The Bachelor of Science degree in Biology is classified as a STEM program. This science degree will provide students with a foundation in the biological, chemical and data sciences. The expertise to understand and apply the functions of life are projected to be vital skills both nationally and in the state of Delaware. The biology degree will provide students with the skills they need to tackle challenges in a range of scientific and quantitative fields.
By utilizing the rich experience of science practitioners, students will be prepared to begin or continue their careers. Aligning with the University’s mission of exemplary career-oriented degrees, graduates of this degree can market themselves to a variety of career options including forensic science technician, laboratory technician, K-12 educator, government analyst, as well as a plethora of jobs in the non-profit and healthcare sectors.
Biological Learning Outcomes: Learning outcomes were adapted from a National Science Foundation-funded report authored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on the development of standards for undergraduate biological education (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011).
Curriculum
General Education Requirements (40 credits)
A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 251, ENG 121, ENG 122, ENG 131, ENG 310, MAT 205.
Biology Core (49 credits)
A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 252, BIO 336, BIO 337. A "C-" is required for BIO 338, BIO 352, CHE 261, CHE 262, CHE 363, CHE 364, and PHY 272.
| SCI 441 | Co-op Education Experience for Science | 3 |
| SCI 442 | Co-op Education Experience for Science | 3 |
| BIO 252 | Biology II (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 337 | Genetics (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 336 | Microbiology (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 352 | Cell & Molecular Biology (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 338 | Ecology (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 261 | Chemistry I (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 262 | Chemistry II (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 363 | Organic Chemistry I (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 364 | Organic Chemistry II (with Lab) | 4 |
| PHY 272 | Physics I (with Lab) | 4 |
| DTA 447 | Data Science | 3 |
OR
| | |
| CSC 420 | Intro to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
Supplemental Core (15 credits)
A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for ENV 448, MAT 310, and SCI 495. A "C-" is required for MAT 308.
Free Electives (16 credits)
Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits to earn a Bachelor's degree in Biology. Students with less than 16 transfer credits are required to take FYE 101 as one of their electives. Because of the mixture of 3 and 4 credit courses, students must be diligent and seek advice as they work through the program.
Select one of the following two concentrations
Students may major in Biology alone OR add one of the two existing concentrations (Biotechnology or Forensic Science).
Biotechnology Concentration (17 credits)
* Biotechnology concentration students are not required to complete the Ecology course in the Science Core.
A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 449, BIO 450, and BIO 452. A minimum of "C-" is required for BIO 451 and BIO 453.
| BIO 449 | Biotechnology (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 450 | Immunology & Virology (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 451 | Proteomics (with Lab) | 3 |
| BIO 452 | Cell and Tissue Culture (with Lab) | 3 |
| BIO 453 | Computational Bio & Bioinform. | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Forensic Science Concentration (17 credits)
* Forensic Science concentration students are not required to complete the Ecology course in the Science Core.
A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for CRJ 101, CRJ 318, BIO 454, BIO 455, and BIO 253.
| CRJ 101 | Survey of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 318 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| BIO 454 | Forensic Biology (with Lab) | 3 |
| BIO 455 | Scientific CSI (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 253 | Anatomy and Physiology I (with Lab) | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Biology, Bachelor of Science Completion Degree
What is a Completion Degree?
A completion degree is a personalized version of a bachelor's degree created specifically for students who have completed an associate's degree at an accredited institution. (Students who have not completed an associate's degree should return to the full Biology, Bachelor of Science degree information.) Completion degrees are available for most Wilmington University Bachelor of Science degrees. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate's degree should communicate with a Wilmington University academic advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.
Biology Completion Degree Requirements
A minimum grade requirement of "C" is required for ENG 121, ENG 122, MAT 200, MAT 205, BIO 251, BIO 252, BIO 336, BIO 337, ENV 448, and SCI 495. A minimum of "C-" is required for CHE 261, BIO 338, ENV 310, BIO 352, CHE 262, CHE 363, CHE 364, PHY 272, DTA 447, CSC 420, MAT 310, and MAT 308.
