Biological Sciences

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Major in Biology

Program Description

The Bachelors of Science (B.S.) degree in biology provides a strong foundation in life sciences emphasizing an interdisciplinary and liberal education approach. Biology majors study the diversity of life, and vital topics such as structure and function, evolution, genetics, and cellular and molecular biology. Students considering a degree in the Biological Sciences can opt for a general curriculum or could choose to focus in a particular area by selecting one of five areas of concentration listed below.  All of these curricula lead to a variety of overlapping post-graduation school and career options.  In addition to a major in Biology, the program also offers minors in Biology, Biotechnology, and Neuroscience for non-biology majors.  We encourage students to examine the differences in course requirements and select a curriculum that best matches their academic interests.  

Concentrations

• General
• Biotechnology
• Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Microbiology
• Neuroscience
• Pre-Professional

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will:

• Demonstrate both in-depth and broad knowledge of the concepts comprising the biological sciences.
• Integrate knowledge across sub-disciplines of biology.

• Demonstrate basic laboratory skills, including quantitative (and qualitative) skills.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills, including developing hypotheses and designing, conducting, analyzing, and interpreting experiments.
• Communicate biological knowledge effectively in written and oral form.
• Find, select, and evaluate various types of scientific information.

Major Curriculum

Foundation Courses (22 Semester Hours)

The following foundation courses are required to prepare students for both breadth and depth studies.

BIO 2301/2101 Gen Biology I and Lab (GE)

BIO 2302/2102 Gen Biology II and Lab (GE)

BIO 2303 Scientific Writing (GE)

          [Pre-requisite:  Level I writing course] (GE)

CHE 1313/1113 Gen Chem I and Lab (GE)

[Pre-requisite:  MAT 1311 or MAT 1312 or MAT 1313 or MAT 1323 or MAT 1401 or MAT   2303 or MAT 2304 or MAT 2316 or MAT 2317] (GE)

CHE 1314/1114 Gen Chem II and Lab (GE)

*MAT/PSY/SOC 2326 or MAT 3310 or EXS 2310 Demystifying the Statistics of the Health Sciences, or MAT 2317 Calculus I (all are GE except MAT 3310)

*For most medical and graduate programs at least 2 semesters of math are required, at least one in calculus.

Breadth (21 Semester Hours minimum)

Students must complete CHE 2326 (Organic Chemistry I) and PHY 1321/1121 (Physics I lecture/lab).  Students must complete the remaining 14 hours by taking one course from Areas I, II, III, and IV and additional laboratory courses.  Those additional laboratory courses can be an Area I course or any of the optional laboratory courses from Areas II, III, and IV. Courses used to fulfill the breadth areas may not be used to fulfill depth concentration requirements.

Area I (2–4 SH): Biotechniques and Lab Skills

BIO 1115/1315 Intro to Biotech with lab

BIO 3201 Tissue Culture

BIO 2277 Investigation & Research I

BIO 3277 Investigation & Research II

BIO 3333 Field Biology

Area II (3–4 SH): Cells & Molecules   Optional laboratories may be taken with the lecture to fulfill the 14 breadth hours.

BIO 3337 Biomolecules (BIO 3137 lab optional)

BIO 3342 Introduction to Molecular Biology

BIO 4364 Cell Biology (BIO 4164 lab optional)

Area III (3–4 SH): Structure & Function   Optional laboratories may be taken with the lecture to fulfill the 14 breadth hours.

BIO 3231/3232 Microbiology with lab

BIO 3311/3111 Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology with lab

BIO 3336 Developmental Bio (BIO 3136 lab optional)

BIO 3343 Histology (BIO 3143 lab optional)

Area IV (3 SH): Heredity, Evolution, & Diversity    Optional laboratories may be taken with the course to fulfill the 14 breadth hours.

