2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Major in Biology (BA/BS)

Requirements for Graduation

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.

Course Limitations

Students may withdraw, and/or attempt for a grade, from the Biology Common Core courses a maximum of three times. These courses include: BIO 111BIO 112, BIO 201BIO 210BIO 214BIO 215BIO 216BIO 314, BIO 315 or BIO 316.

58-75 credits

 

Common core, 37-38 credits

BIO 111Principles of Biology 1

4

BIO 112Principles of Biology 2

4

BIO 201Symposium

1

BIO 214Genetics

3

BIO 216Ecology

3

BIO 314Methods in Genetics

3

or

BIO 315Methods in Cell Biology

3

or

BIO 316Methods in Ecology

3

CHEM 111General Chemistry 1

4

CHEM 112General Chemistry 2

4

CHEM 230Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences

3

or

CHEM 231Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 1

3

CHEM 241Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1: Fundamental Techniques

1

MATH 112Precalculus-Trigonometry

3

or

MATH 114Precalculus Trigonometry

2

or

MATH 161Applied Calculus 1

3

or

MATH 165Calculus 1

4

PHYC 110General Physics 1

4

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 210Introduction to Botany

3

BIO 215Cell 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

BIO 210Introduction to Botany

3

BIO 316Methods in Ecology

3

BIO 448Biometry

3

BOT 380Forestry

3

BIO 416Population Ecology

3

or

BIO 430Conservation Biology

3

BOT 440Taxonomy of Vascular Plants

4

BOT 470Dendrology

3

or

BOT 481Aquatic Botany

4

GEOG 265Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

3

ZOOL 440Ornithology

3

ZOOL 446Mammalogy

3

ZOOL 483Wildlife Biology

3

Concentration 3: Aquatic biology and fisheries, 31-32 credits

BIO 210Introduction to Botany

3

BIO 316Methods in Ecology

3

BIO 448Biometry

3

BIO 480Limnology

3

BOT 481Aquatic Botany

4

or

ZOOL 465Fishery Resources Management

3

BIO 482Aquatic Microbiology

3

ZOOL 432Invertebrate Zoology

4

ZOOL 444Ichthyology

3

ZOOL 484Aquatic Entomology

3

MATH 161Applied Calculus 1

3

  1. Directed electives include but are not limited to: BIO 416, BIO 430, BIO 440, BIO 450
  2. 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.
  3. Chem 111 pre-req: MATH 108 or ALEKS >= 30 / Chem 112 pre-req: MATH 111/112 or ALEKS >= 46
  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 and must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in BIO 210 in order to graduate.
  5. Choice of CHEM 230 or CHEM 231 is dependent on chemistry sequence needed for graduate programs.
  6. Be aware that some biology courses are offered on an alternate year schedule.
  7. 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 215Cell Biology

3

BIO 313Microbiology

4

BIO 314Methods in Genetics

3

or

BIO 315Methods in Cell Biology

3

BIO 341Pathogenic Bacteriology

3

BIO 444Immunology

4

BOT 446Medical Mycology

3

CHEM 360Essentials of Biochemistry

3

and

CHEM 361Introductory 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 215Cell Biology

3

BIO 314Methods in Genetics

3

BIO 448Biometry

3

BIO 452Advanced Genetics

3

BIO 453Human Genetics

3

BIO 454Development and Evolution of Genomes: Genomics and Proteomics

3

BIO 457Molecular Biology

4

MATH 161Applied 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 463CHEM 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 215Cell Biology

3

BIO 313Microbiology

4

BIO 315Methods in Cell Biology

3

BIO 444Immunology

4

BIO 457Molecular Biology

4

CHEM 231Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 1

3

CHEM 232Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 2

3

CHEM 241Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1: Fundamental Techniques

1

CHEM 242Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2: Synthesis and Characterization

1

CHEM 360Essentials of Biochemistry

3

and

CHEM 361Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory

1

or

CHEM 463Principles of Biochemistry 1

3

and

CHEM 465Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques

2

9 credits from
BIO 369Internship in Biology

1 TO 6

BIO 394Practicum in Biology

1 TO 3

BIO 448Biometry

3

BIO 456Cancer Biology

3

BIO 498Undergraduate Research

1 TO 3

BIOT 490Introduction to Recombinant DNA and RNA Techniques

3

BIOT 491Theory and Applications of the Polymerase Chain Reaction

3

BIOT 494Cell Culture Techniques

2

BOT 446Medical Mycology

3

CHEM 464Principles of Biochemistry 2

3

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 This is strictly enforced
3. CHEM 463 pre-req: CHEM 232 or CHEM 235
4. CHEM 465 must be taken after CHEM 463 or concurrently
5. CHEM 360/361 are spring- or summer-only and CHEM 463/465 are fall-only

Concentration 7: Field botany, 29 credits

BIO 210Introduction to Botany

3

BIO 316Methods in Ecology

3

BIO 448Biometry

3

BOT 380Forestry

3

BOT 440Taxonomy of Vascular Plants

4

BOT 470Dendrology

3

BOT 480Plant Ecology

3

BOT 481Aquatic Botany

4

NREM 221Soil Resources

3

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

BIO 210Introduction to Botany

3

BIO 316Methods in Ecology

3

ZOOL 330Structure and Development of Vertebrates

5

or

ZOOL 432Invertebrate Zoology

4

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.
BIO 440Evolution

3

BIO 448Biometry

3

BIO 450Animal Behavior

3

CHEM 360Essentials of Biochemistry

3

and

ZOOL 347Animal Parasitology

3

ZOOL 440Ornithology

3

ZOOL 441Entomology

3

ZOOL 444Ichthyology

3

ZOOL 445Herpetology

3

ZOOL 446Mammalogy

3

ZOOL 484Aquatic Entomology

3

Total Credit Hours: 58-75