BS in Biology
The Bachelor of Science degree in Biology requires a minimum of 120 hours of coursework and provides students with a strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology and develops their critical thinking skills, to prepare for careers in research, medicine, dentistry, bioinformatics, veterinary medicine, and many others. This degree is ideal for students planning on attending professional school or pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. degree in the biological sciences.
Program includes:
- Biology, BS
- Biology-Neuroscience Concentration, BS
Bachelor of Science in Biology
The following courses must be included:
BIOL 2170 Fundamentals of Life Science: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance
BIOL 2180 Fundamentals of Life Science Laboratory: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance
BIOL 2150 Fundamentals Of Life Science: Diversity Of Life, Evolution And Adaptation
BIOL 2160 Fundamentals Of Life Science Laboratory: Diversity Of Life, Evolution And Adaptation
BIOL 3010 Molecular Genetics
BIOL 3030 Cell Biology
BIOL 3070 Human Physiology
BIOL 3090 Developmental Biology
BIOL 4700 Biological Literature and Communication
A minimum of nine hours of advanced elective BIOL courses (3000 - 4000 level), including two laboratory or field experiences. A maximum of three credit hours of BIOL 4910 not applied to Departmental Honors may be used to fulfill the advanced elective credits.
The following related courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry are also required:
MATH 2600 Introduction To Statistics (or MATH 2640 or PSY 2100)
MATH 1750 Calculus for the Life Sciences with Applications I (or MATH 1830 or MATH 1850)
MATH 1760 Calculus for the Life Sciences with Applications II (or MATH 1840 or MATH 1860)
CHEM 1230 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1280 General Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 1240 General Chemistry II
CHEM 1290 General Chemistry Lab II
CHEM 2410 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2460 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Non-Majors
CHEM 2420 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 3510 Biochemistry I
CHEM 3520 Biochemistry II
PHYS 2070 General Physics I (or PHYS 2130)
PHYS 2080 General Physics II (or PHYS 2140)
No classes used to satisfy the requirements of the Biology major, including related courses, may be taken P/NC with the exceptions of BIOL 4910, BIOL 4950, and BIOL 4990.
Bachelor of Science in Biology (Neuroscience Concentration)
The following courses must be included:
BIOL 2170Fundamentals of Life Science: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance
BIOL 2180Fundamentals of Life Science Laboratory: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance
BIOL 2150Fundamentals Of Life Science: Diversity Of Life, Evolution And Adaptation
BIOL 2160Fundamentals Of Life Science Laboratory: Diversity Of Life, Evolution And Adaptation
BIOL 3010Molecular Genetics
BIOL 3030Cell Biology
BIOL 3070Human Physiology
BIOL 3090Developmental Biology
BIOL 4700Biological Literature and Communication
A minimum of nine hours of advanced elective BIOL courses (3000 - 4000 level), including two laboratory or field experiences. A maximum of three credit hours of BIOL 4910not applied to Departmental Honors may be used to fulfill the advanced elective credits.
The following related courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry are also required:
MATH 2600Introduction To Statistics (orMATH 2640orPSY 2100)
MATH 1750Calculus for the Life Sciences with Applications I (orMATH 1830orMATH 1850)
MATH 1760Calculus for the Life Sciences with Applications I (orMATH 1840orMATH 1860)
CHEM 1230General Chemistry I
CHEM 1280General Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 1240General Chemistry II
CHEM 1290General Chemistry Lab II
CHEM 2410Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2460Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Non-Majors
CHEM 2420Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 3510Biochemistry I
CHEM 3520Biochemistry II
PHYS 2070General Physics I (orPHYS 2130)
PHYS 2080General Physics II (orPHYS 2140)
No classes used to satisfy the requirements of the Biology major or minor may be taken P/NC with the exceptions ofBIOL 4910,BIOL 4950, andBIOL 4990.
Neuroscience Concentration: A concentration in neuroscience is available to students pursuing a BS in Biology. Students must apply the following courses towards their BS in Biology degree:
BIOL 4250 Introduction to Neurobiology
BIOL 4910 Undergraduate Research (in a section with a neuroscience focus)
BIOL 4700 Biological Literature And Communication (in a section with a neuroscience focus)
PSY 3400 Cognitive Neuropsychology or
PSY 3610 Behavioral Neuroscience
Note: Honors students in the Neuroscience Concentration may co-apply three credit hours of BIOL4910 to both the Honors and Neuroscience Concentration requirements (provided the research was conducted in a neuroscience laboratory). However, consistent with Honors Program policy, any BIOL4910 credit hours used to satisfy Honors requirements cannot be applied towards the two Laboratory or Field Experience requirements of the BS degree, regardless of whether they are applied within the Neuroscience Concentration.
Concentration in Ecology and Organismal biology: See the Department of Environmental Sciences section of this catalog.
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Below is a sample program of study. Consult your degree audit for your program requirements.
