Requirements for a Major in Biology
Bachelor of Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 121 | Foundations of Experimental Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 123 | Principles in Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 200 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 205 | Evolution | 3 |
| Select one semester of chemistry at or above the CHEM 215 level | 4 | |
| Select six additional courses above the 180-level, with at least one course from each of the following three groups: 1 | 21-24 | |
| Cell and Molecular Group | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Reproductive & Stem Cell Biology | ||
| Biological Microscopy | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Cellular & Molecular Neurobiology | ||
| Biochemistry I | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Organismal Group | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Vertebrate Field Biology | ||
| Ecology Group | ||
| Marine Biology | ||
| Medical & Veterinary Entomology | ||
| Freshwater Ecology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Tropical Biodiversity | ||
| Human Ecology and Evolution | ||
| Conservation Genetics | ||
| Ecological Simulation | ||
| Microbial Symbiosis | ||
| Up to three of the following courses can be used to meet the "Six additional courses" requirement. | ||
| Infectious Disease & Public Health | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Internship in Biology | ||
or BIOL 457 | Internship in Biology (Paid) | |
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Research in Biology | ||
| Research in Biology | ||
| Senior Project | ||
| Senior Project | ||
| Mathematical Biology | ||
| Electives | ||
| Must complete four additional courses from the following: 2 | 12-16 | |
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Introductory Physics | ||
| Introductory Physics | ||
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Data Structures | ||
| Behavioral Neuroscience Techniques | ||
| Behavioral and Statistical Modeling | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Research in Biology | ||
| Senior Project | ||
| Capstone | ||
| BIOL 499 | Biology Capstone 3 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 54-61 | |
- 1
At least three of the six courses must be four hour courses. BIOL 494 or BIOL 498 may substitute for one of these 4 hour courses.
- 2
Note that these four additional courses must be distinct from the six courses about the 180-level listed above.
- 3
Must successfully complete BIOL 499 in the senior year.
All courses counted towards the major must be completed with a minimum grade of C-, and BIOL 121 and BIOL 123 must be passed with at least a C- as a prerequisite for many biology courses numbered 200 and above. Students double-majoring in biology, particularly those with their second major in cognate disciplines, such as math, physics, chemistry, and psychology, must still complete the biology capstone.
Requirements for a Teaching Endorsement in Biology
The program requirements of a student planning to minor in education for the purpose of certification in Biology vary slightly from those of other Biology majors. All students must complete the requirements for a major in Biology as listed above. While completing the major, education students must include the following courses, as well as ENGL 185 and the Education minor. Not all courses required for certification will apply to the Biology major.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 121 | Foundations of Experimental Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 123 | Principles in Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 200 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 201 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 205 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 499 | Biology Capstone | 3 |
| CHEM 215 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 |
| Select one of the following botany courses: | 4 | |
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Select one of the following organismal courses: | 4 | |
| Ichthyology | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Vertebrate Field Biology | ||
| Select one of the following anatomy/physiology courses: | 4 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Select one of the following ecology courses: | 4 | |
| Marine Biology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Select one of the following physics courses: | 4 | |
| A Hitchhiker's Guide to Physics (With Apologies to Douglas Adams) | ||
| Introductory Physics | ||
| Select one of the following earth science courses: | 4 | |
| Introductory Astronomy | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Geology and the Environment | ||
| A Geologic History of Earth | ||
| Select one of the following statistics courses: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Total Hours | 52-53 | |