Biology Major, B.S.
The Department of Biology degree program provides students with the conceptual framework to examine living organisms from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. Students in both the Biology Major, B.A. and Biology Major, B.S. gain comprehensive knowledge of biological principles as well as the analytical skills and laboratory and field-based scientific training necessary to pursue graduate studies, conduct contemporary biological research, or directly enter the workforce. These majors allow students the flexibility to tailor their coursework toward a particular discipline of interest. The difference between the majors is in the required number of upper division biology and non-biology STEM courses. Students should consult with a faculty advisor for degree planning towards field-specific career or post-baccalaureate goals.
Student Outcomes
- I.1. Biology graduates will demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply the principles of cell biology.
- I.2. Biology graduates will demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply the principles of Molecular Biology & Genetics.
- I.3. Biology graduates will demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply the principles of Organismal Biology.
- I.4 Biology graduates will demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply the principles of Population Biology, Evolution, and Ecology.
- II.1. Biology graduates will demonstrate proper use and understanding of a broad range of biological techniques.
- II.2. Biology graduates will use knowledge and observations to formulate hypotheses, identify relevant variables and design experiments to test hypotheses.
- III.1. Biology graduates will demonstrate the ability to locate and critically analyze sources of biological information.
- III.2. Biology graduates will demonstrate the ability to communicate concepts in biology using the vocabulary of the discipline.
General Degree Requirements
To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.
- Degree and Certificate Requirements
- General Studies Requirements
- Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement
- Senior Experience Graduation Requirements
Program Requirements
- A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
- A grade of “C-“ or better is required for each BIO prefix course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.
General Studies Requirements: 33 credits
Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.
- Written Communication (6 credits)
- Oral Communication (3 credits)
- Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
- Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
- Historical (3 credits)
- Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
- Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)
** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.
Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits
Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.
Biology Major Required Courses: 19-20 credits
- BIO 1080 - General Biology ICredits: 3
- BIO 1090 - General Biology Laboratory ICredits: 1
- BIO 1081 - General Biology IICredits: 3
- BIO 1091 - General Biology Laboratory IICredits: 1
- and
- BIO 3520 - General EcologyCredits: 3
- and
- Select one of the following:
- BIO 2100 - General BotanyCredits: 5
- BIO 2310 - Human Anatomy and Physiology ICredits: 4
- BIO 2400 - General MicrobiologyCredits: 5
- BIO 3200 - Invertebrate ZoologyCredits: 4
- BIO 3260 - Vertebrate ZoologyCredits: 4
- and
- Select one of the following:
- BIO 3600 - General GeneticsCredits: 4
- BIO 3610 - Genetics: Principles and AnalysisCredits: 4
Biology Elective Requirement: 26-27 credits
- BIO courses selected from the 2000-, 3000-, and 4000-level series, and approved by faculty advisors in the Biology Department, must be completed to bring the total of biology courses approved for the major to 46 semester hours.
Upper division course requirement
At least 27 semester hours of the major (including General Genetics and General Ecology) must be 3000- and 4000-level BIO courses approved by the Biology Department faculty.
Required Non-Biology Courses: 26-27 credits
Required Chemistry Courses: 10 credits
All students must complete one of the following course sequences. CHE 1100 and CHE 1150 or CHE 1800 and CHE 1801 courses may also count toward the Natural and Physical Science General Studies requirements.
- CHE 1800 - General Chemistry ICredits: 4
- CHE 1801 - General Chemistry I LaboratoryCredits: 1
- CHE 1810 - General Chemistry IICredits: 4
- CHE 1811 - General Chemistry II LaboratoryCredits: 1
- or
- CHE 1100 - Principles of ChemistryCredits: 4
- CHE 1150 - Principles of Chemistry LaboratoryCredits: 1
- CHE 2100 - Introduction to Organic and Biological ChemistryCredits: 4
- CHE 2150 - Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry LaboratoryCredits: 1
Required Mathematics Courses: 7-8 credits
All students must complete two semesters of Mathematics starting with MTH 1109, MTH 1110, or above. The Math courses may also count toward the Quantitative Literacy General Studies requirements.
Required Non-Biology Science Electives: 9 credits
Choose 9 additional credits from the following list of courses. At least 6 credits must be upper division (3000- or 4000-level). Any mathematics course chosen from the list below is in addition to the two required mathematics courses.
