Biology (B.S.)

Required Coursework

All students must complete 39 credit hours of Biology coursework for the major, including the Biology core (9 crs) and a Specialization that includes 30 upper-level (300 or above) BIOL credit hours, as stipulated below. No more than 5 credit hours total of internship, field experience, or undergraduate research (BIOL 494, 496, 498) may be counted towards the requirement for the major, including no more than 1 credit hour of BIOL 494 Internship and 3 credit hours of BIOL 498 Undergraduate Research. In addition, students must complete the nondepartmental requirements that pertain to their chosen Specialization.

• Biology core courses  9 crs
• Nondepartmental requirements 10-22 crs
• Specialization (required of all students)  30 crs

Biology Core Requirements (9 hours)

All students complete the General Biology sequence (BIOL 151, 151L, 153, 153L), usually during their initial two semesters. Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better in the General Biology sequence in order to enroll in upper-level Biology courses. Students who choose to pursue a major in Biology after completing the BIOL 101/103 sequence (non-science major’s courses) should see the Biology Chair for advising.

• BIOL 151 - General Biology I (C) [SGR #6]
• BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (C) [SGR #6]
• BIOL 153 - General Biology II (C) [SGR #6]
• BIOL 153L - General Biology II Lab (C) [SGR #6]
• BIOL 490 - Seminar (C)

SPECIALIZATION: CONSERVATION & BIODIVERSITY (30 hours)

• BIOL 311 - Principles of Ecology (C)
• BIOL 311L - Principles of Ecology Lab (C)
• BIOL 473 - Evolution

• Two courses from Biodiversity Course Group (see note below) 6-8 crs

• Two courses from Conservation and Ecology Course Group 6 crs

• One course from Cell & Molecular or Physiology & Structure Course Groups 3-4 crs

• BIOL electives 5-8 crs

•  

• Lab Courses: All students in the Conservation and Biodiversity Specialization must complete three upper-level Biology Lab courses in addition to BIOL 311L.

SPECIALIZATION: PHYSIOLOGY, CELL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (30 hours)

• Take one of the following courses (3 cr):

• BIOL 471 - Genetics
• BIOL 473 - Evolution

• Take two courses from Cell & Molecular Course Group 6 crs

• Take two courses from Physiology & Structure Course Group 6-8 crs

• Take one course from Biodiversity or Conservation & Ecology Course Groups (see note below) 3-4 crs

• BIOL electives 9-12 crs

Biodiversity Course Group

• BIOL 401 - Plant Systematics ^B
• BIOL 401L - Plant Systematics Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 405 - Entomology (C) ^Z
• BIOL 405L - Entomology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 407 - Plants and Civilization ^B
• BIOL 407L - Plants and Civilization Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 434 - Herpetology (C) ^Z
• BIOL 434L - Herpetology Laboratory (C) ^L
• BIOL 435 - Animal Diversity & Evolution ^Z
• BIOL 436 - Biogeography [W]
• BIOL 452 - Comparative Plant Morphology ^B
• BIOL 452L - Comparative Plant Morphology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 463 - Ornithology (C) ^Z
• BIOL 463L - Ornithology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 469 - Fish Biology ^Z
• BIOL 469L - Fish Biology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 473 - Evolution
• BIOL 485 - Invertebrate Paleontology
• BIOL 485L - Invertebrate Paleontology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 486 - Vertebrate Paleontology
• BIOL 486L - Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory ^L

Conservation & Ecology Course Group

• BIOL 310 - Environmental Science [online]
• BIOL 311 - Principles of Ecology (C)
• BIOL 311L - Principles of Ecology Lab (C) ^L
• BIOL 402 - Animal Behavior ^Z
• BIOL 408 - Landscape Ecology
• BIOL 408L - Landscape Ecology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 410 - Conservation Biology (C)
• BIOL 412 - Freshwater Ecology
• BIOL 412L - Freshwater Ecology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 417 - Field Ecology
• BIOL 417L - Field Ecology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 419 - Plant Ecology ^B
• BIOL 419L - Plant Ecology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 436 - Biogeography [W]
• BIOL 440 - Restoration Ecology (C)
• BIOL 440L - Restoration Ecology Lab (C) ^L
• BIOL 466 - Environmental Toxicology & Contaminants (C)

Cell & Molecular Course Group

• BIOL 425 - Cellular Physiology
• BIOL 441 - Histology ^Z
• BIOL 441L - Histology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 443 - Cell Biology
• BIOL 475 - Introduction to Molecular Biology
• BIOL 483 - Developmental Biology (C)

Physiology & Structure Course Group

• BIOL 426 - Endocrinology  ^Z
• BIOL 427 - Plant Physiology ^B
• BIOL 427L - Plant Physiology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 428 - Comparative Physiology ^Z
• BIOL 428L - Comparative Physiology Laboratory ^L
• BIOL 429 - Biology of Reproduction ^Z
• BIOL 430 - Neurobiology (C) ^Z
• BIOL 432 - Behavioral Neuroscience ^Z
• BIOL 433 - Environmental Physiology of Animals ^Z
• BIOL 456 - Mammalian Physiology ^Z
• BIOL 481 - Vertebrate Anatomy & Embryology ^Z
• BIOL 481L - Vertebrate Anatomy & Embryology Laboratory ^L

Course Designation Key

^B= Botany Course
^L =Lab Course
^Z = Zoology Course
 

Secondary Education/Biology Education (B.S.Ed.)

See Secondary Education/Biology Education (B.S.Ed.)  for requirements.