Biology, B.S.

The B.S. degree in biology is designed to give the student a solid background in the biological and natural sciences while maintaining the flexibility for the student to select courses that meet interests and career goals. The required introductory sequence provides the fundamental background in biology to move into the upper-level courses. The required two groups of Biology Area Electives allow flexibility in selecting courses while providing a breadth of background. The Biology Area Electives emphasize Field and Organismal Biology and One World Allied Health. The additional 9-10 hours of biology course work allow a student to focus on one of these Elective Areas.

B.S. Curriculum

Common Core Course Requirements

All B.S. biology majors are required to complete the following courses:

BI 105 - Concepts in Biology I Credit Hours: 4
BI 106 - Concepts in Biology II Credit Hours: 4
BI 420W - Capstone Research Experience Credit Hours: 3

In addition to these courses, a B.S. major must take:

BI 200 - Integrative Biology Credit Hours: 4

A B.S. major must take one course (3-4 credits) from the Biological Molecules Area:

BI 325 - Ecological Biochemistry Credit Hours: 4
BI 346 - Genetics Credit Hours: 4
BI 414 - Cell and Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 4
CH 322 - Metabolic Biochemistry Credit Hours: 3

In addition to these courses, a B.S. major must take 24 additional credits: 3 courses from each of the following groups of Biology Area Electives:

Area 1: Field and Organismal Biology

BI 217 - General Botany Credit Hours: 4
BI 219 - Conservation Biology Credit Hours: 4
BI 307 - Vertebrate Biology Credit Hours: 4
BI 311 - Aquatic Ecosystems Credit Hours: 4
BI 312 - Ecology Credit Hours: 4
BI 325 - Ecological Biochemistry Credit Hours: 4
BI 327 - Biology of Fungi Credit Hours: 4

Area 2: Field and Organismal Biology

BI 204 - Physiology Credit Hours: 4
BI 313 - Microbiology Credit Hours: 4
BI 321 - Invertebrate Zoology Credit Hours: 4
BI 326 - Parasitology Credit Hours: 4
BI 335 - Neurobiology Credit Hours: 4
BI 346 - Genetics Credit Hours: 4
BI 414 - Cell and Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 4

Additional Hours

Additional hours (6) must be selected from either the 4 credit Biology Area Electives (Area 1 Field and Organismal Biology or Area 2 One World Allied Health) or the following 3 credit Biology Electives:

BI 201 - Biostatistics Credit Hours: 3
BI 210 - Comparative Animal Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
BI 216 - Animal Behavior Credit Hours: 3
BI 218X - Biology of Gender Credit Hours: 3
BI 240 - Biological Agents in Warfare and Terrorism Credit Hours: 3
BI 245X - Epidemics and Society Credit Hours: 3
BI 250 - Survey and Analysis of Environmental Issues Credit Hours: 3
BI 301 - Nematology Credit Hours: 3
BI 310 - Evolutionary Biology Credit Hours: 3
BI 308 - Zoonotic Disease Credit Hours: 3
BI 330 - Plants and Human Conflicts Credit Hours: 3
BI 331WX - Cultural, Ethical, Economic, Religious, and Political issues Surrounding Science and Medicine Credit Hours: 3
BI 351 - Selected Topics in Biology Credit Hours: 2-4
BI 352 - Selected Topics in Biology Credit Hours: 2-4
BI 355 - Endocrinology Credit Hours: 3
BI 406 - Virology Credit Hours: 3
BI 411 - Immunology Credit Hours: 3
BI 430 - Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 3

B.S. majors must complete a math sequence (6 credits: MA 106 /MA 126 or MA 123 /MA 124 ), a general chemistry sequence (8 credits: CH 137 and CH 117 , CH 138 and CH 118 ), and a general physics sequence (8 credits: PY 120 and PY 155 , PY 121 and PY 156 ).

Cadets in the B.S. major must also complete 9 credit hours of Science Electives by choosing upper-level courses in any of the following (pre-med cadets will likely take Organic Chemistry):

Chemistry
Human Performance and Wellness (only 4 credit courses)
Applied Math
Computer and Information Sciences
Physics (PY designation)
Biology: Human Anatomy &Physiology I and II
Engineering
Other STEM by approval

Additionally, 12 Non-Science Elective (LA) credits must be completed in either English, rhetoric, and humanistic studies (ERH), history, economics, business, psychology, international studies and political science, or modern languages. Finally, 12 credits of Free Electives must be taken from any courses except MA 114 and MA 115.