B.S. Biology majors are required to complete a minimum of 40 semester hours in biology that includes a core program of four courses (required of all biology majors and minors) and 25 semester hours of biology electives. A student can choose electives to represent a wide range of biological fields, or choose to concentrate in a particular area.  In that case, electives will be chosen from a concentration within biology to allow the student training in a particular area.  Biology concentrations are listed at left.  In addition, students take a minimum of 9 semester hours in course work to develop research skills, Foundations Curriculum requirements and elective courses to satisfy minimum degree requirements of 126 semester hours.

BS in Biology Curriculum Outline

1. Foundations Curriculum requirements:.....................................42 s.h.

English Composition (ENGL 1100, 1200)............6 s.h

General Chemistry (CHEM 1150, 1151; 1160, 1161)..8 s.h.

Social Science .............................12 s.h.

Courses to be selected from at least three of the following areas:

Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology

College Algebra (MATH 1065)..........................3 s.h.

Humanities and Fine Arts...............................10 s.h.

At least one course in humanities and one in fine arts from the following:

Humanities: Literature (English or American), Literature in a foreign language or in translation (see Departments of English and Foreign Language and Literatures), Philosophy.

Fine Arts: Art, Music, Theatre Arts, Dance, Speech

Health and Exercise Sports (HLTH 1000, EXSS 1000)........3 s.h.

2.  A. Core curriculum courses........................................15 s.h.

Principles of Biology I & II (BIOL 1100/1101, 1200/1201

Ecology (BIOL 2250/2251)

Principles of Genetics (BIOL 2300)

   B. Biology electives including minimum recommended course hours for a particular area of concentration, if applicable……25 s.h.

3. Required cognate courses:............................................22 s.h.

Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory (CHEM 2750, 2753) (3,1)

Organic Chemistry & Laboratory II (CHEM 2760, 2763) (3,1)

Calculus for the Life Sciences (MATH 2121, 2122)

General Physics (PHYS 1250, 1251; 1260, 1261)

4. Research Skills:....................................................................9 s.h.

Choose one option and complete all 9 s.h.:

Option A) Foreign Language through level 1003, minimum of 9 s.h.

Option B) Quantitative and Communications skills:

        At least one course in Scientific Writing, recommendation:

               Scientific Writing (ENGL 3820(3) or

               Technical Writing (ITEC 3290) (3)

     At least one course in statistical methods, recommendation:

              Elementary Statistical Methods (MATH 3228)(3)

     At least one computer science course, recommendation:

              Introduction to Computers (MIS 2223, CSCI 2510 or CSCI 2600)(3)

Option C) Relevant cognate area --courses chosen to meet this requirement must be planned through consultation with a faculty adviser and approved in advance by the departmental director of undergraduate studies.  An example would be a minor or second major.

Option D) As recommended by the Microbiology area of concentration

(Students contemplating graduate school should consider admission requirements of the intended graduate program before selecting a research skills area ---see your adviser.)

5. General electives to complete the requirements of a minimum of 126 semesters hours of credit needed for graduation.