B.A. in Biology

Program Overview

This Bachelor's program in Biology provides a comprehensive foundation in biological sciences, including core courses in biology, chemistry, and writing. Students can choose from a range of advanced biology courses to specialize in areas such as molecular genetics, ecology, or human physiology. The program also includes general education courses in English, speech, mathematics, and social sciences.

Program Outline

Outline:

Coursework:

• General Education Curriculum (36 hours):
• English (12 hours)
• Composition I (3 hours)
• Composition II (3 hours)
• Choose one course from:
• Introduction to Creative Writing (3 hours)
• Exploring American Lit (3 hours)
• Exploring World Lit (3 hours)
• Exploring British Lit (3 hours)
• Speech (3 hours)
• Fundamentals of Speech (3 hours)
• Analytic Literacy (7 hours)
• Mathematics (3 hours)
• Choose MAT 1302, MAT 1304, or any higher-level math course.
• Science (4 hours)
• Choose one course with accompanying lab:
• Fundamentals of Science (4 hours)
• Contemporary Biology (4 hours)
• Animal Life (4 hours)
• Plants & Human Affairs (4 hours)
• Cracking the Code: A User's Guide to Human Genetics (4 hours)
• Local Spring Flora (4 hours)
• Cats, Chromosomes & Codons (4 hours)
• Exploring Human Biology (4 hours)
• Introduction to Biology II (4 hours)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4 hours)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4 hours)
• Nature of Physical Science (4 hours)
• Physical Science & Environment (4 hours)
• Forensic Science I (4 hours)
• General Chemistry I (4 hours)
• General Chemistry II (4 hours)
• Chemistry in Context (4 hours)
• Introductory Astronomy (4 hours)
• University Physics II (4 hours)
• Fundamentals of Physics I (4 hours)
• Cultural Literacy (9 hours)
• Fundamentals of Modern American History (3 hours)
• Choose 3 hours from one of the following:
• FAR, MUS, or THA
• Choose 3 hours from any of the following:
• Introduction to Jewish Scriptures (3 hours)
• Introduction to Christian Scriptures (3 hours)
• Introduction to Ethics (3 hours)
• Introduction to Comparative Religions (3 hours)
• Introduction to Interfaith Leadership (3 hours)
• Social Literacy (8 hours)
• Basic Concepts of Wellness (2 hours)
• Choose any two of the following courses with different academic areas:
• Introduction to Business (3 hours)
• Principles of Economics I (3 hours)
• Personal Finance (3 hours)
• World Geography (3 hours)
• Human Geography (3 hours)
• The Human Experience I (3 hours)
• The Human Prospect (3 hours)
• Introduction to International Studies (3 hours)
• Mass Media & Society (3 hours)
• American Government I (3 hours)
• General Psychology (3 hours)
• Psychology of Everyday Life (3 hours)
• Social Justice (3 hours)
• Cultural Anthropology (3 hours)
• Intro to Sociology (3 hours)
• Social Problems (3 hours)
• Minority Groups (3 hours)
• Hon Sem Social Literacy (3 hours)
• Hon Lang/Lit Interdiscip Integrative (3 hours)
• Major Requirements (72 hours):
• Biology Core (19 hours)
• Introduction to Biology II (4 hours)
• Biostatistics (3 hours)
• Evolution & Ecology (4 hours)
• Microbiology (4 hours)
• Other Required Courses (10 hours)
• General Chemistry I (4 hours)
• General Chemistry II (4 hours)
• Writing in Natural Sciences (3 hours)
• Advanced Biology Courses (24 hours)
• Choose 24 hours from the following list:
• Molecular Genetics (4 hours)
• Conservation Biology (4 hours)
• Molecular Cell Biology (4 hours)
• Infection and Immunity (4 hours)
• Animal Behavior (4 hours)
• Plant Biology (4 hours)
• Human Physiology (4 hours)
• Ecology (4 hours)
• Genetics (4 hours)
• Immunology (4 hours)
• Biology of Cancer (4 hours)
• Internship in Biology (4 hours)
• Biology Seminar (1 hour)
• Electives (19 hours)

Other:

Transfer students:

• Transfer students with 60 or more credit hours, including college algebra and 8 hours of introductory biology for majors, and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 may be allowed to enroll in upper-division biology courses concurrently with sophomore-level courses.
• Transfer students with 45 or more credit hours and a cumulative GPA of 3.5, but who have not completed introductory biology for majors, may take the required freshman and sophomore courses simultaneously.
This concurrent enrollment must be approved by the student's advisor and the instructor of the higher-level courses.

General Education Curriculum (GEC):

• Some courses listed in program “Major Requirements” or “Required Related Courses” (noted with an asterisk [*]) may be used to meet requirements in the GEC.
• Although these courses fulfill requirements in each area, credit hours for these courses, if taken for the GEC, may only be counted in the GEC.

Graduation Requirements:

• Complete Graduation Requirements are listed in the 2023-2024 Catalog.

Prerequisites:

• To enroll in any advanced biology course (3000 level or higher), students must have at minimum completed the Biology Core and General Chemistry (Chemistry 1415 and 1416) or their transfer equivalents with a grade of C or better in each of the courses listed above.

Concurrent Enrollment:

• The Biology Core consists of BIO 1410, BIO 1420, BIO 2320, BIO 2424, and BIO 2441.
• To enroll in any advanced biology course (3000 level or higher), students must have at minimum completed the Biology Core and General Chemistry (Chemistry 1415 and 1416) or their transfer equivalents with a grade of C or better in each of the courses listed above.
Additional course-specific prerequisites will still apply.