically take their mathematics courses in their first year, but this is not required. Several biology electives have BIOL 222 or BIOL 335 as a prerequisite. Consequently, putting off either of these courses beyond the above recommendations can limit the choice of electives. Although not required, we recommend taking the BIOL 204 , BIOL 216 or BIOL 223 , laboratory course in the second year to fulfill a requirement of graduation. An alternative chemistry lecture sequence that might be appropriate for students with strong chemistry backgrounds and can be substituted with a waiver.

Electives in Biology: Eighteen credits must include (1) three additional biology laboratory courses (of which only one can be at the 200-level) (2) a minimum of 18 credits at the 300-level or above.

Note: Where no prerequisites apply, some variation in the order or semester in which courses are taken is possible. Students should consult their academic advisors for additional information.