Anthropology
- ANT 1010 - Introduction to Biological AnthropologyCredits: 3
- ANT 3100 - Human EvolutionCredits: 3
- ANT 3170 - Primate Adaptation and EvolutionCredits: 3
- ANT 3790 - Human OsteologyCredits: 3
- ANT 3860 - PaleopathologyCredits: 3
- ANT 4100 - Biological Anthropology Research DesignCredits: 3
Brewing Science
- BVG 4220 - Brewing FermentationCredits: 3
- BVG 4350 - Brewing Science and TechnologyCredits: 3
Civil Engineering Technology
- CET 3320 - Environmental Impact StatementsCredits: 3
Chemistry
- CHE 3100 - Organic Chemistry ICredits: 4
- CHE 3110 - Organic Chemistry IICredits: 3
- CHE 3120 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1Credits: 1
- CHE 3130 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory IICredits: 2
- CHE 4310 - Biochemistry ICredits: 4
- CHE 4350 - Biochemistry LaboratoryCredits: 2
Computer Science
- CS 1050 - Computer Science 1Credits: 4
- CS 2050 - Computer Science 2Credits: 4
- CS 3120 - Machine LearningCredits: 4
- CS 3150 - Digital Image Processing and Computer VisionCredits: 4
Environmental Science
- ENV 1200 - Introduction to Environmental ScienceCredits: 3
- ENV 2100 - Environmental Sampling and AnalysisCredits: 3
- ENV 3400 - Water ResourcesCredits: 3
- ENV 3700 - Mountain EnvironmentsCredits: 3
- ENV 3740 - Environmental HealthCredits: 3
- ENV 4400 - Landscape EcologyCredits: 3
- ENV 4420 - WetlandsCredits: 3
- ENV 4440 - LimnologyCredits: 3
- ENV 4450 - Stream EcologyCredits: 3
- ENV 4460 - Advanced Water Quality AnalysisCredits: 3
- ENV 4970 - Environmental Field StudiesCredits: 3
Exercise Science
- ESS 3300 - Anatomical KinesiologyCredits: 3
- ESS 3340 - Physiology of ExerciseCredits: 4
Geography
- GEG 1100 - Introduction to Physical GeographyCredits: 3
- GEG 1700 - Principles of SustainabilityCredits: 3
- GEG 3410 - BiogeographyCredits: 3
- GEG 4700 - Sustainability in Resource ManagementCredits: 3
Geology
- GEL 1010 - Physical GeologyCredits: 4
- GEL 3420 - Soil ResourcesCredits: 3
- GEL 3422 - Methods of Soil Analysis and SamplingCredits: 1
Geographic Information Systems
- GIS 2250 - Geographic Information SystemsCredits: 4
- GIS 3250 - CartographyCredits: 3
- GIS 4840 - Remote SensingCredits: 3
- GIS 4850 - Spatial Modeling in RasterCredits: 4
- GIS 4860 - GIS ApplicationsCredits: 4
Integrative Therapeutic Practices
- ITP 4300 - Botanical PharmacologyCredits: 3
- ITP 4600 - Clinical PathophysiologyCredits: 4
Mathematics
- MTH 1120 - College TrigonometryCredits: 3
- MTH 1210 - Introduction to StatisticsCredits: 4
- MTH 1410 - Calculus ICredits: 4
- MTH 2140 - Computational Matrix AlgebraCredits: 2
- MTH 2410 - Calculus IICredits: 4
- MTH 2520 - R ProgrammingCredits: 4
- MTH 3130 - Applied Methods in Linear AlgebraCredits: 4
- MTH 3140 - Linear AlgebraCredits: 4
- MTH 3210 - Probability and StatisticsCredits: 4
- MTH 3220 - Statistical MethodsCredits: 4
- MTH 3240 - Environmental StatisticsCredits: 4
- MTH 3270 - Data ScienceCredits: 4
- MTH 3420 - Differential EquationsCredits: 4
- MTH 3430 - Mathematical ModelingCredits: 4
- MTH 3470 - Introduction to Discrete Mathematics and ModelingCredits: 4
Meteorology
- MTR 1400 - Weather and ClimateCredits: 3
- MTR 3330 - ClimatologyCredits: 3
Nutrition
- NUT 2040 - Introduction to NutritionCredits: 3
- NUT 3150 - Advanced Nutrition - MacronutrientsCredits: 3
- NUT 3160 - Advanced Nutrition - MicronutrientsCredits: 3
- NUT 3500 - Food SafetyCredits: 3
Physics
- PHY 2010 - College Physics ICredits: 4
- PHY 2020 - College Physics IICredits: 4
- PHY 2030 - College Physics I LaboratoryCredits: 1
- PHY 2040 - College Physics II LaboratoryCredits: 1
- PHY 2311 - General Physics ICredits: 4
- PHY 2321 - General Physics I LaboratoryCredits: 1
- PHY 2331 - General Physics IICredits: 4
- PHY 2341 - General Physics II LaboratoryCredits: 1
- PHY 3231 - Vibrations, Waves, and Mathematical MethodsCredits: 4
- PHY 3311 - Analytical MechanicsCredits: 4
Psychology
- PSY 3560 - PsychopharmacologyCredits: 3
- PSY 4520 - Sensation and PerceptionCredits: 3
- PSY 4540 - Behavioral NeuroscienceCredits: 3
Senior Experience: 3 credits
