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Biology (B.A.)

This program provides students a strong background in biology so they may enter the workforce, pursue additional education after graduation, or strengthen other programs of study. In addition, students who graduate from this program will have the critical thinking, analytic, and writing skills employers seek. Positions are available in a variety of federal, state, and local government agencies — especially science, health, forensics, or environmental agencies. Private research and commercial companies also offer employment to students as research assistants, writers, technicians, and managers and in sales. With additional education courses, students in this program will be able to enter the teaching profession directly or after a master’s program in education. If students decide to pursue related fields of study or new fields of graduate study (e.g., law, business, biotechnology, and bioinformatics), this program gives them an excellent basis for any continued education necessary to meet their goals.

Upon successful completion of the biology B.A. program, students will be able to

  • demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the field of biology and the ability to synthesize a range of biological concepts and ideas;
  • demonstrate an understanding of modern scientific research, including a familiarity with current methods for designing experiments, applications of laboratory skills, and the ability to analyze and interpret data; and
  • demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills, including an ability to effectively communicate and work with diverse groups.

Students who are in the pre-med or pre-physical therapy tracks, in licensure programs, or also pursuing minors should work carefully with their advisor to ensure they meet all requirements. See also the sample degree plan below. 

A minor in biology is also available.  Please see the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics minors section for details.

Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C- is required in any course within the major courses (biology, chemistry, and physics) that serve as a prerequisite for a higher-numbered course. This requirement may apply to other courses as indicated in the course catalog. Courses in which the minimum grade is not achieved may not be repeated more than once without permission of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics director.

Degree Requirements — Biology (B.A.)

This degree requires a total of 120 credits.

Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements

See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Biology majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: BIO 300 Writing for Science, BIO 368 Advanced Research Methods, and one additional WI course. Students should fulfill the third WI course and the GP requirement with a general elective or a Liberal Arts Core course.

Major Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.

BIO 151General Biology I *

3

BIO 151LGeneral Biology I Lab *

1

BIO 152General Biology II *

3

BIO 152LGeneral Biology II Lab

1

BIO 260Microbiology

3

BIO 260LMicrobiology Lab

1

BIO 262Genetics for Majors *

3

BIO 262LGenetics for Majors Lab

1

BIO 300Writing for Science *

3

BIO 363Cellular Biology

3

BIO 368Advanced Research Methods *

3

BIO 400Internship *

3

BIO 423Pathways in STEM - 4th Year Seminar

3

CHM 125Life Chemistry *

3

or higher level

CHM 125LLife Chemistry Lab

1

or higher level

MA 132Statistical Analysis *

3

OR

MA 181Calculus I *

4

 

PH 250Philosophy of Science *

3

OR

PH 303Animals, the Environment, and Ethics *

3

OR

PH 311Biomedical Ethics *

3

OR

PH 230Mind, Brains, and Machines *

3

 

PHYS 161College Physics I *

3

or higher level

PHYS 161LCollege Physics I Lab

1

or higher level

At least ten (10) credits from science elective courses:

BIO 224Endocrinology

3

BIO 250General Botany

3

BIO 250LGeneral Botany Lab

1

BIO 272Parasitology

3

BIO 272LParasitology Lab

1

BIO 327SLMarine Biology and Tropical Ecology *

4-6

ED 366Secondary Teaching Methods in Science

3

BIO 441Biochemistry

3

BIO 441LBiochemistry Lab

1

BIO 442Nucleic Acids and Metabolism

3

BIO 444Immunology

3

BIO 446Animal Virology

3

BIO 449Advanced Molecular Biology

4

CHM 151Principles of Chemistry I *

3

or higher level

CHM 151LPrinciples of Chemistry I Lab

1

or higher level

CHM 152Principles of Chemistry II *

3

or higher level

CHM 152LPrinciples of Chemistry II Lab

1

or higher level

CHM 221Organic Chemistry I

3

CHM 221LOrganic Chemistry I Lab

1

CHM 222Organic Chemistry II

3

CHM 222LOrganic Chemistry II Lab

1

CHM 441Physical Biochemistry

3

PHYS 162College Physics II *

3

or higher level

PHYS 162LCollege Physics II Lab

1

or higher level

Note: Students must check prerequisites for all science elective courses when determining elective course selections. Some prerequisite courses are not requirements in the biology B.A. program.
BIO 385: Students must be accepted into the biology with secondary-level teaching licensure program prior to taking this course.

Sample Degree Plan — Biology (B.A.)

Please note that this is a sample plan. All students must consult with an advisor in making course selections. This plan will differ for students who wish to pursue the pre-med track, a pre-physical therapy course of study, a minor, licensure, or a certification program.

Year One — Fall

BIO 151General Biology I *

3

BIO 151LGeneral Biology I Lab *

1

EN 101Composition I *

3

HI Introductory History (HI-1) core course *

3

CNCT 100Connections *

3

One (1) elective

3

BIO 151: NS core course

BIO 151L: DSINQ course and NS lab core course

EN 101: WR core course

Year One — Spring

BIO 152General Biology II *

3

BIO 152LGeneral Biology II Lab

1

EN 102Composition II *

3

 

MA 132Statistical Analysis *

3

OR

MA 181Calculus I *

4

 

TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course *

3

BIO 152: NS core course

EN 102: WR core course

MA 132 or MA 181: MT core course

TRS 100: TRS-1 core course

Year Two — Fall

BIO 260Microbiology

3

BIO 260LMicrobiology Lab

1

BIO 300Writing for Science *

3

CHM 125Life Chemistry *

3

or higher level

CHM 125LLife Chemistry Lab

1

or higher level

EN Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course *

3

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course in a second discipline *

3

BIO 300: DSINQ and WI course

Year Two — Spring

BIO 262Genetics for Majors *

3

BIO 262LGenetics for Majors Lab

1

PH 100Introduction to Philosophy *

3

Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course *

3

One (1) elective - GP course if not already completed *

3

PH 100: PH-1 core course

Year Three — Fall

BIO 363Cellular Biology

3

BIO 368Advanced Research Methods *

3

One (1) science elective

3

One (1) elective

3

 

Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) core course: PH 250 or PH 330 *

OR

Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course: PH 303 or PH 311 *

BIO 368: WI course

Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

Year Three — Spring

One (1) science elective

3

Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course *

3

Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course *

3

Two (2) electives

6

Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

Year Four — Fall

BIO 400Internship *

3

BIO 423Pathways in STEM - 4th Year Seminar

3

PHYS 161College Physics I *

3

PHYS 161LCollege Physics I Lab

1

One (1) elective

3

Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course *

3

BIO 400: EXP course

BIO 423: DSINQ course

Year Four — Spring

One (1) science elective with lab

Two (2) electives

6

One (1) elective - 3rd WI course if not already completed *

Science elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.