Biology - Biotechnology Concentration Completion Degree Requirements
A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 336, BIO 449, BIO 337, BIO 452, ENV 448, BIO 450, and SCI 495. A minimum passing grade of "C-" is required for BIO 352, MAT 308, CHE 262, CHE 363, CHE 364, BIO 451, MAT 310, PHY 272, and BIO 453.
| BIO 336 | Microbiology (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 337 | Genetics (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 352 | Cell & Molecular Biology (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 262 | Chemistry II (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 363 | Organic Chemistry I (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 364 | Organic Chemistry II (with Lab) | 4 |
| PHY 272 | Physics I (with Lab) | 4 |
| DTA 447 | Data Science | 3 |
OR
| | |
| CSC 420 | Intro to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| ENV 448 | Environmental Informatics | 3 |
| MAT 310 | Calculus I | 3 |
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| SCI 495 | Science Major Senior Seminar | 3 |
| SCI 441 | Co-op Education Experience for Science | 3 |
| SCI 442 | Co-op Education Experience for Science | 3 |
| BIO 449 | Biotechnology (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 450 | Immunology & Virology (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 451 | Proteomics (with Lab) | 3 |
| BIO 452 | Cell and Tissue Culture (with Lab) | 3 |
| BIO 453 | Computational Bio & Bioinform. | 3 |
Additional course work as needed to meet 120 credits for graduation.
The following courses or their equivalents are pre-requisites for the Biology - Biotechnology Concentration completion degree. If you have transfer credits that do not include equivalents to the classes below, you are expected to complete them prior to taking the core course for which they are pre-requisites:
ENG 121 English Composition I
ENG 122 English Composition II
ENG 131 Public Speaking
MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics
MAT 200 Pre-Calculus
BIO 251 Biology I
CHE 261 Chemistry I
CHE 262 Chemistry II
CHE 363 Organic Chemistry I
Biology - Forensic Science Concentration Completion Degree Requirements
A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 337, CRJ 101, BIO 454, BIO 336, CRJ 318, SCI 495, BIO 253, ENV 448, and BIO 455. A minimum passing grade of "C-" is required for MAT 308, BIO 352, CHE 262, CHE 363, and CHE 364, and PHY 272.
| BIO 336 | Microbiology (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 337 | Genetics (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 352 | Cell & Molecular Biology (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 262 | Chemistry II (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 363 | Organic Chemistry I (with Lab) | 4 |
| CHE 364 | Organic Chemistry II (with Lab) | 4 |
| PHY 272 | Physics I (with Lab) | 4 |
| DTA 447 | Data Science | 3 |
OR
| | |
| CSC 420 | Intro to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| ENV 448 | Environmental Informatics | 3 |
| MAT 310 | Calculus I | 3 |
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| SCI 495 | Science Major Senior Seminar | 3 |
| SCI 441 | Co-op Education Experience for Science | 3 |
| SCI 442 | Co-op Education Experience for Science | 3 |
| CRJ 101 | Survey of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ 318 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| BIO 454 | Forensic Biology (with Lab) | 3 |
| BIO 455 | Scientific CSI (with Lab) | 4 |
| BIO 253 | Anatomy and Physiology I (with Lab) | 4 |
Additional course work as needed to meet 120 credits for graduation.
The following courses or their equivalents are pre-requisites for the Biology - Forensic Science Concentration completion degree. If you have transfer credits that do not include equivalents to the classes below, you are expected to complete them prior to taking the core course for which they are pre-requisites:
ENG 121 English Composition I
ENG 122 English Composition II
ENG 131 Public Speaking
MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics
MAT 200 Pre-Calculus
BIO 251 Biology I
CHE 261 Chemistry I
CHE 262 Chemistry II
CHE 363 Organic Chemistry I