Academic Requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) | Bachelor of Science (BS)
BA Academic Requirements
There are two categories of requirements for all biology majors: biology courses and basic science support courses. General Biology I and II, Cell Biology, and the five upper-level electives in the “biology courses” category must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Students must attain at least a 2.0 (C) GPA in courses used to satisfy the requirements for the major, including the “biology courses” category (excluding the senior project) and the “basic science support courses” category. Students majoring in biology may choose a concentration, but one is not required. NOTE: AP Biology cannot satisfy the requirement for General Biology I and/or II.
In addition to meeting General Education requirements and other degree requirements , all BA majors in biology must complete the following courses:
Biology Courses
- BIO 1550/General Biology I
- BIO 1551/General Biology I Lab
- BIO 1560/General Biology II
- BIO 1561/General Biology II Lab
- BIO 1880/Biology Freshman Seminar
- BIO 2890/Biology Program Seminar
- BIO 3530/Cell Biology (successful completion of BIO 3530 is a prerequisite for all upper-level biology electives, except BIO 3850)
- Five upper-level biology electives, as follows; these must include at least one at the 4000 level and at least four lab studies, taken either in conjunction with lecture courses or as separately registered lab courses:
- One of the following courses in biological mechanisms:
BIO 3160/Genetics
BIO 3170/Developmental Biology
BIO 3250/Animal Physiology
BIO 4620/Molecular Biology - One of the following courses in biodiversity and ecology:
BIO 3360/Microbiology
BIO 3430/Vertebrate Zoology
BIO 3440/Invertebrate Zoology
BIO3850/Coral Reef Biology and Ecology
BIO4720/Evolution
BIO4721/Evolution Lab
ENV 3080/Wildlife Ecology
ENV 3120/General Ecology
ENV 3165/Ornithology
ENV 3250 and 3251/Ecology of Urban Environments and Lab
ENV 3805/Conservation Biology - Three additional upper-level biology electives
- One of the following courses in biological mechanisms:
- BIO 3890/Biology Junior Seminar
- SPJ 4990/Senior Project I
- SPJ 4991/Senior Project II
If a student elects to conduct a senior project in an area other than the life sciences, two additional biology courses are required.
Basic Science Support Courses
- CHE 1550 and 1551/General Chemistry I and Lab
- CHE 1560 and 1561/General Chemistry II and Lab
- CHE 3310 and 3311/Organic Chemistry I and Lab
- CHE 3320 and 3321/Organic Chemistry II and Lab
- One of the following courses:
ENV 3025/Biostatistics or
MAT 1600/Introductory Statistics or
PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics or
PSY 3635/Honors Seminar in Statistics and Research Design
MAT 1500/Calculus I
MAT 1510/Calculus II
MAT 1520/Computer Science I
MAT 3680/Informatics in Biology and Medicine
- One of the following courses:
Additional notes for biology majors:
- Many students will want to study additional mathematics. Graduate schools generally require Calculus I; professional schools may require either Calculus I or Statistics.
- A year of physics is highly recommended (PHY 1510–1511/Introductory Physics I with lab and PHY 1520–1521/Introductory Physics II with lab). Professional and graduate schools generally require physics.
- Some professional and graduate schools may not accept high school AP courses as substitutes for college introductory science courses (e.g., General Biology, General Chemistry, Introductory Physics).
BS Academic Requirements
There are two categories of requirements for all biology majors: biology courses and basic science support courses. General Biology I and II, Cell Biology, and the seven upper-level electives in the “biology courses” category must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Students must attain at least a 2.0 (C) GPA in courses used to satisfy the requirements for the major, including the “biology courses” category (excluding the senior project) and the “basic science support courses” category. Students majoring in biology may choose a concentration, but one is not required.
In addition to meeting general degree requirements, all BS majors in biology must complete the following courses:
Biology Courses:
- BIO 1550/General Biology I
- BIO 1551/General Biology I Lab
- BIO 1560/General Biology II
- BIO 1561/General Biology II Lab
- BIO 1880/Biology Freshman Seminar
- BIO 2890/Biology Program Seminar
- BIO 3530/Cell Biology (successful completion of BIO 3530 is a prerequisite for all upper-level biology electives, except BIO 3850)
- Seven upper-level biology electives, as follows; these must include at least two at the 4000 level and at least four lab courses, taken either in conjunction with lecture courses or as separately registered lab courses:
- BIO 4620/Molecular Biology or
CHE 4610/Biochemistry - One of the following courses in biological mechanisms:
BIO 3160/Genetics
BIO 3170/Developmental Biology
BIO 3250/Animal Physiology
BIO 4620/Molecular Biology - One of the following courses in biodiversity and ecology:
BIO 3360/Microbiology
BIO 3430/Vertebrate Zoology
BIO 3440/Invertebrate Zoology
BIO 3850/Coral Reef Biology and Ecology
BIO4720/Evolution
BIO4721/Evolution Lab
ENV 3080 / Wildlife Ecology
ENV 3120/General Ecology
ENV 3165/Ornithology
ENV 3250 and 3251/Ecology of Urban Environments and Lab
ENV 3805/Conservation Biology - Four additional upper-level biology electives
- BIO 4620/Molecular Biology or
- BIO 3890/Biology Junior Seminar
- SPJ 4990/Senior Project I*
- SPJ 4991/Senior Project II*
*The senior project must be an original research project.
Basic Science Support Courses
- CHE 1550 and 1551/General Chemistry I and Lab
- CHE 1560 and 1561/General Chemistry II and Lab
- CHE 3310 and 3311/Organic Chemistry I and Lab
- CHE 3320 and 3321/Organic Chemistry II and Lab
Two of the following courses:
* ENV 3025/Biostatistics or
* MAT 1600/Introductory Statistics or
* PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics or
* PSY 3635/Honors Seminar in Statistics and Research Design
MAT 1500/Calculus I
MAT 1510/Calculus II
MAT 1520/Computer Science I
MAT 3680/Informatics in Biology and Medicine
* Only one statistics course can count towards major requirements.
Additional notes for biology majors:
- Many students will want to study additional mathematics. Graduate schools generally require Calculus I; professional schools may require either Calculus I or Statistics.
- A year of physics is highly recommended (PHY 1510–1511/Introductory Physics I with lab and PHY 1520–1521/Introductory Physics II with lab). Professional and graduate schools generally require physics.
- Some professional and graduate schools may not accept high school AP courses as substitutes for college introductory science courses (e.g., General Biology, General Chemistry, Introductory Physics).