Overview
The B.S. degree is recommended as preparation for medical school, veterinary school, dental school, masters and Ph.D. programs in biology, careers in biological research, conservation and environmental management, and teaching at the high school and college level. Three options are available for students to specialize within Biology.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Core Courses | ||
| Two semesters of introductory biology plus labs are required, usually taken in the first year: | ||
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIL 151 | General Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| or BIL 153 | Introductory Biology/Chemistry Laboratory I | |
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIL 161 | Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | 1 |
| or BIL 163 | Introductory Biology/Chemistry Laboratory II | |
| Select one of the following three Options for upper level required biology core courses: | 12 | |
| Option One: This option is recommended for students interested in medical school, other health sciences, cell, molecular and developmental biology. | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
| Comparative Physiology | ||
| Ecology | ||
or BIL 320 | Evolutionary Biology | |
| Option Two: This option is recommended for students interested in ecology, evolution, biodiversity and conservation. | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
or BIL 360 | Comparative Physiology | |
| Option Three: | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Comparative Physiology | ||
| Additional BIL electives | 12 | |
At least three credit hours of additional BIL electives must be at the 400-level or higher | ||
Two biology laboratory or field courses beyond <BIL 151 or BIL 153> and <BIL 161 or BIL 163> are required as part of the additional BIL electives. Approved laboratory/field courses at the 300 level or higher in departments other than Biology (e.g., BMB, MIC, MSC, NEU) can be counted towards this lab requirement. Check with the Department of Biology to confirm that a specific course is allowed to fulfill this requirement. | ||
| Up to eight credit hours toward the major may be selected from courses with a biological topic and numbered 300 or higher in MBE, MES, MSC, or OCE. | ||
| A maximum of two credit hours of the following may be applied towards the major | ||
| Readings in Biology | ||
| Readings in Biology | ||
| A maximum of six credit hours of the following may be applied towards the major. (Only one of these may be counted towards the lab/field course requirement.) | ||
| Projects in Biology | ||
| Projects in Biology | ||
| Projects in Biology | ||
| A maximum of three total credit hours from the following courses may be applied towards the major. Any course in this list may be taken only once to count towards the major. However, these courses may be taken additional times for general elective credit only. | ||
| Workshop Leaders in Biology I 1 | ||
| Workshop Leaders in Biology II | ||
| Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Training in Biology | ||
| PRISM Teaching Fellow | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Three semesters (16 credits) of chemistry are required for the biology major. | 16 | |
| Principles of Chemistry and Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Introduction to Structure and Dynamics and Chemical Dynamics Laboratory | ||
| Organic Reactions and Synthesis and Organic Reactions and Synthesis Laboratory | ||
| Statistics or Computer Language/Programming | ||
| Select one statistics or one computer language/programming course from the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Advanced Biostatistics | ||
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics Section B | ||
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Physics | ||
| Select one of the following Options: | 10-11 | |
| Option One: | ||
| College Physics I and College Physics Laboratory I | ||
| College Physics II and College Physics Laboratory II | ||
| Option Two: | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences and College Physics Laboratory I | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences and College Physics Laboratory II | ||
| Option Three: | ||
| PHY 211 & PHY 106 | University Physics I for PRISM and College Physics Laboratory I | 5 |
| PHY 212 & PHY 108 | University Physics II for PRISM and College Physics Laboratory II | 5 |
| Option Four: | ||
| PHY 221 | University Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 222 & PHY 224 | University Physics II and University Physics II Lab | 4 |
| PHY 223 & PHY 225 | University Physics III and University Physics III Lab | 4 |
| Minor | 1-16 | |
Total credit hours for the minor will vary by department. | ||
The CHM requirement for the BS in biology fulfills either 12 or 15 (depending on which option is selected) of the 16 credits necessary for the minor in Chemistry. To complete the minor in Chemistry, only 1-4 additional credits in CHM are required beyond those necessary for the BS in Biology. | ||
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| or WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 161 | Calculus I (This course will fulfill the quantitative skills proficiency requirement.) | 4 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Additional Required Courses | ||
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Language Courses | 3-9 | |
| Electives | 0-25 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A maximum of one credit hour may be applied towards the major or minor. These courses may be taken more than once each for general elective credit only, but only two credits from these options may count towards the major or minor.
- 2
This will fulfill the mathematics/statistics/computer programming requirement under the College of Arts and Sciences General degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science.
Suggested Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIL 151 or 153 | General Biology Laboratory or Introductory Biology/Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIL 161 or 163 | Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory or Introductory Biology/Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| CHM 221 | Introduction to Structure and Dynamics | 4 |
| CHM 205 | Chemical Dynamics Laboratory | 1 |
| WRS 106, 107, or ENG 106 | First-Year Writing II or First-Year Writing II: STEM or Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIL 250 or 255 | Genetics or Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| CHM 222 | Organic Reactions and Synthesis | 4 |
| CHM 206 | Organic Reactions and Synthesis Laboratory | 2 |
| Language 101 | 3 | |
| Statistics or Computer Science Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIL 250 or 255 | Genetics or Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIL 330 or 320 | Ecology or Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| BIL 374, 375, or 402 | Seminar in Biology or Seminar in Biology or Seminar in Biology | 1 |
| BIL Lab (note: Some BIL labs are available for WRI credit. Check course listings for more information.) | 1-2 | |
| Language 102 | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17-18 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIL 250, 255, or 360 | Genetics or Cellular and Molecular Biology or Comparative Physiology | 3 |
| BIL 330 or 320 | Ecology or Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| PHY 101, 201, or 211 | College Physics I or University Physics I for the Sciences or University Physics I for PRISM | 4 |
| PHY 106 | College Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| People and Society Cognate course (WRI) | 3 | |
| Language 2XX | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Biology Lab/Field course | 1-3 | |
| PHY 102, 202, or 212 | College Physics II or University Physics II for the Sciences or University Physics II for PRISM | 4 |
| PHY 108 | College Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate (WRI) | 3 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIL Elective | 3 | |
| Biology Lab/Field course | 1-3 | |
| BIL Elective | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 3 | |
| Elective (WRI) | 3 | |
| BIL 375, 374, or 402 | Seminar in Biology or Seminar in Biology or Seminar in Biology | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 14-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIL Elective | 3 | |
| BIL Elective | 1 | |
| Elective (WRI) | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 3 | |
| Elective | 1-3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-16 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 129-136 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will, through a required core of courses including laboratories, demonstrate a broad knowledge base in Biology.
- Students will, through exposure to biological concepts, inquiry-based learning and biological research, develop the ability to think critically and to formulate and test hypotheses.
- Students will, through courses intensive in research presentations, develop presentation skills sufficient to communicate scientific information to professional and public audiences.
- Students will, through exposure to biological concepts, inquiry-based learning and biological research, develop the ability to think critically and understand proper application of the scientific method.
