Biology Major (B.A.)

Major Requirements

48-50 credits

Biology Core (16 credits)

Complete the following courses and any associated labs.

BIOL-2201	Molecules to Cells	4 credits
BIOL-2202	Organismal Biology	4 credits
BIOL-2203	Ecology, Evolution and Diversity	4 credits
BIOL-3316	Genetics	4 credits

Chemistry, Math, and Physics (12 credits)

Complete the following courses and any associated labs.

CHEM-1011	General Chemistry I	4 credits
-
MATH-1025	Data Analysis and Statistics	4 credits
-	or
MATH-2025	Multiple Regression Analysis	4 credits
-
PHYS-2001	General Physics I	4 credits
-	or
PHYS-2071	Analytical Physics I	4 credits

Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (4-6 credits)

Complete one of the following courses and its associated lab or preparatory course.

BIOL-3317	Stream Ecology	4 credits
BIOL-3319	Ichthyology	4 credits
BIOL-3322	Field Botany	4 credits
BIOL-3326	Coastal Marine Ecology	4 credits
BIOL-3331	Evolution	4 credits
BIOL-3340	Zoology	4 credits
BIOL-3345	Ecology	4 credits
-
BIOL-3346	Tropical Ecology	2 credits
-	and
BIOL-3347	Field Biology	4 credits
-
BIOL-3350	Plant Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity	4 credits

Physiology (4 credits)

Complete one physiology course and its associated lab. Courses used to satisfy the physiology requirement cannot be counted toward other program requirements.

BIOL-3350	Plant Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity	4 credits
BIOL-3374	Animal Physiology	4 credits
BIOL-3376	Neurophysiology	4 credits

Upper-Division Biology Electives (8 credits)

Complete at least 8 additional credits of BIOL coursework at the 3000 or 4000 level. At least one upper-division biology elective must include a lab.

BIOL-

Elective BIOL coursework, 3000- and/or 4000-level

8 credits

A maximum of 4 credits of BIOL-3996 or BIOL-4996 may count toward this requirement.

Biology Capstone (4 credits)

BIOL-4080	Senior Comprehensive Examination	0 credits
BIOL-4990	Biology Capstone Seminar	4 credits

Recommended Electives

The following electives are recommended for students seeking to pursue graduate studies and/or a career in biology.

CHEM-1012	General Chemistry II	4 credits
CHEM-3011	Organic Chemistry I	4 credits
MATH-1050	Applied Calculus: A Modeling Approach	4 credits
MATH-1075	Single Variable Calculus	4 credits
MATH-2025	Multiple Regression Analysis	4 credits
-
PHYS-2002	General Physics II	4 credits
-	or
PHYS-2072	Analytical Physics II	4 credits

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this major, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad-based understanding of biological principles grounded in theoretical structure, mathematics, and the physical sciences;
2. Complete a research project to learn the nature and methodologies of biology;
3. Demonstrate and apply knowledge and use of quantitative skills, analytic methods, and techniques used in the field and laboratory applicable to biological sciences;
4. Apply biological knowledge and skills outside of the classroom by participating in independent research, off-campus study in biology, an internship, or teaching;
5. Demonstrate ability to integrate scientific knowledge among the biological sub-disciplines;
6. Demonstrate ability to integrate biological knowledge with other disciplines outside of biology and the natural sciences; and
7. Contribute meaningfully to seminar-type critical discussions of scientific literature.