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

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Course Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen Ed
Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________	Bulletin: 2026-2027 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 department 45 hours + required supporting courses
Biology Major (B.S.) Required Supporting Courses (27-30 hours)
Chemistry (16 hours) Choose four courses from the list below:
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 (3-4 hours) Choose one course from:
Course Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen 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 (8-10 hours) Select one sequence:
Course Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen 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 (34-36 hours)
Chemistry (16 hours) Choose four courses from the list below:
Course Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen 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 Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen 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 (3-4 hours) Choose one course:
Course Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen Ed
MATH 215 - Survey of Calculus *USI Core 39:* Foundations-Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring	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 (12 hours) 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 Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen 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 Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen 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 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: Irregularly offered	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: complete seven additional hours (shown here) complete the secondary education licensure minor
Course Name	Credits:	Term Taken	Grade	Gen 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:

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Biology Major (B.S.) Required Supporting Courses (27-30 hours)

Chemistry (16 hours)

Mathematics (3-4 hours)

Physics (8-10 hours)

Biology Major (B.A.) Required Supporting Courses (34-36 hours)

Chemistry (16 hours)

Geology and Physics (3-4 credits)

Mathematics (3-4 hours)

Bachelor of Arts Component of Core 39 (12 hours)

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

Required Courses (27 hours)

Electives (18 hours)

Biology Teaching (optional)

Secondary Education Licensure Minor