Biological Sciences, B.S.

Degree Type
Bachelor of Science
Department

The B.S. degree program is the recommended program for students who plan a graduate program in biological sciences. It is also the suggested course of study for those planning careers in the biological sciences, premedical and pre-professional training, and secondary education.

Students interested in secondary education should refer to the certification requirements in the teacher education program

Curriculum

Total Credits Required- 120

Liberal Education

Refer to the Liberal Education Curriculum Bulletin for specific requirements.

Departmental Requirements - 66 credits
Basic Biology requirement: 8 credits (2 courses)
  • BS2400-BS2401 Basic Biology I with Lab 
  • BS2410-BS2411 Basic Biology II with Lab 
Senior Seminar requirement: 4 credits (2 courses)
  • BS5410 Seminar I: Reading in the Discipline
  • BS5420 Seminar II: Writing in the Discipline 
Chemistry and Physics requirement: 26 credits (6 courses)
  • CP2120-2121 Principles of Chemistry I &
  • CP2130-2131 Principles of Chemistry II
  • CP3300-3302 Organic Chemistry I &
  • CP3310-3312 Organic Chemistry II
  • CP2220-2221 Structure of Physics I &
  • CP2230-2231 Structure of Physics II

or

  • CP2240-2241 General Physics I &
  • CP2250-2251 General Physics II Mathematics
  • MA2310 Calculus and Analytic Geometry

A grade of D may be accepted toward graduation in two of the required courses in Chemistry/Physics or Math.

 

Upper-division Biology requirement: 24 credits

1.    At least one course chosen from each of the following areas:

a.    Cell-Molecular area:
  • BS4400    Cell Biology
  • BS4460    Genetics
  • BS4560 Molecular Biology
b.    Organismic area:
  • BS3400    Vertebrate Physiology
  • BS3520    Comparative Anatomy
  • BS4430    Developmental Biology
c.    Population area:
  • BS4440    Evolution
  • BS4470    Ecology
  • BS4474    Microbial Ecology


2.   Three courses chosen from the list of Biology electives (at least one must have a lab component)


Biology Electives
  • BS3400    Vertebrate Physiology
  •  BS3450    Plant Biology
  • BS3500    Invertebrate Zoology
  •  BS3510    Parasitology
  • BS3520    Comparative Anatomy 
  • BS3530    Comparative Genomics Lect. and
  • BS 3531 Comparative Genomics Lab 
  • BS3710    Environmental Physiology
  • BS3810    Biological Aspects of Aging 
  • BS4400    Cell Biology
  • BS4410    Histology
  • BS4420    Microbiology
  • BS4430    Developmental Biology
  •  BS4440    Evolution
  • BS4460    Genetics 
  • BS4461    Immunology 
  • BS4470    Ecology 
  • BS4471    Limnology
  • BS4473    Tropical Marine Biology
  •  BS4474    Microbial Ecology 
  • BS4480    Animal Behavior 
  • BS4491    Human Ecology
  • BS4500    Cell and Molecular Neurobiology 
  • BS4550    Cancer Cell Biology
  • BS4560    Molecular Biology
  • BS4651    Toxicology
  • BS5590    Advanced Research
  • BS5591-BS5592 Environmental Research CP3910 Intro to Bioinformatics
  • CP4490 Biochemistry for Life Sciences CP4510 Biochemistry

 

1.  Completion of BS2400/BS2401-BS2410/BS2411 Basic Biological Sciences I and II and labs, with grades of C or better are prerequisites for upper- division biology courses. A grade of C or better is required in each biology course in order to be credited for graduation.

 

4.  A student may not repeat any Biology course more than one time.
 

General electives

Please choose in consultation with Academic Advisor

  • BS3400 Vertebrate Physiology
  • BS3450 Plant Biology
  • BS3500 Invertebrate Zoology
  • BS3510 Parasitology
  • BS3520 Comparative Anatomy
  • BS3530 Comparative Genomics Lect. and BS 3531 Comparative Genomics Lab
  • BS3710 Environmental Physiology
  • BS3810 Biological Aspects of Aging
  • BS4400 Cell Biology
  • BS4410 Histology
  • BS4420 Microbiology
  • BS4430 Developmental Biology
  • BS4440 Evolution
  • BS4460 Genetics
  • BS4461 Immunology
  • BS4470 Ecology
  • BS4471 Limnology
  • BS4473 Tropical Marine Biology
  • BS4474 Microbial Ecology
  • BS4480 Animal Behavior
  • BS4491 Human Ecology
  • BS4500 Cell and Molecular Neurobiology
  • BS4550 Cancer Cell Biology
  • BS4560 Molecular Biology
  • BS4651 Toxicology
  • BS5590 Advanced Research
  • BS5591-BS5592 Environmental Research
  • CP4510 Biochemistry