The major in Biology was revised as of Fall 2019 and is found here. These minimum grade requirements remain in effect:
- A minimum grade of C- is required to advance from BIO201 General Biology I to BIO202 General Biology II and from BIO202 General Biology II to BIO320 Genetics.
- A minimum grade of C- in BIO320 Genetics is required to advance to most upper-division biology courses (300 and above).
- A minimum grade of C- is required to advance from CHE201 General Chemistry I to CHE202 General Chemistry II, from CHE202 General Chemistry II to CHE318 Organic Chemistry I, and from CHE318 Organic Chemistry I to CHE319 Organic Chemistry II.
- A minimum grade of C- in CHE319 Organic Chemistry II is required to enroll in BCM461 Biochemistry I.
- A minimum grade of C- in MAT251 Calculus I is required to enroll in MAT252 Calculus II and in PHY201 General Physics I.
The Biology major plan outlined below applies to most students who declared a major in Biology prior to Fall 2019 and is provided for reference.
Biology (BA degree track) - 57 credits, plus an approved minor*
*In lieu of an approved minor, Biology BA students may complete a double major.
Pre-major requirements......................................16 credits
BIO201 General Biology I (3) and BIO211 General Biology I Lab (1)1
BIO202 General Biology II (3) and BIO212 General Biology II Lab (1)1
CHE201 General Chemistry I (3) and CHE211 General Chemistry I Lab (1)2
CHE202 General Chemistry II (3) and CHE212 General Chemistry II Lab (1)2
Also required: Minimum MPL of 4; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
1BIO201/211 General Biology I/General Biology I Lab and BIO202/212 General Biology II/General Biology II Lab must be taken in sequence. A minimum grade of C- is required in BIO201 and BIO202.
2A minimum grade of C- is required to advance from CHE201 General Chemistry I to CHE202 General Chemistry II and from CHE202 General Chemistry II to CHE318 Organic Chemistry I.
Required biology courses........................................4 credits
BIO320 Genetics (3) and BIO321 Genetics Lab (1) - A minimum grade of C- in BIO320 Genetics is required to advance to most upper-division biology courses (300 and above).
Major electives....................................................18 credits (minimum)
These must be Biology (or Biochemistry) courses at the 300-level or above, including at least three lab courses. A maximum of 4 credits from independent projects, including Capstone Research and Independent Study, can be counted towards the major.
Participation in Lecture Series (6 hours)
Cognate requirements: See relevant minimum-grade requirements at top of page.
Additional chemistry requirements.......................4 credits
CHE318 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHE306 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
Math requirements.................................................7 credits
MAT241 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MAT251 Calculus I (4)
Physics requirements............................................8 credits
PHY221 Fundamental Physics I (3) and PHY211 Physics I Lab (1)
PHY222 Fundamental Physics II (3) and PHY232 Fundamental Physics II Lab (1)
OR
PHY201 General Physics I (3) and PHY211 Physics I Lab (1)
PHY202 General Physics II (3) and PHY212 General Physics II Lab (1)
Additional breadth requirement (approved minor)....~18-22 credits
Additional considerations for admission to medical, dental and veterinary schools: The requirements for these professional schools are constantly evolving and vary from institution to institution. Please contact the Pre-Health Advisor.
Organismal/Environmental Biology (BS degree track) - ~72 credits
Pre-major requirements......................................16 credits
BIO201 General Biology I (3) and BIO211 General Biology I Lab (1)1
BIO202 General Biology II (3) and BIO212 General Biology II Lab (1)1
CHE201 General Chemistry I (3) and CHE211 General Chemistry I Lab (1)2
CHE202 General Chemistry II (3) and CHE212 General Chemistry II Lab (1)2
Also required: Minimum MPL of 4; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
1BIO201/211 General Biology I/General Biology I Lab and BIO202/212 General Biology II/General Biology II Lab must be taken in sequence. A minimum grade of C- is required in BIO201 and BIO202.
2A minimum grade of C- is required to advance from CHE201 General Chemistry I to CHE202 General Chemistry II and from CHE202 General Chemistry II to CHE318 Organic Chemistry I.
