BiologyMajor

Overview

The requirements for the BS are designed for students who wish to pursue an advanced degree in the life sciences. Additional courses in chemistry, physics, quantitative theory and methods, and calculus provide greater in-depth training than the BA. The BA degree is appropriate for those students who wish to pursue a double major.

Requirements

The BS degree requires at least 57 credit hours, including a minimum of eleven biology classes totaling 30 hours. These eleven biology classes must include:

• Biology 141 and 141L plus Biology 142 and 142L
• One course from each of the following three areas: A) cell and molecular biology, B) organismal biology, and C) ecology/evolution
• Four elective classes (12 credit hours minimum) from the biology course listings (excluding Biology 120, 160, 190, and 497), no more than one of which is cross-listed and originates in another department (see NOTES below).

One upper level laboratory course is also required within the 30 hours minimum of biology.

Seven classes from other science and math departments are also required for the BS, as follows:

• Chemistry 150, 202, 203 with labs; Physics 141 with lab; QTM 100 and two calculus classes: Math 111 and 116 are recommended but other options can be considered in consultation with your Biology faculty advisor.

NOTES

Biology 141, 141L, 142 and 142Lare prerequisites for all upper level courses in biology except Biology 240, which can be taken with AP credit for Biology 141 and concurrently with Biology 141L.

A "C" average is required in the Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math classes necessary for the major.

All courses required for the Biology major must be taken for a letter grade.

Only one cross-listed course that originates in another department may be counted for the biology major. These courses are subject to change, and currently include: Biol/Psych 320, Biol/Psych 325, Biol/Chem 330, Biol/ENVS 345, Biol/Chem 346L, Biol 356/NBB 358, Biol/NBB 361, Biol 385 (Phys 380/NBB 370), Biol/Psych 440, and certain Biol 285, 385, and 485 courses. This also applies to certain ECS 490 courses with biological topics (check with the Biology Department office)

2 credit hour courses may be taken for elective credit; however, additional biology courses will be needed to fulfill the 12 hours of elective credit required.

4 credit hours of Biology 495 (Honors Research) or Biology 499R (non-Honors Undergraduate Research) may be counted as both elective credit and an upper-level lab only after completion of the second semester of 495 or 499R.

An AP score of 4 or 5 on the Biology AP exam, or an IB score of at least 5, will exempt students from Biology 141 only. Biology 141L and Biology 142 and 142L will still be required.. It is also recommended that transfer students without a Genetics class enroll in Biology 142.

All Biology majors are required to meet with their Biology advisor every semester during pre-registration. An enrollment hold is placed on all Biology major's OPUS accounts each semester until they have met with Biology advisor.