Biology, B.A.
(minimum of 62 total credits)
I. Foundational Program Requirements (38-40 credits)
All of the following courses:
BI 121 | Foundations of Cell & Molecular Biology | 3 |
BI 131 | Lab Explorations Cellular &Molecular BI | 1 |
BI 132 | Physiology and Ecology Lab | 1 |
BI 281 | Genetics | 3 |
BI 281L | Genetics Lab | 1 |
BI 496 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
CH 101 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
CH 101L | General Chemistry I Lab General Chemistry Lab | 1 |
CH 102 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
CH 102L | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
CH 301 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
CH 301L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| | |
PHYS 201 | Physics I:Mechanics, Wave Motion Sound | 4 |
| or | |
PHYS 205 | Physics Using Calculus I: Mechanics | 4 |
| | |
MA 121 | Differential Calculus | 3 |
| or | |
MA 131 | Calculus of Single Variable Functions | 4 |
| | |
MA 315 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
Plus two of the following courses:
BI 122 | Foundations of Organismal Biology | 3 |
BI 123 | Foundations of Ecology and Diversity | 3 |
ES 124 | Climate and Environment | 3 |
BI 121,
BI 122, and
BI 123 all fulfill the Natural Science requirement for Core if taken with either
BI 131 or
BI 132 lab.
II. Other Course Requirements (24 credits)
At least one Advanced Research Experience (2 credits):
BI 390 | Research Experience in Plant Ecology WI | 2 |
BI 391 | Research Exp in Molecular Biology WI | 2 |
BI 392 | Res Exp Cell Molecular Neuroscience WI | 2 |
BI 393 | Res Exp Cellular Mechanotransduction WI | 2 |
BI 394 | Research Exp in Animal Physiology WI | 2 |
Each topic can only count once toward lab credit.
Plus two biology lab credits at the 300-level, or an additional ARE (2 credits):
At least six courses from the following list, with a minimum of two courses in each biology subdiscipline:
Subdiscipline 1: Cell and Molecular Biology (2 courses):
Subdiscipline 2: Organismal Biology and Ecology (2 courses):
Other Science Electives (2 courses):
Or two additional Biology courses from subdisciplines listed above.
III. Other Program Requirements
- All biology majors must earn a grade of “C-” or better in all major courses (sections I and II above) and successfully pass the senior comprehensive examination in biology. Students must pass prerequisite courses with a “C-” or better to advance to subsequent courses.
- All degree students should review requirements for graduation as described in this catalog.
IV. Note to pre-professional students (pre-med, pre-dental, etc.)
- All program requirements (sections I, II and III above) apply to pre-professional students.
- Pre-professional students should consider the following:
- Many professional programs require a second semester of Organic Chemistry, a second semester of Physics, and a Biochemistry course. You are advised to complete CH 302, PHYS 202 and CH 353 as part of your course requirements in section II.
- Some professional programs may require calculus. You are advised to discuss this possibility with your pre-professional advisor and possibly complete calculus as your math requirement.
- More information can be found in the Pre-Professional Programs section of this catalog.