Bachelor of Science in Biology
Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Biology requires completion of the Biology Core, described below, which includes General Biology in combination with selected chemistry, physics and mathematics courses that will serve as a foundation for further study in the Department. A minimum of 22 credits of course work in Biology must be completed, in addition to General Biology I and II (8 credits). (Up to six research/internship credits may be used to satisfy this requirement.) This requirement may be satisfied by any combination of courses offered by the Department, as long as the following conditions are met: 1) The combination must include at least three laboratory courses. 2) The combination must satisfy the course distribution requirement, (see following). Choice of advanced courses should be made in light of future plans and should be discussed with the student’s academic advisor.
To meet the above requirements for the Bachelor of Science, Biology majors will ordinarily earn a minimum of 42 credits in Biology as well as extradepartmental credits in chemistry, physics and mathematics courses. A grade of "C" or better in any prerequisite course is required for advanced courses in Biology, although this requirement may be waived by permission of the instructor.
The Biology Core includes: General Biology I and II (Biology 1311/1111 and 1312/1112), General Chemistry I and II (Chemistry 1303/1103 and 1304/1104), Organic Chemistry I (Chemistry 3321/3121), one Chemistry elective (to be chosen from Chemistry 3322/3122, 3331/3131, 3335/3135, 2414/2014, 3445 or BIO 3315) and General Physics I and II (either Physics 2311/2111 plus 2312/2112 or 2305/2105 plus 2306/2106). Biology students satisfy the core mathematics requirement with Calculus I (MAT 1404). The Biology Core requires one other mathematics course: either Calculus II (MAT 1411), any other core mathematics course, or Biostatistics (BIO 3345). Biostatistics cannot both satisfy the Biology Core mathematics requirement and apply toward the advanced Biology credits required for the B.A. or the B.S. Students contemplating graduate study should choose Introduction to Statistics (MAT 2305) or Biostatistics (BIO 3345) to satisfy the mathematics requirement and Biology Core requirement.
Course distribution requirements: To satisfy the Department’s course distribution requirement, students must take at least one Biology course from each of the three subject areas indicated below. Additional courses may be approved by the Department chair to satisfy distribution requirements. Courses at the 3000 level or above require completion of General Biology I and II or AP credit for Biology.
| Molecules to Cells |
Cells to Organisms |
Organisms to Populations |
| BIO 2302 |
BIO 2315 |
BIO 2317 |
| BIO 3325 |
BIO 2341 |
BIO 2348 |
| BIO 3327 |
BIO 3323 |
BIO 2360 |
| BIO 3335 |
BIO 3324 |
BIO 3311 |
| BIO 3336 |
BIO 3329 |
BIO 3326 |
| BIO 3340 |
BIO 3331 |
BIO 3346 |
| BIO 4328 |
BIO 3334 |
BIO 3347 |
| BIO 4245 |
|
BIO 3345 |
| BIO 4338 |
|
BIO 3350 |
Comprehensive Examination
All students must pass a comprehensive examination, which is given in the senior year. This examination will generally entail an oral presentation of a scientific research paper or research data the student has collected to the biology faculty and peers. Students will be prepared to undergo this examination by taking upper division courses, which may include Biological Literature Seminar (4360).
Course Sequence
Year I
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Year II
Fall Semester
| Biology Elective | 4 |
| | |
| ECO 1311 | Fundamentals Of Economics | 3 |
| Or | |
| PHI 1301 | Phil & Ethical Life | 3 |
| | |
| MAT 1404 | Calculus I | 4 |
| HIS 2302 | Western Civilization II | 3 |
| POL 1311 | Principles Of American Politics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Spring Semester (Rome)
Year III
Fall Semester
| CHE 3321 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHE 3121 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| | |
| MAT 1411 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Or | |
| Elective | 3 |
| | |
| Language | 3 |
| Or | |
| Biology Elective | 3-4 |
| | |
| PHY 2311 | General Physics I (Calculus) | 3 |
| Or | |
| PHY 2305 | General Physics I (Trigonometry) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17-18 |
Spring Semester
| Chemistry Elective | 4 |
| | |
| Language | 3 |
| Or | |
| Biology Elective | 3-4 |
| | |
| PHY 2312 | General Physics II (Calculus) | 3 |
| Or | |
| PHY 2306 | General Physics II (Trigonometry) | 3 |
| | |
| PHI 3311 | Philosophy of Being | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Year IV
Fall Semester
| BIO 4360 | Bio Lit Seminar | 3 |
| Biology Elective | 4 |
| | |
| Language | 3 |
| Or | |
| Elective | 3 |
| | |
| HIS 1311 | American Civilization I | 3 |
| | |
| ECO 1311 | Fundamentals Of Economics | 3 |
| Or | |
| Biology Elective | 3-4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| Biology Elective | 4 |
| | |
| Language | 3 |
| Or | |
| Elective | 3 |
| | |
| BIO 3345 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| Or | |
| Biology Elective | 3-4 |
| | |
| HIS 1312 | American Civilization II | 3 |
| Or | |
| Elective | 3 |
| | |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |