Sep 15, 2025

2025 - 2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Biology, B.S.

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The Bachelor of Science in Biology is designed for students who are interested in careers which require an extensive background in biology. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science degree, the student will have met the minimum major requirements for admission to graduate and professional schools (e.g., medical, dental, veterinary, etc). Elective coursework can lead to a specialized focus in bioinformatics, molecular biology, or ecology. In collaboration with the College of Education, a B. S. in Biology Education is also offered and is described in the College of Education portion of the catalog. The department chair can provide more information.

Requirements for Major in Biology

Admission to the Program

Admission to the program is through a formal declaration of major and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

Note

In addition to the CSEM requirements, Biology majors must earn a grade of “C” or better in MAT 241 - Calculus I with Analytic Geometry . Biology majors may substitute PH 251 - College Physics I / PH 252 - College Physics II for PH 241 - General Physics I / PH 242 - General Physics II . Students who major in Biology may substitute CH 446 Biochemistry II for one of their biology elective courses. In the second year, during the SEM 222 - Fundamentals of Science II all Biology majors will take an exam reviewing the material covered in BI 141 , BI 142 and BI 240 . Continuation in the program will be contingent upon successfully passing this exam or permission of the Department Chair and/or Academic Advisor.

Refer to the vertical curriculum for additional course requirements.

Biology: Total Semester Hours=124

Freshman Year

First Semester

BI 141 - Principles of Biology I (For Science Majors) 3 Credit Hours ^GE
BIL 141 - Principles of Biology I Lab 1 Credit Hour ^GE
EN 131 - College English I 3 Credit Hours ^GE ^*
Historical and Cultural Perspectives ^GE 3 Credit Hours
MAT 135 - Pre-Calculus 3 Credit Hours ^GE ^*
SEM 111 - Fundamentals of Science I 1 Credit Hour

Total: 14

Second Semester

BI 142 - Principles of Biology II (For Science Majors) 4 Credit Hours
CH 141 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
CHL 141 - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hour
EN 132 - College English II 3 Credit Hours ^GE
MAT 136 - Analytical Trigonometry 3 Credit Hours ^GE
SC 230 - Introduction to Effective Oral Communication 3 Credit Hours

Total: 17

Sophomore Year

First Semester

BI 240 - Principles of Biology III 4 Credit Hours
CH 142 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
CHL 142 - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hour
MAT 241 - Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 4 Credit Hours
SC 230 - Introduction to Effective Oral Communication 3 Credit Hours ^GE

Total: 15

Second Semester

BI 213 - Research Methods in Biology 4 Credit Hours
BI 200 Level Restricted Electives***
CH 241 - Organic Chemistry I and Lab 4 Credit Hours
ES 215 - Environmetrics 3 Credit Hours
OR
MAT 260 - Practical Statistics 3 Credit Hours
SEM 222 - Fundamentals of Science II 1 Credit Hour

Total: 16

Junior Year

First Semester

BI 300 Level Elective (3 Credit Hour)
CH 242 - Organic Chemistry II and Lab 4 Credit Hours
Faith and Wellness Awareness ^GE 3 Credit Hours
CS 215 - Fundamentals of Scientific Computing 3 Credit Hours
PH 241 - General Physics I 4 Credit Hours
PHL 241 - General Physics I Laboratory 0 Credit Hours

Total: 17

Second Semester

BI 300 Level Elective (3 Credit Hours)
BI 333 - Seminar In Biology 1 Credit Hour
CH 445 - Biochemistry I 4 Credit Hours
PH 242 - General Physics II 4 Credit Hours
PHL 242 - General Physics II Laboratory 0 Credit Hours
PHIL 230 - Ethics 3 Credit Hours ^GE
OR
ES 233 - Environmental Ethics 3 Credit Hours

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

Biology 300/400 Elective 3 Credit Hours
Biology 300/400 Elective 4 Credit Hours
BI 255 - Introduction to Biostatistics and Data Analysis 3 Credit Hours
Social Foundations and Civic Engagement ^GE 3 Credit Hours
Free Elective + 3 Credit Hours

Total: 16

Second Semester

BI 400 Level Elective (3 Credit Hours)
BI 400 Level Elective (4 Credit Hours)
BI 499 - Senior Seminar 3 Credit Hours
FI 310 - Personal Finance 3 Credit Hours
Historical and Cultural Perspectives ^GE 3 Credit Hours

Total: 14

Notes:

General Education courses are in marked with a GE.

*Based on placement exam scores, these courses may require a pre-requisite which may extend the number of semesters needed to complete degree requirements.

+Free Electives - Any course offered by the University that you have met the prerequisites for.

Elective Requirements

One course (200 or above) must be taken in each of three areas: Ecology/Evolution; Structure and Function; and Cellular/Developmental/Molecular Biology.
One 300 I 400 level Biology Course must be computational or have a strong data component. (See below for examples.)
One 300/400 level Biology Course must have a strong writing component. (These courses will be indicated in the catalog description.)

Options in each category (writing courses are in bold)

Restricted 200-level Elective

BI 230 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
Bl 2xx Integrative Biology
Bl 2xx Principles of Evolution
BI 250 Introduction to Genetics

Ecology/ Evolution

Bl 2xx Principles of Evolution
ES 241 Principles of Environmental Science
BI 337 General Ecology (FA)
BI 337 General Ecology
BI 345 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (SP)
BI 355 Marine Biology
(SP) Several IES options

Structure and Function

Computational / Data-based

Cellular/ Developmental/ Molecular

Additional Elective Options (writing courses in bold)

BI 244 Microbiology and Lab (not recommended for pre-professional students)
BI 310 Human Anatomy
BI 410 Topics in Biological Science (topics vary)
BI 440 Research
SEM 441 Internship in SEM