This section specifies the Biology major discipline requirements only. Please refer to the Bachelor of Science section for information on additional requirements.
Declaration requirements
Students admitted to the Bachelor of Science may formally declare a science major or minor if they have a minimum CGPA of 2.00 and meet the declaration requirements for the subject discipline. BSc students are expected to declare a major or minor by the time they have completed 60 credits. Students in other degree programs may declare a science major or minor if they satisfy the declaration requirements and have the approval of their program.
Bachelor of Science students wishing to declare a Biology major must complete the following prior to their formal declaration:
BIO 111 and CHEM 113
BIO 112 and CHEM 114 with a C+ or better in each
One of the following: MATH 111, PHYS 105, PHYS 111, STAT 104, or STAT 106
Program outline
Lower-level requirements
Course
Title
Credits
BIO 111
Introductory Biology I
5
BIO 112
Introductory Biology II
5
BIO 201
Cell Biochemistry/Metabolism
4
BIO 202
Cell Signaling/Gene Regulation
4
BIO 210
Introductory Ecology
4
BIO 220
Genetics
4
CHEM 113
Principles of Chemistry I
5
CHEM 114
Principles of Chemistry II
5
CHEM 213
Organic Chemistry I
4
CHEM
An additional CHEM course numbered 200 or higher
3–4
MATH 111
Calculus I
4
MATH 112
Calculus II
4
or MATH 118
Calculus II for Life Sciences
PHYS 105
Heat, Waves, and Optics
5–10
or the combination of:
PHYS 111
Mechanics
and PHYS 112
Electricity and Magnetism
One of: (see Note)
4
STAT 104
Introductory Statistics
STAT 106
Statistics I
MATH 270/
STAT 270
Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Upper-level requirements
Course
Title
Credits
Two of:
6
BIO 310
Conservation Biology
BIO 312
Developmental Biology
BIO 320/ BIOC 320
Biochemistry
BIO 416
Evolution
Plus:
BIO
24 credits of BIO courses numbered 300 and above (see Note)
24
Plus:
14 credits of upper-level university courses in any discipline, three credits of which must be non-BIO
14
Note: Included in these 24 upper-level credits must be at least eight credits chosen from four-credit BIO courses with labs.
Note: Included in these 24 upper-level BIO credits must be at least eight credits chosen from four-credit BIO courses with labs. A maximum of six directed studies credits and a maximum of eight field school credits of BIO 442 may be used as part of this requirement.
Upper-level courses at other institutions may be counted as upper-level Biology transfer credit. See Courses at other institutions for details.
Concentrations
The following concentrations are available in the Biology major:
Students who intend to prepare for public school teaching should complete the Biology major with six credits of English (three credits of composition and three credits of literature) and at least one other teachable minor is recommended. Students should see an Advisor for the composition of teachable minors.
