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) 3) Six credits must be on the 4000-level. 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 Science elective (one 3000-level or higher, 3-credit lecture course in CHE, PHY, MAT, or MCS) 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 3318 Plant Biology (Lab 3118) 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 3338 Nutrition 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.

BS Biology Degree Plan

All Degree plans are for informational purposes only. Official Degree Plans for graduation clearance will be conducted by the Registrar's Office.

UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS DEGREE PLAN FOR BIOLOGY (BS) MAJORS
Bulletin used: 2024 - 2025

Course name when taken credits Course name when taken credits
CORE COURSES 51 BIOLOGY COURSES 42
ENG 1301: Lit Trad I 3 BIO 1311-1111: Gen Bio I and Lab 4
ENG 1302: Lit Trad II 3 BIO 1312-1112: Gen Bio II and Lab 4
ENG 2311: Lit Trad III (Rome) 3 BIO Adv Elective/Lab 4
BIO Adv Elective/Lab 4
BIO Adv Elective/Lab 4
HIS 1311: Am Civ I [F] or 1312 [S] 3 BIO Adv Elective (4) 4
HIS 2301: Western Civ I (Rome) 3 BIO Adv Elective 3
HIS 2302: Western Civ II 3 BIO Adv Elective 3
BIO Adv Elective 3
BIO Adv Elective 3
PHI 1301: Phil & Ethical Life 3 BIO Adv Elective 3
PHI 2323: The Human Person (Rome) 3 BIO Adv Elective 3
PHI 3311: Phil of Being 3 ADDITIONAL MAJOR REQUIREMENTS 28
CHE 1303-1103: Gen Chem and Lab 4
THE 1310: Under the Bible 3 CHE 1304-1104: Gen Chem II and Lab 4
THE 2311: West Theo Trad (Rome) 3 Science elective: 3 credit 3000-level lecture course in CHE, MCS, PHY, MAT (no labs)   3
           
For. lang. 3 PHY 2311-2111: Gen Physics I and Lab 4
For. lang. 3 PHY 2312-2112 (either trig or calc based) 4
For. lang. 3 MAT 1404: Calculus I 4
For. lang. 3 MAT 1411 or Biostatistics in combination 3-4
with MAT 1301
ECO 1311: Fund of Eco 3
POL 1311: Princ of Amer Politics 3
Fine Arts: (Rome) 3
1. Advanced credits: Students must earn 38 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above, of which 26 must be earned at UD.
2. Grades below C- in advanced courses in the major do not count toward fulfillment of the major requirement.
3. A total of only 4 credits in 1-credit P/NP courses may count toward the 120 credits needed for graduation. Rev. July 2019
4. The last 12 advanced credits in the major must be earned at UD.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

Year I

Fall Semester

BIO 1311General Biology I

3

BIO 1111General Biology I Lab

1

CHE 1303General Chemistry I

3

CHE 1103General Chemistry I Lab

1

ENG 1301Literary Tradition I

3

PHI 1301Philosophy and the Ethical Life

3

Or

Language

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

BIO 1312General Biology II

3

BIO 1112General Biology II Lab

1

CHE 1304General Chemistry II

3

CHE 1104General Chemistry II Lab

1

THE 1310Understanding The Bible

3

ENG 1302Literary Tradition II

3

ECO 1311Fundamentals Of Economics

3

Language

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Year II

Fall Semester

Biology Elective

4

ECO 1311Fundamentals Of Economics

3

Or

PHI 1301Philosophy and the Ethical Life

3

MAT 1404Calculus I

4

HIS 2302Western Civilization II

3

POL 1311Principles Of American Politics

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Spring Semester (Rome)

ART 2311Art and Architecture of Rome

3

ENG 2311Literary Tradition III

3

HIS 2301Western Civilization I

3

PHI 2323The Human Person

3

THE 2311Western Theological Tradition

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year III

Fall Semester

CHE 3321Organic Chemistry I

3

CHE 3121Organic Chemistry I Lab

1

MAT 1411Calculus II

4

Or

Elective

3

Language

3

Or

Biology Elective

3-4

PHY 2311General Physics I (Calculus)

3

PHY 2111General Physics I (Calculus) Lab

1

Or

PHY 2305General Physics I (Trigonometry)

3

PHY 2105General Physics I (Trigonometry) Lab

1

Total Credit Hours:17-18

Spring Semester

Chemistry Elective

4

Language

3

Or

Biology Elective

3-4

PHY 2312General Physics II (Calculus)

3

PHY 2112General Physics II (Calc) Lab

1

Or

PHY 2306General Physics II (Trigonometry)

3

PHY 2106General Physics II (Trigonometry) Lab

1

PHI 3311Philosophy of Being

3

Total Credit Hours:18

Year IV

Fall Semester

BIO 4360Bio Lit Seminar

3

Biology Elective

4

Language

3

Or

Elective

3

HIS 1311American Civilization I

3

ECO 1311Fundamentals Of Economics

3

Or

Biology Elective

3-4

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

Biology Elective

4

Language

3

Or

Elective

3

BIO 3345Biostatistics

3

Or

Biology Elective

3-4

HIS 1312American Civilization II

3

Or

Elective

3

Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16