Majoring in Biology

Degree Requirements

Total program: 68 - 74 semester hours

Prerequisite Courses

28 semester hours

MATH 105Precalculus4
PHYS 201General Physics I5
or PHYS 203 Physics I: Mechanics
CHEM 201General Chemistry I5
CHEM 202General Chemistry II5
CHEM 311Organic Chemistry I5
Any 200-400 Natural Science or advisor approved courses from: MATH, PHYS, CHEM, NASC 4
Total Semester Hours28

Core Requirements

28-34 semester hours

Core Introductory Courses
BIOL 201General Biology I4
BIOL 202General Biology II4
Core Foundational Courses
BIOL 310Cell Biology4
BIOL 311Genetics4
BIOL 323Ecology2
BIOL 378Evolution and Biosystematics2
One 200-400 elective biology, or advisor approved course2-4
Core Mastery Courses
BIOL 381Research Writing in the Sciences2
BIOL 382Statistics for Life Sciences2-4
or BIOL 383 Statistics and Applications for Life Sciences
Select one of the following:0-4
BIOL 499A
BIOL 499B
Senior Seminar/Project
and Senior Seminar/Project
BIOL 499
Senior Seminar/Project
Total Semester Hours26-34

Requires the completion or concurrent enrollment in two qualified Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) classes aligned with the Council on Undergraduate Research.

Additional Biology Requirements

12 semester hours

One course (4 semester hours) must be taken from each of the three designated themes.

Themes

Environmental

(one of the following must be taken)

BIOL 305Vertebrate Zoology4
BIOL 312Environmental Biology4
BIOL 322Marine & Freshwater Biology 14
BIOL 327Mountain and Desert Biology 14
BIOL 390Natural History of the Tropics4
BIOL 390FNatural History of the Tropics Fieldwork Course2
1

These courses are designated as CUREs. However, the CURE status may not apply every semester. Students must confirm course status before enrolling for CURE credit.

Applied/Translational

(one of the following must be taken)

BIOL 302Microbiology4
BIOL 316Molecular Biology 14
BIOL 343Human Anatomy4
BIOL 345Immunology 14
BIOL 346Molecular Basis of Disease4
BIOL 385Community-Engaged Health Research 14
BIOL 441Nutrition2
1

These courses are designated as CUREs. However, the CURE status may not apply every semester. Students must confirm course status before enrolling for CURE credit.

Integrative/Interdisciplinary

(one of the following must be taken)

BIOL 313Developmental Biology 14
BIOL 314Biochemistry5
BIOL 344Human Physiology4
BIOL 350Introduction to Computational Biology 14
BIOL 361Plant Physiology 14
1

These courses are designated as CUREs. However, the CURE status may not apply every semester. Students must confirm course status before enrolling for CURE credit.