BIO 2310    Zoology (BIO 2110 lab optional)

BIO 2316    Botany (BIO 2116 lab optional)

BIO 3366    Genetics (BIO 3166 lab optional)

BIO 3371    Ecology & Evolution (BIO 3171 lab optional)

Depth (14 Semester Hours)

The biological sciences program does offer a General Biology degree. However, students may alternatively elect to choose to focus in a specific area by selecting 1 of 5 areas of depth or concentration (minimum 14 SH).  The optional concentration areas are Biotechnology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Neuroscience, and Pre-Professional. 

General Biology

The General Biology degree without a concentration allows students to explore several biological disciplines instead of concentrating on one specific area.  Students will obtain a greater breadth of knowledge by completing additional coursework in the four breadth areas.  This concentration is designed for students seeking a more general education in the biological sciences and for students who do not have immediate plans to enter graduate or professional schools.  This depth concentration would be particularly suited for those students pursuing a career in education.

Biotechnology

The Biology degree with a Biotechnology concentration is designed for scholars seeking work in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry and allows students to gain hands-on experience using several cutting-edge molecular techniques and research instrumentation.  Additionally, this concentration focuses on developing more advanced technical skills that are essential for career success. 

Cellular and Molecular Biology

The Biology degree with a Cellular and Molecular Biology concentration prepares students to be at the cutting edge in modern cell and molecular biology and to be fully prepared to be competitive in applications for entry into graduate degree programs; medical, veterinary, or dental programs; or technical industrial jobs. 

Microbiology

The Biology degree with a Microbiology concentration provides excellent preparation for graduate study in many areas of biological science, as well as for professional study in medical, veterinary, or dental school. Graduates with bachelor’s degrees can pursue careers in industrial, environmental, clinical, food, or pharmaceutical microbiology, and can also work as technicians in university, government, industrial, or hospital research laboratories. 

Neurosciences

Students pursuing the Biology degree with a Neuroscience concentration will use methods and theories spanning disciplines from biochemistry to psychology to investigate the function of the nervous system. This concentration prepares students for advanced study in neuroscience or careers in biotechnology, governmental, pharmaceutical, health care, and social service organizations.

Pre-Professional

The Biology degree with a Pre-Professional concentration is designed to assist a student in gaining admission to and succeeding in a professional health program, including, but not limited to allopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, podiatric medicine, and veterinary medicine.   

Minor Curriculum 

Minor programs in the Department of Biological Sciences are designed for students pursuing major degrees outside of the Biological Sciences.  These programs are offered to students who may have an interest in the biological sciences or more focused interest in the areas of biotechnology or neuroscience.  Each minor program requires a minimum of 18 SH, with a required grade of “C−” or better in all required courses.  Requirements for each specific program are below.    

Biology Minor

Required General Education Courses

BIO 2301/2101     General Biology I/Lab

BIO 2302/2201     General Biology II/ Lab

In addition to the required general education courses, students must complete a minimum of 10 semester hours of biology courses (BIO) beyond the GE requirements.  

Biotechnology Minor

Required General Education Courses

BIO 1315/1115      Introduction to Biotechnology/ Lab

BIO 2301/2101      General Biology/ Lab

BUA 3302              Business Ethics

In addition to the required general education courses, students must complete a minimum of 10 hours of courses from the biotechnology curriculum that is listed below.

BIO 3305     Bioinformatics

BIO 3334     Molecular Biology and Biotechniques I

BIO 3347     Industrial Microbiology

BIO 3147     Industrial Microbiology Lab

BIO 4347     Molecular Genetics

BIO 4374     Proteomics

BIO 4277     Investigation & Research (or BIO 4406 Internship)

Neuroscience Minor 

Required General Education Courses

BIO 2301     General Biology

BIO 2101     General Biology Lab

PSY 2301     Introduction to Psychological Sciences

In addition to the general education courses, students must complete a minimum of 18-19 hours of courses related physiology, neuroscience, and psychology. This can be done by completing either the Neuroscience I or II pathway.

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