Biology: General Biology, B.S.

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Changes to B.S. in Biology curriculum that were approved in 2021

Required Major Courses for Biology

For advisement on the curricula and courses in the Biology major, please contact your academic advisor or the chairperson of the Department of Biology.

BIOL 101 - Concepts of Biology I 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 102 - Concepts of Biology II 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 105 - Biology Orientation 1 Credit(s)
BIOL 200 - Introduction to Research 3 Credit(s)
BIOL 205 - Biology Orientation II 1 Credit(s)
BIOL 301 - Molecular Biology (formerly BIOL 401) 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 305 - Cell Biology (formerly BIOL 405) 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 325 - Evolutionary Biology (formerly BIOL 425) 3 Credit(s)
BIOL 366 - Principles of Genetics (formerly BIOL 466) 3 Credit(s)
BIOL 410 - Ecology (formerly BIOL 310) 3 Credit(s)
BIOL 496 - Senior Project (formerly BIOL 501) 3 Credit(s)

Curriculum Guide

Freshman Year

First Semester

BIOL 101 - Concepts of Biology I 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 105 - Biology Orientation 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 106 - General Chemistry VI 3 Credit(s) 1
CHEM 116 - General Chemistry VI Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
ENGL 100 - Ideas and Their Expression I 3 Credit(s)
MATH 110 - Pre-Calculus for Engineers and Scientists 4 Credit(s) ¹

Semester Total: 16

Second Semester

BIOL 102 - Concepts of Biology II 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 205 - Biology Orientation II 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 107 - General Chemistry VII 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 117 - General Chemistry VII Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
ENGL 101 - Ideas and Their Expression II 3 Credit(s)
MATH 131 - Calculus I 4 Credit(s)

Semester Total: 16

Sophomore Year

First Semester

CHEM 221 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 223 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
MATH 224 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics 3 Credit(s)
Biology Research Elective² Credits / Units: 3 or 4
Humanities & Fine Arts Elective 3 Credit(s) ³ Credits / Units: 3

Semester Total: 13 or 14

Second Semester

BIOL 210 - Writing in Biology 3 Credit(s)
BIOL 366 - Principles of Genetics (formerly BIOL 466) 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 222 - Organic Chemistry II 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 224 - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
Social & Behavioral Sci. Elective 3 Credit(s) ³ Credits / Units: 3
Global Awareness 3 Credit(s) ³ Credits / Units: 3

Semester Total: 16

Junior Year

First Semester

BIOL 301 - Molecular Biology (formerly BIOL 401) 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 225 - College Physics I 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 235 - College Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
Statistics Elective 3 Credit(s) ⁴ Credits / Units: 3
Knowledge of African-American Culture and History 3 Credit(s) ³

Semester Total: 14

Second Semester

BIOL 305 - Cell Biology (formerly BIOL 405) 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 325 - Evolutionary Biology (formerly BIOL 425) 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 451 - Biochemistry I 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 226 - College Physics II 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 236 - College Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)

Semester Total: 14

Senior Year

First Semester

Free Elective 3 credit(s)⁶ Credits / Units: 3
BIOL 410 - Ecology (formerly BIOL 310) 3 Credit(s)
BIOL Elective 3 Credit(s) ⁵ Credits / Units: 3
BIOL Elective 3 Credit(s) ⁵ Credits / Units: 3
Free Elective 3 Credit(s) ⁶ Credits / Units: 3

Semester Total: 15

Second Semester

BIOL 496 - Senior Project (formerly BIOL 501) 3 Credit(s)
BIOL Elective 3 Credit(s)⁵ Credits / Units: 3
BIOL Elective 3 or 4 Credit(s) ⁵ Credits / Units: 3 or 4
Free Elective 3 Credit(s) ⁶ Credits / Units: 3
Free Elective 3 Credit(s) ⁶ Credits / Units: 3

Semester Total: 15 or 16

Total Credit Hours: 120

¹Students not eligible to enroll in MATH 110 or CHEM 106 must complete prerequisite(s). Prerequisites count as free electives.

²Biology Research Elective is one of the following courses or combinations: BIOL 200 (3 credits) or BIOL 221 (4 credits) or BIOL 276 (2 credits Fall) and BIOL 277 (2 credits Spring)
³See the list of courses which may be taken as Social & Behavioral Sciences, Knowledge of African American Culture and History, Humanities/Fine Arts, and Global Awareness electives.

³Any course taught by the university; free electives must total 10 or more credit hours.

⁴Student must take one of the following courses: BIOL 481 , STAT 305 .

⁵Biology electives must be number 300 or above.

⁶Any course taught by the university; free electives must total 12 or more credit hours.

Major Program Requirements

Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in BIOL courses.