Biology (B.S.)

Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology

The broad field of biology offers diverse career opportunities to individuals with the appropriate training. The Bachelor of Science degree in biology prepares students to seek employment in industries using biologically related technology or to attend graduate/professional school in biological and/or health related fields. A biology degree is appropriate for students planning to enter health based graduate programs such as medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, physical therapy, veterinary medicine and pharmacology as well as graduate programs in biological sciences. Students who choose not to continue on to a graduate program will have a strong biological science foundation for seeking employment in the job market. The undergraduate curriculum has been designed to provide students with opportunities for undergraduate research, to develop critical thinking skills and to be competitive in either professional school or the marketplace. The biology secondary education track prepares students to teach in grades 9-12. 

Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Biology

Core Curriculum (Credit: 42 hours)

Area A: Essential Skills (Credit: 9 hours)

ENGL 1101English Composition I

3 credits

ENGL 1102English Composition II

3 credits

 

MATH 1112Plane Trigonometry

3 credits

OR

MATH 1113Precalculus Mathematics

3 credits

OR

MATH 1251Calculus I

4 credits

Note: Courses required for Area A must be completed within the first 30 hours. If a student takes MATH 1251, the additional hour will be applied to Area F or upper level curriculum. Students must have the necessary prerequisites for any course they choose.

Area B: Institutional Options (Credit: 4 hours)

Perspectives Elective

4 credits

Area C: Humanities/Fine Arts (Credit: 6 hours)

Literature Elective

3 credits

Area C Elective

3 credits

Area D: Science, Math and Technology (Credit: 11 hours)

Lab Science Elective CHEM 1211K, CHEM 1212K sequence is strongly recommended

4 credits

Lab Science Elective CHEM 1211K, CHEM 1212K sequence is strongly recommended

4 credits

Area D Math 3 hours MATH 1401 strongly recommended

3 hours

Area E: Social Sciences (Credit: 12 hours)

HIST 2111United States History to 1865

3 credits

OR

HIST 2112United States History since 1865

3 credits

 

POLS 1101American Government

3 credits

Area E Elective

3 credits

Area E Elective

3 credits

Area F: Lower Division Major Requirements (Credit: 18 hours)

Major Field

BIOL 2107KPrinciples of Biology I

4 credits

BIOL 2108KPrinciples of Biology II

4 credits

 

SCIE 2998Research Methods

2 credits

OR

SCIE 2999Directed Study in Natural Sciences

1 credit

 

CHEM 1211KPrinciples of Chemistry I

4 credits

CHEM 1212KPrinciples of Chemistry II

4 credits

SCIE 2999: Must be taken 2 times

Note: BIOL 2107K-BIOL 2108K and CHEM 1211K-CHEM 1212K are required in Area F if not taken in Area D. Students taking either the BIOL 2107K-BIOL 2108K sequence or the CHEM 1211K-CHEM 1212K sequence in Area D should take CHEM 2211K-CHEM 2212K in Area F.

Biology Track

Upper Level Core (Credit: 22 hours)

BIOL 3104KCell Biology

4 credits

BIOL 3211Evolution

4 credits

BIOL 3310KBiochemistry

4 credits

 

BIOL 3360KPlant Biology

4 credits

OR

BIOL 3510KInvertebrate Zoology

4 credits

OR

BIOL 3520KVertebrate Zoology

4 credits

 

BIOL 4110KGenetics

4 credits

 

BIOL 4120Senior Seminar

2 credits

OR

BIOL 4894Research

2 credits

Required (Credit: 20 hours)

MATH 1251Calculus I

4 credits

BIOL 3540KMicrobiology

4 credits

BIOL 4530KMolecular Biology

4 credits

Note: If MATH 1251 is used in Area A then students should take MATH 2252 or a 4 hour 3000 - 4000 level course with a BIOL prefix

AND EITHER
CHEM 2211KOrganic Chemistry I

4 credits

CHEM 2212KOrganic Chemistry II

4 credits

OR

PHYS 1111KIntroductory Physics I

4 credits

PHYS 1112KIntroductory Physics II

4 credits

Free Electives (Credit: 18 hours)

Eighteen hours of upper level (3000 or 4000-level) credit from any discipline can apply to this requirement.  If a student plans on applying for admission to professional programs, such as, but not limited to, graduate school, medical school, dental school, or pharmacy school, selection from the following list of courses is strongly recommended:

BIOL 3110Scientific Thought and Theory

3 credits

BIOL 3113Environmental Science

3 credits

BIOL 3115KParasitology

4 credits

BIOL 3130Ethical Issues in Science

3 credits

BIOL 3350KEcology

4 credits

BIOL 3360KPlant Biology

4 credits

BIOL 3510KInvertebrate Zoology

4 credits

BIOL 3520KVertebrate Zoology

4 credits

BIOL 3666KEntomology

4 credits

BIOL 3710KAnimal Physiology

4 credits

BIOL 4150KTropical Ecology Studies

4 credits

BIOL 4321Special Topics

2 - 4 credits

BIOL 4322Neurobiology

3 credits

BIOL 4323KMarine Biology

4 Credits

BIOL 4324KOrnithology

4 Credits

BIOL 4344KComparative Vertebrate Anatomy

4 credits

BIOL 4411/PSYC 4411Animal Behavior

3 credits

BIOL 4450KMycology

4 credits

BIOL 4454KDevelopmental Biology

4 credits

BIOL 4500Immunology

3 credits

BIOL 4667KHistology

4 credits

BIOL 4774KField Biology

4 credits

BIOL 4894Research

2 credits

MATH 2252Calculus II

4 credits

MATH 3610Biological Statistics

3 credits

Total Hours: 120

Biology Secondary Education Track

Upper Level Core (Credit: 33 hours)

Required Courses Credit 27 Hours
BIOL 3104KCell Biology

4 credits

BIOL 3211Evolution

4 credits

BIOL 3310KBiochemistry

4 credits

BIOL 3350KEcology

4 credits

BIOL 3360KPlant Biology

4 credits

BIOL 4110KGenetics

4 credits

BIOL Elective 3000 or 4000 level (3 credits)

Choose One of the Following Credit 4 Hours
BIOL 3510KInvertebrate Zoology

4 credits

BIOL 3520KVertebrate Zoology

4 credits

Choose One of the Following Credit 2 Hours
BIOL 4120Senior Seminar

2 credits

BIOL 4894Research

2 credits

Required Courses (Credit: 27 hours)

EDUC 3100Reading in Multiple Literacies

3 credits

EDUC 3520Classroom Management

2 Credits

EDUC 4120Integrated Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

3 credits

EDUC 4130Methods in Content Area

4 credits

EDUC 4140Practicum

3 credits

EDUC 4150Clinical

9 credits

SPED 3110Introduction to the Exception Learner

3 credits

Admission, academic progression, and completion requirements for the track can be found in the Academic Catalog under Secondary Education Certification track.