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2021-2022 College Catalog

Biology Major

Biology Major Requirements

17 courses (plus labs), distributed as follows:

Introductory Biology

BIOL 191Introduction to Molecular & Cell Biology

4
BIOL 192Introduction to Organismal Biology

4
BIOL 293Intro to Ecology & Evolution

4

Chemistry foundation courses

CHEM 103Introduction to General Chemistry I

3
CHEM 104Introduction to General Chemistry II

3
And
CHEM 108General Chemistry

3
CHEM 108LGeneral Chemistry Lab

1

Or

CHEM 107General Chemistry

3
CHEM 107LGeneral Chemistry Lab

1
And
CHEM 108General Chemistry

3
CHEM 108LGeneral Chemistry Lab

1

CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I

3
CHEM 201LOrganic Chemistry I Lab

2

Other foundation courses

MATH 108Statistics

3
Or
MATH 121Single Variable Calculus

4
Or
PSYC 291Experimental Statistics

3

PHYS 140Prin of Phys I With 2 Hr Lab

4
And
PHYS 141Prin of Phys II With 2 Hr Lab

4

Or

PHYS 201Gen Physics I With 3 Hr Lab

4
And
PHYS 202Gen Physics II With 3 Hr Lab

4

Upper-level Core Courses*

A minimum of seven credits from each core area

OR

A minimum of 10 credits from one core area, a minimum of 7 credits from a different core area and a minimum of 4 credits from the third core area. At least one lab course in each core area.

*Core Courses:

Cellular Biology:
BIOL 300Animal Development

4
BIOL 301Plant Development

3
BIOL 301LPlant Development Lab

1
BIOL 306Microbiology

3
BIOL 306LMicrobiology Lab

1
BIOL 312Molecular Biology of the Cell

4
BIOL 313Genetics Analysis

3
BIOL 313LGenetics Analysis Lab

1
BIOL 314Immunology

3
BIOL 314LImmunology Lab

1
BIOL 321Electron Microscopy

4
BIOL 415Microbial Ecology

3
BIOL 415LMicrobial Ecology Lab

1
BIOL 420Developmental Genetics

3
BIOC 405Biochemistry I

3
BIOC 405LBiochemistry I-Lab

2
Organismal Biology:
BIOL 302Plant Physiology

3
BIOL 302LPlant Physiology Lab

1
BIOL 304Medical Physiology

3
BIOL 304LMedical Physiology Lab

1
BIOL 306Microbiology

3
BIOL 306LMicrobiology Lab

1
BIOL 307Vertebrate Zoology

3
BIOL 309Medicinal Plants

3
BIOL 310Ornithology: Study of Birds

4
BIOL 311Invertebrate Zoology

3
BIOL 317Exercise Physiology With 3 Hr Lab

4
BIOL 319Human Anatomy&Physiology I (Biology)

4
BIOL 320Human Anatomy&Physiology II (Biology)

4
PSYC 305Biopsychology

3
Ecology and Evolution:
BIOL 303Ecology

4
BIOL 305Plant Biology

3
BIOL 305LPlant Biology Lab

1
BIOL 308Aquatic Ecology w/ 3 Hr Lab

4
BIOL 310Ornithology: Study of Birds

4
BIOL 318Evolution

3
BIOL 322Marine Biology

3
BIOL 415Microbial Ecology

3
BIOL 415LMicrobial Ecology Lab

1
BIOL 435Behavioral Ecology

3

Senior Research Project**

BIOL 392Research Methods in Biology

2
BIOL 490Senior Project

4

BIOL 490: Fall or January and Spring

**Biology majors are urged to begin a research experience as early as is practical and should talk to faculty members in the department about such possibilities. For most students, the Biology Senior Project typically begins no later than spring semester of the junior year when students identify a project mentor and topic in BIOL 392 Research Methods in Biology (2 credits). Most students conduct the bulk of their research experience during the following fall and spring terms (4 credits: typically taken as 2 credits in BIOL 490 Senior Project I and 2 credits in BIOL 490 Senior Project II). The project must be completed and written up (in the format of a scientific journal article) by the end of spring term of the senior year, and presented at the annual Biology Symposium.

Senior Comprehensive Examination

The Senior Comprehensive Exam (SCE) is a graduation requirement used to assess student learning in the biology program. The exam is given annually to graduating biology majors in the spring semester

Biology Degree Pathway

First Year

Fall

BIOL 191Introduction to Molecular & Cell Biology

4
CHEM 107General Chemistry

3
CHEM 107LGeneral Chemistry Lab

1

Spring

BIOL 192Introduction to Organismal Biology

4
CHEM 108General Chemistry

3
CHEM 108LGeneral Chemistry Lab

1

MATH 108Statistics

3
Or
MATH 120Pre-Calculus Mathematics

4
Or
MATH 121Single Variable Calculus

4

Second Year

Fall

CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I

3
CHEM 201LOrganic Chemistry I Lab

2
Intro Biology Course

Spring

Upper Level Biology Courses

Third Year

Fall

Upper Level Biology Courses
Physics Foundation Course

Spring

BIOL 392Research Methods in Biology

2
Physics Foundation Course
Upper Level Biology Courses

Fourth Year

Fall

Senior Project
Upper Level Biology Courses

Spring

Senior Project
Upper Level Biology Courses