Biology (B.S.)

Required Coursework

All students must complete 40 credit hours of Biology coursework for the major, including the Biology core (10 crs) and a Specialization that includes 30 upper-level (300 or above) BIOL credit hours, as stipulated below. No more than 1 credit hour of BIOL 494 Internship and 3 credit hours of BIOL 498 Undergraduate Research may be counted towards the requirement for the major. In addition, students must complete the nondepartmental requirements that pertain to their chosen Specialization.

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

Biology Core Requirements (10 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, HSDC]
• BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• BIOL 153 - General Biology II (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• BIOL 153L - General Biology II Lab (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• BIOL 280 - Inquiry and Analysis in Biology (C)
• BIOL 280L - Inquiry and Analysis in Biology Laboratory (C)

SPECIALIZATION: CONSERVATION & BIODIVERSITY (30 hours)

• BIOL 311 - Principles of Ecology (C)
• BIOL 311L - Principles of Ecology Lab (C)
• BIOL 473 - Evolution (C)
• Two courses from Biodiversity Course Group (see note below) 6-8 crs
• Two courses from Conservation and Ecology Course Group 6-7 crs
• One course from Cell & Molecular or Physiology & Structure Course Groups 3-4 crs
• Capstone Group 0-4 crs
• BIOL electives  0-8 crs (Any BIOL courses, 300 or 400 level, in addition to those taken to complete specified distribution requirements in Conservation & Biodiversity Specialization, for a total of 40 credits in BIOL.)

Nondepartmental Requirements for Conservation & Biodiversity Specialization (10-14 hours)

Non-Departmental requirements may also be applied toward a minor or second major.

• Complete one course and its corresponding lab (4 credit hours) from the list below:

• CHEM 106 - Chemistry Survey (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]

• In addition, complete one course and its corresponding lab, if applicable (3-5 credit hours total) from the list below:

• CHEM 110 - Chemistry and the Environment
• CHEM 110L - Chemistry and the Environment Laboratory
• CHEM 114 - General Chemistry II (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 114L - General Chemistry II Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 116 - Honors Principles of Chemistry [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 116L - Honors Principles of Chemistry Laboratory [SGR #6, HSDC]
• ESCI 101 - Dynamic Earth [SGR #6, HSDC]
• ESCI 101L - Dynamic Earth Laboratory [SGR #6, HSDC]
• ESCI 103 - Earth and Life Through Time [SGR #6, HSDC]
• ESCI 103L - Earth and Life Through Time Laboratory [SGR #6, HSDC]
• ESCI 425 - Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
• PHYS 111 - Introduction to Physics I (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• PHYS 111L - Introduction to Physics I Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• PHYS 211 - University Physics I (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• PHYS 211L - University Physics I Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]

•  

• Complete one Math course and its corresponding lab, if applicable, (3-5 credit hours total) from the list below:

• MATH 114 - College Algebra (C) [SGR #5, HSDC]
• MATH 115 - Precalculus (C) [SGR #5, HSDC]
• MATH 120 - Trigonometry (C) [SGR #5, HSDC]
• MATH 121 - Survey of Calculus (C) [SGR #5, HSDC]
• MATH 123 - Calculus I (C) [SGR #5, HSDC] (5 credits required)
• MATH 125 - Calculus II (C) [SGR #5, HSDC]
• MATH 125L - Calculus II Laboratory (C) [HSDC]

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

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

• BIOL 471 - Genetics (C)
• BIOL 473 - Evolution (C)
• 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
• Capstone Group 0-4 crs
• BIOL electives 5-12 crs

Biodiversity Course Group

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

Conservation & Ecology Course Group

• BIOL 310 - Environmental Science
• 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 418 - Ecosystem Ecology
• BIOL 419 - Plant Ecology (C) ^B
• BIOL 419L - Plant Ecology Laboratory (C) ^L
• BIOL 424 - Disease Ecology
• BIOL 436 - Biogeography (C)
• 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
 

Capstone Course Group

Any 498 course used for a capstone must have a semi-independent research component, including experimental design, data analysis, and presentation and be approved by the Biology department chair or designee.

Some capstone courses may also be used for distribution credit for other course groups or to fulfill Lab course requirements.

• BIOL 417 - Field Ecology
• BIOL 417L - Field Ecology Laboratory
• BIOL 427 - Plant Physiology
• BIOL 427L - Plant Physiology Laboratory
• BIOL 490 - Seminar (C)
• BIOL 498 - Undergrad Research/Scholarship (C)
• UHON 498 - Senior Thesis (C)

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

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

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan.

• Biology, B.S.-Conservation and Biodiversity specialization 4-year plan guide  
• Biology, B.S.-Education specialization 4-year plan guide  
• Biology, B.S.-Physiology, Cell & Molecular Biology specialization 4-year plan guide