Bachelor of Arts in Biology
The Bachelor of Arts in Biology requires completion of the Biology Core 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, Biology majors will ordinarily earn a minimum of 30 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 Biotechnology (Lab 2102) |
BIO 2315 Human Biology (Lab 2115) |
BIO 2317 Disease and Society (Lab 2117) |
| BIO 3325 Genetics (Lab 3125) |
BIO 2341 Plant Biology (Lab 2141) |
BIO 2348 Darwin (Lab 2148) |
| BIO 3327 Microbiology (Lab 3127) |
BIO 3323 Anatomy (Lab 3123) |
BIO 2360 Environmental Science (Lab 2160) |
| BIO 3335 Biochemistry I (Lab 3135) |
BIO 3324 Immunology |
BIO 3311 Marine Biology (Lab 3111) |
| BIO 3336 Biochemistry II (Lab 3136) |
BIO 3329 Developmental Biology |
BIO 3326 Ecology (Lab 3126) |
| BIO 3340 Experimental Techniques |
BIO 3331 Physiology (Lab 3131) |
BIO 3346 Animal Behavior (Lab 3146)
|
| BIO 4328 Molecular Biology (Lab 4128) |
|
BIO 3347 Evolutionary Biology
|
| BIO 4345 Advanced Genetics |
|
BIO 3345 Biostatistics
|
| BIO 4338 Cell Structure and Function |
|
BIO 3350 Bioinformatics |
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 should prepare to undergo this examination by taking a 4000 level biology course.
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
| | Biology Elective | 3 |
| CHE 3321 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHE 3121 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| | | |
| MAT 1411 | Calculus II | 4 |
| | Or | |
| | Elective | 3 |
| | | |
| | Language | 3 |
| | Or | |
| | Elective | 3 |
| | | |
| PHY 2311 | General Physics I (Calculus) | 3 |
| PHY 2111 | General Physics I (Calculus) Lab | 1 |
| | Or | |
| PHY 2305 | General Physics I (Trigonometry) | 3 |
| PHY 2105 | General Physics I (Trigonometry) Lab | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17-18 |
Spring Semester
| | Biology Elective | 4 |
| | Chemistry Elective | 4 |
| | | |
| | Language | 3 |
| | Or | |
| | Elective | 3 |
| | | |
| PHY 2312 | General Physics II (Calculus) | 3 |
| PHY 2112 | General Physics II (Calc) Lab | 1 |
| | Or | |
| PHY 2306 | General Physics II (Trigonometry) | 3 |
| PHY 2106 | General Physics II (Trigonometry) Lab | 1 |
| | | |
| 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 | |
| | Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| | Biology Elective | 4 |
| | | |
| | Language | 3 |
| | Or | |
| | Elective | 3 |
| | | |
| BIO 3345 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| | Or | |
| | Elective | 3 |
| | | |
| HIS 1312 | American Civilization II | 3 |
| | Or | |
| | Elective | 3 |
| | | |
| | Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |