2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Feb 16, 2025

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2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, leading to a B.S. degree

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Major Requirements

To declare and be retained as a biology major, a student must maintain a 2.00 grade point average based on the courses attempted which satisfy the biology major’s requirements. No courses numbered below 204 except BIO 160 Foundations of Biological Inquiry , BIO 165 From Ecosystems to Organisms , and BIO 175 From Organisms to Molecules can be used to fulfill the biology major requirements.

Required Courses:

Biology majors must complete nine biology courses and four cognate courses.

Biology courses

Three introductory courses:

Three introductory courses should be completed before end of the third year.

BIO 160 - Foundations of Biological Inquiry Course unit(s): 1
BIO 165 - From Ecosystems to Organisms Course unit(s): 1
BIO 175 - From Organisms to Molecules Course unit(s): 1

At least six biology electives:

Six biology electives numbered between 204 and 900, which may include BCM 441 CUE: Advanced Biochemistry , ESC 312 - CUE: Toxicology , NSC 305 Hormones & Behavior , NSC 313 Neuropharmacology & Cell Signaling , NSC 301 - Neurons & Networks , and up to one credit (one full course unit or two half course units) of BIO 970 Biology Independent Study/Research . At least one course must be from each of list A, B, and C and at least one course must be a 400-level CUE course.

List A

Courses studying populations through ecosystems, including a lab or field component:

BIO 204 - Invertebrate Zoology Course unit(s): 1
BIO 255 - Ornithology Course unit(s): 1
BIO 260 - Field Botany & Plant Ecology Course unit(s): 1
BIO 262 - Cultural & Economic Botany Course unit(s): 1
BIO 264 - Animal Behavior Course unit(s): 1
BIO 268 - Freshwater Ecology Course unit(s): 1
BIO 270 - Ecology Course unit(s): 1
BIO 272 - Field Marine Biology Course unit(s): 1

List B

Courses studying organisms and tissue systems, including a lab or field component:

BIO 240 - Developmental Biology Course unit(s): 1
BIO 242 - Entomology Course unit(s): 1
BIO 245 - Comparative Anatomy Course unit(s): 1
BIO 250 - General Physiology Course unit(s): 1

List C

Courses studying cells and molecules, including a lab component:

BIO 205 - Cell Biology Course unit(s): 1
BIO 215 - Genetics Course unit(s): 1
BIO 220 - Biochemistry Course unit(s): 1
BIO 225 - Microbiology Course unit(s): 1

Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE):

At least one of the biology courses numbered between 400 and 499. These are advanced, seminar style course that incorporate inquiry-oriented student projects.

Cognate courses (4 courses)

CHM 103 - General Chemistry I Course unit(s): 1
CHM 104 - General Chemistry II Course unit(s): 1
Any two additional courses (2 course units) chosen from:
CHM 201 - Organic Chemistry I Course unit(s): 1
CHM 203, 205 - Organic Chemistry IA Course unit(s): 1
CHM 204, 206 - Organic Chemistry IIA Course unit(s): 1
CSI 102 - Computer Science I: Introduction to Game Programming Course unit(s): 1
CSI 104 - Computer Science I: Introduction to Robotics Course unit(s): 1
CSI 111 - Computer Science II Course unit(s): 1
MTH 119 - Statistical Analysis Course unit(s): 1
MTH 121 - Calculus I Course unit(s): 1
MTH 122 - Calculus II Course unit(s): 1
MTH 219, 220 - Statistical Models Course unit(s): 1
MTH 223 - Calculus III Course unit(s): 1
MTH 226 - Linear Algebra Course unit(s): 1
MTH 227 - Differential Equations Course unit(s): 1
MTH 240 - Transition to Abstract Mathematics Course unit(s): 1
MTH 331 - Probability Course unit(s): 1
PHY 121 - General Physics I Course unit(s): 1
PHY 122 - General Physics II Course unit(s): 1

Note:

Students are strongly encouraged to complete CHM 202 - Organic Chemistry II or CHM 204, 206 - Organic Chemistry IIA and PHY 122 - General Physics II because a full year of each are required by many graduate programs in the biological sciences and health professions.

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