Biological Science Major (B.S.)

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The Biological Science Major is 1 of 3 majors offered in the Biology Department. The Biological Science Major is designed to produce well-rounded biologists who have a corresponding range of interests or those who wish to experience a breadth of biological concepts. Thus, students in the Biological Science Major will be exposed to multiple sub-disciplines including organismal diversity, genetics and heredity, cell and molecular processes, form and function, and ecological principles. Graduating students will develop a holistic view of biology and have numerous career options in which they can apply their foundational knowledge.

A minor is required.

Required Foundation Courses (33 cr)

One course from:

MATH 140 - Precalculus (GE3) 4 cr
MATH 161 - Calculus I (GE3) 4 cr

One of the following two-course sequences in Physics:

Major Required Courses (43 cr)

Two courses from:

Required Electives

A minimum of 11 credits of the following courses are required:

BIOL 331 - Microbiology 4 cr
BIOL 352 - Evolution 3 cr
BIOL 423 - Electron Microscopy 4 cr
BIOL 437 - Immunology & Hematology 4 cr
BIOL 442 - Molecular Biology 4 cr
BIOL 443 - Bioinformatics 3 cr
BIOL 450 - Advanced Studies in Genetics 2-4 cr
BIOL 451 - Human Genetics 3 cr
BIOL 453 - Biology of Cancer 3 cr
BIOL 456 - Icons and Ideas of Biology 3 cr
BIOL 460 - Advanced Studies in Physiology 2-5 cr
BIOL 461 - Endocrinology 3 cr
BIOL 461L - Endocrinology Laboratory 2 cr
BIOL 462 - Comparative Physiology 4 cr
BIOL 463 - Neurobiology 3 cr
BIOL 464 - Plant Physiology 4 cr
BIOL 465 - Cardiovascular Physiology & Disease 3 cr
BIOL 470 - Advanced Studies in Systematics 2-4 cr
BIOL 471F - Invertebrate Zoology 4 cr
BIOL 472 - Parasitology 3 cr
BIOL 473F - Ichthyology 4 cr
BIOL 475 - Vertebrate Zoology 3 cr
BIOL 476 - Mammalogy 3 cr
BIOL 477F - Ornithology 3 cr
BIOL 478F - Entomology 4 cr
BIOL 480 - Advanced Studies in Ecology 2-4 cr
BIOL 483 - Biogeography 3 cr
BIOL 484 - Ethology 3 cr
BIOL 484L - Ethology Laboratory 1 cr
Only one (1) credit from BIOL 494 or BIOL 495 may be applied to required elective credits. The following courses cannot be used towards the required electives in the major: BIOL 390 , BIOL 393 , BIOL 491 , BIOL 499 .
BIOL 494 - Research for Credit 1 cr
BIOL 495 - Laboratory Assistantship in Biology 1 cr

Recommended Electives

The following courses are strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school.

CHEM 330 - Organic Chemistry II Lecture 4 cr
CHEM 331 - Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 cr
MATH 162 - Calculus II 4 cr