Major in Biology (BA/BS)
The Department of Biology offers programs for students preparing for careers in science teaching, laboratory biology, environmental biology, and health professions such as medicine, medical technology, and dentistry.
The laboratory sciences of cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and microbiology offer in-depth opportunities for students pursuing bioscience positions in medicine, government, academia, and industry. Experiences with the modern tools of biotechnology are a central theme for all laboratory biology concentrations and the department offers a biotechnology certification program. Biologists in environmental careers work to maintain the natural world for future generations. The department’s conservation biology programs focus on preparing students for careers related to the conservation of plant and animal biodiversity and the science supporting the sustainable management of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Further information about careers for biology majors can be found on our departmental Web site www.bsu.edu/biology.
The biology major offers a core program intended to develop a common background in biology and additional courses in specialized concentrations designed to prepare students for careers or graduate work in aquatic biology and fisheries, field botany, cellular and molecular biology, environmental biology, genetics, microbiology, wildlife biology and conservation, and zoology. Our general biology concentration allows students to pursue an individualized program for their specific career goals as a biologist. Pre-professional majors add selected courses to meet entrance requirements into medical, dental, and medical technology schools. A teaching major in life science is offered for students who plan to teach in the secondary schools. (Additional course requirements for science teaching programs appear in this catalog under Interdepartmental Programs in the College of Sciences and Humanities.)
It is strongly recommended that students seek departmental advising, on an individual basis, early in their programs to plan course work sequences and obtain specific information about their selected emphasis areas and possible certification.
58-75 credits
Common core, 37-38 credits
Students take 1 of BIO 314, BIO 315, or BIO 316 for 3 credits.
MATH 161 is required for the Aquatic Biology and Fisheries and Genetics concentrations. Students are recommended to take MATH 161 or higher if planning for a graduate program.
Complete one concentration
Concentration 1: General 21-27 credits
BIO 210 | Introduction to Botany | 3 |
BIO 215 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| Five 200/300/400-level courses in ANAT, BIO, BIOT, BOT, PHYS, or ZOOL except for BIO 201, BIO 214, BIO 216, BIO 314, BIO 315, BIO 316, BIO 220, BIO 254 | 15-21 |
To ensure broad training of students pursuing the General Concentration, these students will complete all required courses in the Biology Core (BIO 111, BIO 112, BIO 201, BIO 214, and BIO 216), both BIO 210 and BIO 215, and one of BIO 314, BIO 315, and BIO 316.
1. Choice of BIO 314 or 315 is recommended for students interested in the health sciences. BIO 316 is recommended for students interested in natural sciences.
2. Students interested in the health sciences are recommended to choose from: ANAT 201, PHYS 215, BIO 313, ZOOL 330, BIO 444 (fall only), BIO 448. Students interested in natural science should consider choosing from: BIO 416, BIO 430, BIO 440, BIO 448.
3. Chem 111 pre-req: MATH 108 or ALEKS >= 30 / Chem 112 pre-req: MATH 111/112 or ALEKS >= 46
4. Choice of CHEM 230 or CHEM 231 is dependent on chemistry sequence needed for graduate programs.
5. Biology majors must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 111 and BIO 112 in order to progress into 200-400 level biology courses in order to graduate. This is strictly enforced. |
Concentration 2: Wildlife biology and conservation, 34-35 credits
Concentration 3: Aquatic biology and fisheries, 31-32 credits
- Directed electives include but are not limited to: BIO 416, BIO 430, BIO 440, BIO 450
- MATH 161 is required for the concentration, and also satisfies UCC requirement. Depending on math placement and/or test scores, MATH 111 or MATH 113; MATH 112 or MATH 114 may be pre-requisites.
- Chem 111 pre-req: MATH 108 or ALEKS >= 30 / Chem 112 pre-req: MATH 111/112 or ALEKS >= 46
- Biology majors must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 111 and BIO 112 in order to progress into 200-400 level biology courses and must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 210 in order to graduate.
- Choice of CHEM 230 or CHEM 231 is dependent on chemistry sequence needed for graduate programs.
- Be aware that some biology courses are offered on an alternate year schedule.
- American Fisheries Society professional certification requirements should be considered. See aquatic biology and fisheries advisor in the Department of Biology for information.
|
Concentration 4: Microbiology, 30 credits
BIO 215 | Cell Biology | 3 |
BIO 313 | Microbiology | 4 |
BIO 314 | Methods in Genetics | 3 |
| or | |
BIO 315 | Methods in Cell Biology | 3 |
BIO 341 | Pathogenic Bacteriology | 3 |
BIO 444 | Immunology | 4 |
BOT 446 | Medical Mycology | 3 |
CHEM 360 | Essentials of Biochemistry | 3 |
| and | |
CHEM 361 | Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| 6 credits from 200-400 level BIO, BIOT, BOT, or ZOOL except for BIO 201, BIOT 214, BIO 215, BIO 216, BIO 314, BIO 315, BIO 316, BIO 220, BIO 254 | 6 |
1. Chem 111 pre-req: MATH 108 or ALEKS >= 30 / Chem 112 pre-req: MATH 111/112 or ALEKS >= 46
2. It is recommended that students in this concentration should take BIO 315 and MATH 161.
3. Choice of CHEM 230 or CHEM 231 is dependent on chemistry sequence needed for graduate programs.
4. Biology majors must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 111 and BIO 112 in order to progress into 200-400 level biology courses. |
Concentration 5: Genetics, 30 credits
Genetics concentration students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 214 (Genetics) in order to progress into the concentration specific classes.