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NSM 1000 | Natural Sciences & Mathematics | 2 |
| BIOL 2170 | Fundamentals of Life Science: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance | 4 |
| BIOL 2180 | Fundamentals of Life Science Laboratory: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance | 1 |
| CHEM 1230 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1280 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| ENGL 1110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Term | ||
| BIOL 2150 | Fundamentals Of Life Science: Diversity Of Life, Evolution And Adaptation | 4 |
| BIOL 2160 | Fundamentals Of Life Science Laboratory: Diversity Of Life, Evolution And Adaptation | 1 |
| CHEM 1240 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 1290 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| ENGL 1130 | College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Term | ||
| BIOL 3010 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 3020 | Molecular Genetics Laboratory 1 | 2 |
| CHEM 2410 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2460 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Non-Majors | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Calculus For The Life Sciences With Applications I | ||
| Calculus I For Mathematicians, Scientists And Educators | ||
| Single Variable Calculus I | ||
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| BIOL 3030 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 2420 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Calculus For The Life Sciences With Applications II | ||
| Calculus II For Mathematicians, Scientists And Educators | ||
| Single Variable Calculus II | ||
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| BIOL 3090 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3100 | Developmental Biology Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| PHYS 2070 | General Physics I | 5 |
| CHEM 3510 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| Diversity of US | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| BIOL 3070 | Human Physiology | 3 |
| PHYS 2080 | General Physics II | 5 |
| CHEM 3520 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| Writing Across the Curriculum Elective (WAC) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| BIOL 3XXX/4XXX Major Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Core | 3 | |
| Electives to get to 120 hours | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| BIOL 4700 | Biological Literature And Communication | 3 |
| BIOL 3XXX/4XXX Major Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| MATH 2600 or MATH 2640 | Introduction To Statistics or Statistics for Applied Science | 3 |
| Electives to get to 120 hours | 2 | |
| Non-US Diversity | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120-121 | |
| 1 | May take different 3000-4000 level lab in different semester, 2 lab experiences are required. |
| 2 | 9 hours of 3000-4000 level BIOL electives are required. Hours from the 3000-4000 level BIOL lab requirement count toward elective requirements. |
Bachelor of Science in Biology (Neuroscience (NEUS) Concentration)
Below is a sample plan of study. Consult your degree audit for your program requirements.
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NSM 1000 | Natural Sciences & Mathematics | 2 |
| BIOL 2170 | Fundamentals of Life Science: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance | 4 |
| BIOL 2180 | Fundamentals of Life Science Laboratory: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance | 1 |
| CHEM 1230 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1280 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| ENGL 1110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Term | ||
| BIOL 2150 | Fundamentals Of Life Science: Diversity Of Life, Evolution And Adaptation | 4 |
| BIOL 2160 | Fundamentals Of Life Science Laboratory: Diversity Of Life, Evolution And Adaptation | 1 |
| CHEM 1240 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 1290 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| Humanities Core | 3 | |
| ENGL 1130 | College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Term | ||
| BIOL 3010 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 3020 | Molecular Genetics Laboratory 1 | 2 |
| CHEM 2410 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2460 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Non-Majors | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Calculus For The Life Sciences With Applications I | ||
| Calculus I For Mathematicians, Scientists And Educators | ||
| Single Variable Calculus I | ||
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| BIOL 3030 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 2420 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Calculus For The Life Sciences With Applications II | ||
| Calculus II For Mathematicians, Scientists And Educators | ||
| Single Variable Calculus II | ||
| Arts/Humanities Core | 3 | |
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| BIOL 3090 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
| PSY 2400 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PHYS 2070 | General Physics I | 5 |
| CHEM 3510 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| BIOL 3070 | Human Physiology | 3 |
| PHYS 2080 | General Physics II | 5 |
| CHEM 3520 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| Writing Across the Curriculum Elective (WAC) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| BIOL 4250 | Introduction to Neurobiology 2 | 3 |
| PSY 3400 | Cognitive Neuropsychology | 3 |
| MATH 2600 or MATH 2640 | Introduction To Statistics or Statistics for Applied Science | 3 |
| BIOL 3XXX/4XXX Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Non US Diversity | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| BIOL 4910 | Undergraduate Research (Neuro) 2 | 3 |
| BIOL 4700 | Biological Literature And Communication ((Neuro)) | 3 |
| Electives to get to 120 hours | 6 | |
| Diversity of US | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120-121 | |
| 1 | May take different 3000-4000 level lab in different semester, 2 are required. |
| 2 | 9 hours of 3000-4000 level BIOL electives are required. Hours from the 3000-4000 level BIOL lab requirement count toward requirement. |
2. Students will demonstrate the ability to use fundamental concepts of biological science to analyze and evaluate biological observations in written and mathematical terms. (Applied and collaborative learning)
3. Students will act effectively as a member of a team. (Applied and collaborative learning)
4. Students will understand and comply with ethical behavior in coursework, research, and the use of scientific information. (Civic and global learning)
5. Students will be able to perform effective primary literature searches and identify relevant primary literature. (Specialized knowledge)
6. Students will be able to read primary biological literature and apply critical thinking to the analysis and interpretation of biological experiments. (Applied and collaborative learning)
7. Students will demonstrate appropriate oral and written skills to communicate concepts in biology to the public, peers, and specialists. (Intellectual Skills/Applied and Collaborative Learning)
8. Students will demonstrate the ability to incorporate diverse views and perspectives. (Civic and global learning)