Aug 26, 2025  
2025-2026 Academic Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Biology, B.S.


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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:

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

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

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

Area 2: One World Allied Health

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:

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.

Additional Core Curriculum Requirements


All B.S. and B.A. biology majors are also required to satisfy four additional Core Curriculum requirements:

  1. Two writing intensive courses must be taken with one in the biology major.
  2. Two Civilizations and Cultures courses (6 credits)
  3. LEAD 344 Leadership in Organizations  (3 credits)
  4.   (1 credit)
  5. ERH 101 - Writing and Rhetoric I  (3 credits)
  6. ERH 102 - Writing and Rhetoric II  (3 credits)
  7. HI 103 - World History I  (3 credits)
  8. HI 104 - World History II  (3 credits)

Synopsis of the B.S. Curriculum in Biology


 

Fourth (Freshman) Class


 

Third (Sophomore) Class


 

Second (Junior) Class


 

First (Senior) Class


 

Total Hours: minimum 136


*Minimum Grade of C Required.

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