Required track courses........................................11 credits
BIO320 Genetics (3) and BIO321 Genetics Lab (1) - A minimum grade of C- in Genetics is required to advance to most upper-division biology courses (300 and above).
BIO340 Ecology (4)
BIO412 Evolutionary Theory (3) OR BIO418 Animal Behavior (3)
Track elective (choose 1).....................................4 credits
BIO305 Plant Morphology (4)
BIO307 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4)
BIO370 Animal Physiology (4)
BIO425 Plant Ecophysiology (4)
Major electives..................................................14 credits (minimum)
These must be Biology (or Biochemistry) courses at the 300-level or above, including one lab course. A maximum of 4 credits from independent projects, including Capstone Research and Independent Study, can be counted towards the major.
Participation in Lecture Series (6 hours)
Cognate requirements: See relevant minimum-grade requirements at top of page.
Additional chemistry requirements.........................8 credits
CHE318 Organic Chemistry I (3) and CHE306 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE319 Organic Chemistry II (3) and CHE309 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
Math requirements.................................................11 credits
MAT241 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MAT251 Calculus I (4)
MAT252 Calculus II (4)
Physics requirements...........................................8 credits
PHY201 General Physics I (3) and PHY211 Physics I Lab (1)
PHY202 General Physics II (3) and PHY212 General Physics II Lab (1)
Additional considerations for admission to medical, dental and veterinary schools: The requirements for these professional schools are constantly evolving and vary from institution to institution. Please contact the Pre-Health Advisor.
Additional considerations for admission to graduate programs in biology: Research experience. You should begin to explore research options during your sophomore year.
Cell/Molecular Biology (BS degree track) - ~72 credits
Pre-major requirements......................................16 credits
BIO201 General Biology I (3) and BIO211 General Biology I Lab (1)1
BIO202 General Biology II (3) and BIO212 General Biology II Lab (1)1
CHE201 General Chemistry I (3) and CHE211 General Chemistry I Lab (1)2
CHE202 General Chemistry II (3) and CHE212 General Chemistry II Lab (1)2
Also required: Minimum MPL of 4; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
1BIO201/211 General Biology I/General Biology I Lab and BIO202/212 General Biology II/General Biology II Lab must be taken in sequence. A minimum grade of C- is required in BIO201 and BIO202.
2A minimum grade of C- is required to advance from CHE201 General Chemistry I to CHE202 General Chemistry II and from CHE202 General Chemistry II to CHE318 Organic Chemistry I.
Required track courses.......................................15 credits
BIO320 Genetics (3) and BIO321 Genetics Lab (1) - A minimum grade of C- in Genetics is required to advance to most upper-division biology courses (300 and above).
BIO358 Molecular Biology (4)
BIO359 Cell Biology (4)
BIO412 Evolutionary Theory (3)
Track elective (choose 1).....................................4 credits
BIO311 Developmental Plant Anatomy (4)
BIO350 Microbiology (4)
BIO413 Developmental Biology (4)
Major electives....................................................10 credits (minimum)
These must be Biology (or Biochemistry) courses at the 300-level or above, including one lab course. A maximum of 4 credits from independent projects, including Capstone Research and Independent Study, can be counted towards the major.
Participation in Lecture Series (6 hours)
Cognate requirements: See relevant minimum-grade requirements at top of page.
Additional chemistry requirements......................8 credits
CHE318 Organic Chemistry I (3) and CHE306 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE319 Organic Chemistry II (3) and CHE309 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
Math requirements..............................................11 credits
MAT241 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MAT251 Calculus I (4)
MAT252 Calculus II (4)
Physics requirements............................................8 credits
PHY201 General Physics I (3) and PHY211 Physics I Lab (1)
PHY202 General Physics II (3) and PHY212 General Physics II Lab (1)
Additional considerations for admission to medical, dental and veterinary schools: The requirements for these professional schools are constantly evolving and vary from institution to institution. Please contact the Pre-Health Advisor.
Additional considerations for admission to graduate programs in biology: Research experience. You should begin to explore research options during your sophomore year.
