Major in Biological Science, Biological Science Concentration

Program Overview

The Biological Science program offers a comprehensive foundation in biological sciences, allowing students to explore interests in preparation for professional careers or further study in the biosciences. Students develop a strong understanding of evolutionary principles, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, ecology, and more, fulfilling pre-professional requirements and pursuing upper-division concentrations in areas of passion.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This curriculum provides a broad background in the basic biological sciences, and permits students to select courses in areas of particular interest. The major is especially useful in meeting the pre-professional requirements in the biosciences. Students desiring this preparation should also check the appropriate pre-professional requirements.

Outline:

Freshman Year:

• Semester 1:
• CO 150 College Composition (GT-CO2) - 1A3 credits
• LIFE 102 Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) - 3A4 credits
• Arts and Humanities - 3B6 credits
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - 1C3 credits
• MATH 117, MATH 118 (may be necessary for some students to fulfill pre-calculus requirements) - credits vary
• Semester 2:
• CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) - 3A4 credits
• CHEM 112 General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) - 3A1 credits
• LIFE 103 Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1) - 3A4 credits
• CO 150 College Composition (must be completed by the end of Semester 2) - credits vary
• MATH 124, MATH 125 (may be necessary for some students to fulfill pre-calculus requirements) - credits vary

Sophomore Year:

• Semester 3:
• BZ 220 Introduction to Evolution - 3 credits
• CHEM 113 General Chemistry II - 3 credits
• CHEM 114 General Chemistry Lab II - 1 credit
• Historical Perspectives - 3D3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences - 3C3 credits
• Elective - 3 credits
• Semester 4:
• BZ 310 Cell Biology - 4 credits
• CHEM 245 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry - 4 credits
• CHEM 246 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory - 1 credit
• STAT 301 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods or STAT 307 Introduction to Biostatistics or Elective - 3 credits

Junior Year:

• Semester 5:
• BC 351 Principles of Biochemistry or BC 401 Comprehensive Biochemistry I or BC 403 Comprehensive Biochemistry II - 4-6 credits
• Elective - 3 credits
• Upper Division Elective (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) - 3 credits
• Semester 6:
• PH 122 General Physics II (GT-SC1) or PH 142 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1) - 3A credits
• Advanced Writing - 23 credits
• Electives - 4 credits
• Upper Division Elective (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) - 3 credits

Senior Year:

• Semester 7:
• BZ 350 Molecular and General Genetics - 4A, 4B credits
• Electives - 7 credits
• Upper Division Elective (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) - 3 credits
• Semester 8:
• BZ 311 Developmental Biology - 4 credits
• LIFE 320 Ecology - 4C3 credits
• Upper Division Electives (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) - 9 credits

Other:

• The curriculum includes a two-semester introductory biology sequence, cell biology, developmental biology, ecology, evolution, and genetics.
• Required courses in the physical sciences include a minimum of one year in introductory chemistry and in physics (with labs), and at least one course in organic chemistry (with lab), and one in biochemistry.
• A calculus course and a statistics course are also required.
• Students must complete a minimum of 18 upper-division credits of which 9 credits must be from "BZ" courses.
• To be qualified for graduation, students in the Biological Science major must have a minimum grade of C- in each of their biological, physical science, and mathematical courses used to meet requirements for the major.
• It is recommended that you do not take BZ 310 and BZ 350 together.
• A maximum of 3 credits may be selected from the following courses: BZ 384 Supervised College Teaching, BZ 487 Internship, BZ 495 Independent Study, BZ 498 Laboratory or Field Research.