Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Bulletin: 2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin Program: Biology Major, B.A./B.S. Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Biology Major, B.A./B.S.

Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education >> Biology 

45 hours + required supporting courses

Biology Major (B.S.) Required Supporting Courses

Chemistry

Choose four courses from the list below:

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
CHEM 261 - General Chemistry I   and

USI Core 39: Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4
CHEM 262 - General Chemistry II

USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry; Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4

 

and one of the following groups:

CHEM 353 - Organic Chemistry I   and
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4
CHEM 354 - Organic Chemistry II
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4

  or

CHEM 241 - Organic/Biochemistry Principles   and
Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 4
CHEM 321 - Quantitative Analysis
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 4

Mathematics

Choose one course from:

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
MATH 230 - Calculus I

USI Core 39: Foundations-Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4
STAT 241 - Principles of Statistics

USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 3
STAT 251 - Principles of Biostatistics
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3

Physics

Select one sequence:

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
PHYS 175 - General Physics I   and

USI Core 39: Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4
PHYS 175L - General Physics I Laboratory
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 0

  and

PHYS 176 - General Physics II   and

USI Core 39: Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4
PHYS 176L - General Physics II Laboratory
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 0

 

OR
 

PHYS 205 - Intermediate Physics I   and

USI Core 39: Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 5
PHYS 205L - Intermediate Physics I Laboratory
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 0

  and

PHYS 206 - Intermediate Physics II   and
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 5
PHYS 206L - Intermediate Physics II Laboratory
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 0

Biology Major (B.A.) Required Supporting Courses

Chemistry

Choose four courses from the list below:

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
CHEM 261 - General Chemistry I   and

USI Core 39: Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4
CHEM 262 - General Chemistry II

USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry; Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4

 

and one of the following groups:

CHEM 353 - Organic Chemistry I   and
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4
CHEM 354 - Organic Chemistry II
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4

  or

CHEM 241 - Organic/Biochemistry Principles   and
Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 4
CHEM 321 - Quantitative Analysis
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 4

Geology and Physics (3-4 credits)

Select one course from the following list:

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
GEOL 161 - Introduction to Geology

USI Core 39: Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 4
PHYS 175 - General Physics I with PHYS 175L

USI Core 39: Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 4
  • or other physical science course as approved by the Biology department Chair
  • Mathematics

    Choose one course:

    Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
    MATH 215 - Survey of Calculus

    USI Core 39: Foundations-Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning


    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Credits: 3
    MATH 230 - Calculus I

    USI Core 39: Foundations-Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning


    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Credits: 4
    STAT 241 - Principles of Statistics

    USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry


    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
    Credits: 3
    STAT 251 - Principles of Biostatistics
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 3

    Bachelor of Arts Component of Core 39

    Students earning a BA must successfully complete a four course sequence in the same language through Language 204 or higher.

    Biology Major (B.A. or B.S.) (45 hours)

    Required Courses (27 hours)

    Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
    BIOL 141 - Principles of Biology

    USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry; Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 151 - Botany
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 152 - Zoology
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 215 - Ecology
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 3

     

    BIOL 333 - Animal Physiology or
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 336 - Plant Physiology
    Term(s) Offered: Spring (even-numbered years)
    Credits: 4

     

    BIOL 334 - Cell Biology
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 382 - Genetics
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 481 - Organic Evolution
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 3

    Electives (18 hours)

    18 hours selected from the list, as directed by advisor.

    • At least 12 hours must be 300-400 level.
    • No more than four hours of BIOL 460, BIOL 470, and BIOL 499 (any combination) can apply toward the electives.
    • Courses designated as non-major and courses that state biology majors may not enroll or earn credit will not count as electives towards the biology major.
    • Biology transfer electives must be approved by the department chair.
    Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
    BIOL 208 - Wildlife Biology
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 225 - Biological Literature and Communication
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 2
    BIOL 272 - Medical Microbiology
    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 285 - Animal Behavior
    Term(s) Offered: On demand
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 305 - Aquatic Biology
    Term(s) Offered: Summer (odd-numbered years)
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 306 - Ichthyology
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 308 - Vertebrate Biology
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 315 - Ornithology
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 321 - Invertebrate Zoology
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 322 - Introduction to Entomology
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 342 - Comparative Chordate Anatomy
    Term(s) Offered: Fall
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 361 - Plant Systematics
    Term(s) Offered: Fall (even-numbered years)
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 362 - Economic Botany

    USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Global; Embedded Experience-Writing


    Term(s) Offered: Fall (odd-numbered years)
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 371 - Tropical Biology
    Term(s) Offered: Summer (even-numbered years)
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 375 - Microbiology
    Term(s) Offered: Spring
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 376 - Laboratory in Microbiology
    Term(s) Offered: Spring
    Credits: 2
    BIOL 378 - Virology

    USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


    Term(s) Offered: Spring (even-numbered years)
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 422 - Immunology
    Term(s) Offered: Fall
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 432 - Cancer Biology

    USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


    Term(s) Offered: Spring (odd-numbered years)
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 434 - Macromolecules and Metabolism
    Term(s) Offered: Spring
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 436 - Molecular Biology Techniques
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 442 - Histology
    Term(s) Offered: Fall
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 444 - Herpetology

    USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


    Term(s) Offered: Fall (even-numbered years)
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 452 - Biology and Environmental Science of Global Change
    Term(s) Offered: Spring (odd-numbered years)
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 459 - Advanced Ecology
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 460 - Internship
    Term(s) Offered: On demand
    Credits: 1-4
    BIOL 461 - Embryology and Development
    Term(s) Offered: Spring (odd-numbered years)
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 465 - Plant Growth and Development
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 4
    BIOL 470 - Independent Study
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 1-4
    BIOL 476 - Bacterial Pathogenesis
    Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 482 - Molecular Biology
    Term(s) Offered: Spring (odd-numbered years)
    Credits: 3
    BIOL 490 - Undergraduate Teaching
    Term(s) Offered: On demand
    Credits: 1
    BIOL 491 - Special Topics in Biology
    Term(s) Offered: On demand
    Credits: 1-4
    BIOL 495 - Senior Seminar in Biology
    Term(s) Offered: On demand
    Credits: 1
    BIOL 499 - Independent Research
    Term(s) Offered: On demand
    Credits: 1-3

    Biology Teaching (optional)

    Students who wish to become teachers at the secondary school level can declare biology as their major and:

    1. complete seven additional hours (shown here)
    2. complete the secondary education licensure minor
    Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
    GEOL 108 - Earth-Space Science for Educators

    USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry; Natural Science with Lab (BA and BS)


    Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
    Credits: 2
    BIOL 490 - Undergraduate Teaching (must take twice for a total of 2 credits)
    Term(s) Offered: On demand
    Credits: 1
    EDUC 396 - Teaching Science in Grades 5-12
    Term(s) Offered: Fall (even-numbered years)
    Credits: 3

    Secondary Education Licensure Minor

    Students seeking a teaching major that leads to licensure as a secondary school teacher (grades 5-12) are required to complete the Secondary Education Licensure Minor.

    Notes: