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Bachelor of Science, Major Degree Requirements

The following courses are required for all biology majors:

Common biology core to be completed by the end of the sophomore year (16 credits)

  • BIO 120 Organismal Biology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 130 Ecology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 220 Cell Structure and Function w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 230 Genetics w/Lab - 4 credits

All four core courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better before you are permitted to enroll in any advanced course.

Junior and senior years (24 credits)

You must take six courses with lab, at least one from each of the following three lists, generally in the junior and senior years. All course prerequisites must be met. You do not have to be a senior to take a 400-level course.

Cell and Molecular Biology Courses

  • BIO 330 Cell Biology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 365 Special Topics in Biology (when topically appropriate) - 4 credits
  • BIO 420 Microscopy w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 422 Research Methods Molecular Bio w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 424 Biological Chemistry - 4 credits
  • BIO 426 Biology of Cancer - 4 credits
  • BIO 428 Virology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 430 Endocrinology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 432 Histology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 434 Developmental Biology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 436 Molecular Genetics w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 438 Plant Physiology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 450 Biotechnology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 458 Regenerative Medicine - 4 credits

Organismal Biology Courses

  • BIO 324 Entomology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 332 Biology of Plants w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 334 General Microbiology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 336 Invertebrate Biology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 338 Vertebrate Biology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 340 Parasitology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 344 General Mycology - 4 credits
  • BIO 346 Animal Behavior w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 348 Functional Human Anatomy w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 350 Human Physiology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 365 Special Topics in Biology (when topically appropriate) - 4 credits
  • BIO 448 Physiological Ecology w/Lab - 4 credits

Population Biology and Ecology Courses

  • BIO 319/320 Oceanic Island Ecology and Tropical Biology - 4 credits
  • BIO 342 Herpetology with Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 358 Desert Ecology - 4 credits
  • BIO 360/320 Tropical Ecosystems and Tropical Biology - 4 credits
  • BIO 365 Special Topics in Biology (when topically appropriate) - 4 credits
  • BIO 440 Aquatic Biology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 442 Plant Ecology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 444 Population/Community Ecology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 452 Conservation Biology w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 454 Biological Invasions w/Lab - 4 credits
  • BIO 456 Marine Ecology w/Lab - 4 credits

Senior Seminar Course

meets the Stage 3 Writing Intensive and the LAC Tier II requirements. You must take this course, in your senior year, only after completing at least three upper-level biology major courses.

  • Choose one:
    • BIO 466 Senior Seminar - 3 credits
    • HON 488 Honors Thesis Research - 1 to 6 credits

Related Fields

Biology majoys must also complete the following:

  • CHE 210/211 General Chemistry I w/Lab - 4 credits
  • CHE 212/213 General Chemistry II w/Lab - 4 credits
  • CHE 216 Organic Chemistry I w/Lab - 4 credits
  • MAT 243 Calculus I w/Technology - 4 credits
  • Choose one:
    • MAT 244 Calculus II w/Technology - 4 credits
    • MAT 216 Statistical Data Analysis 3 credits
    • BIO 378 Bio Research and Data Analysis - 3 credits
  • Choose one:
    • PHY 204 Physics I w/Lab - 4 credits
    • PHY 205 Physics II w/Lab - 4 credits
    • PHY 208 Physics I with Calculus w/Lab - 4 credits
    • PHY 209 Physics II with Calculus w/Lab - 4 credits

Total: 66-67 credits