BIO 215 | Cell Biology | 3 |
BIO 314 | Methods in Genetics | 3 |
BIO 448 | Biometry | 3 |
BIO 452 | Advanced Genetics | 3 |
BIO 453 | Human Genetics | 3 |
BIO 454 | Development and Evolution of Genomes: Genomics and Proteomics | 3 |
BIO 457 | Molecular Biology | 4 |
MATH 161 | Applied Calculus 1 | 3 |
| 5 credits from 200-400 level BIO, BIOT, BOT, or ZOOL except for BIO 201, BIO 214, BIO 215, BIO 216, BIO 314, BIO 315, BIO 316, BIO 220, BIO 254 | 5 |
1. Alternate year courses have an indication of they are taught on an odd or even academic year.
2. Directed electives include: 299X-400 level BIO, BOT, BIOT, PHYS, and ZOOL courses. Note: BIO 315 and BIO 316 can serve as an additional General Elective within the major, but NOT as a Directed Elective within the Genetics Concentration
3. MATH 161 is required for the Concentration, and also satisfies UCC requirement. Depending on math placement and/or test scores, MATH 111 or MATH 113; MATH 112 or MATH 114 may be pre-requisites.
4. Chem 111 pre-req: MATH 108 or ALEKS >= 30 / Chem 112 pre-req: MATH 111/112 or ALEKS >= 46
5. Biology majors must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 111 and BIO 112 in order to progress into 200-400 level biology courses and must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0), and must earn a grade of C (2.0) in BIO214 to graduate in the Concentration.
6. Choice of CHEM 230 or CHEM 231 is dependent on chemistry sequence needed for graduate programs. CHEM 463 pre-req: CHEM 232 or 235; CHEM 465 must be taken concurrently or immediately after CHEM 463. CHEM 464 is highly recommended for those intending to pursue graduate research.
7. Pre-Genetic Counseling Students and Pre-Health Professional Students need to take ANAT 201 and PHYS 215.
8. Pre-Genetic Counseling Students should be recommended to seek a minor in Interpersonal Relations Option 2.
9. Field Areas-oriented and General Genetics-discipline students should take BIO 210.
10. Be aware that some biology courses are offered on an alternate year schedule.
Directed Electives
5 cr hrs course work selected from ANAT, 299X-400 BIO, BIOT, BOT, 215-400-level PHYS, and ZOOL courses.
General Electives - Highly Recommended
BIO 210 (3) Introduction to Botany
or
ANAT 201 (3) Fundamentals of Human Anatomy
and PHYS 215 (5) Human Physiology
CHEM 360 (3) Essentials of Biochemistry
and CHEM 361 (1) Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory
or
CHEM 232 (3) Organic Chemistry for Molecular-based Sciences, Pt 2
and CHEM 463 (3) Principles of Biochemistry I
and CHEM 465 (1) Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques
and CHEM 464 (3) Principles of Biochemistry II |
Concentration 6: Cellular and molecular biology, 39-40 credits
BIO 215 | Cell Biology | 3 |
BIO 313 | Microbiology | 4 |
BIO 315 | Methods in Cell Biology | 3 |
BIO 444 | Immunology | 4 |
BIO 457 | Molecular Biology | 4 |
CHEM 231 | Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 1 | 3 |
CHEM 232 | Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 2 | 3 |
CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1: Fundamental Techniques | 1 |
CHEM 242 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2: Synthesis and Characterization | 1 |
CHEM 360 | Essentials of Biochemistry | 3 |
| and | |
CHEM 361 | Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| or | |
CHEM 463 | Principles of Biochemistry 1 | 3 |
| and | |
CHEM 465 | Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques | 2 |
9 credits from
Concentration 7: Field botany, 29 credits
1. Chem 111 pre-req: MATH 108 or ALEKS >= 30 / Chem 112 pre-req: MATH 111/112 or ALEKS >= 46
2. Choice of CHEM 230 or CHEM 231 is dependent on chemistry sequence needed for graduate programs.
3. Biology majors must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 111 and BIO 112 in order to progress into 200-400 level biology courses.
4. BOT 440 and BOT 481 are offered on alternate Fall semesters. BOT 480 is offered Spring of odd years |
Concentration 8: Zoology, 24-25 credits
14 credits from
1. Chem 111 pre-req: MATH 108 or ALEKS >= 30 / Chem 112 pre-req: MATH 111/112 or ALEKS >= 46
2. Biology majors must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 111 and BIO 112 in order to progress into 200-400 level biology and must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 210 in order to graduate. This is strictly enforced.
3. Choice of CHEM 230 or CHEM 231 is dependent on chemistry sequence needed for graduate programs.
4. Directed electives include BIO 448, BIO 440, BIO 450, CHEM 360, or ZOOL 347, 441, 444, 445, 446, 484. At least 6 credits must be ZOOL courses. |
Total Credit Hours: 58-75