Updated 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog | 20255

Biology, B.S. major

Required Credits: 60
Required GPA: 2.25

I REQUIRED BIOLOGY CORE COURSES

Complete the following courses:

• BIOL 1400 Cellular Principles (4 credits)
• BIOL 1500 Diversity of Life (4 credits)
• BIOL 2360 Genetics (4 credits)
• BIOL 2610 General Ecology (3 credits)

II REQUIRED BIOLOGY ELECTIVES

Select Biology course electives (2000 level or above) to achieve a minimum of 40 credits. (BIOL 2925 is excluded as an option) Electives can include one of the following options from other departments.

• ENVR 4400 Environmental Microbiology (3 credits)
• ENVR 4500 Environmental Toxicology (4 credits)

III CAPSTONE PROJECT

The Biology capstone project, completed in the senior year, provides a culminating experience that integrates the knowledge and skills learned in previous courses and applies them to a scholarly activity. Examples of capstone projects may include original research projects, internships with state or federal agencies or shadowing experiences with professionals. The capstone project must be designed or chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty mentor or advisor, who must approve the project before work begins. Students should consult with their faculty mentor or advisor before their senior year commences. All capstone projects will include a written and oral component.

The capstone project may be completed in one of the
following ways (2-4 credits):

1. Complete BIOL 4894 OR BIOL 4895 (2 credits):

• BIOL 4894 Advanced Research Project I (2 credits)
• BIOL 4895 Advanced Research Project II (2 credits)

2. Complete BIOL 4894 AND BIOL 4895 (2 credits each):

• BIOL 4894 Advanced Research Project I (2 credits)
• BIOL 4895 Advanced Research Project II (2 credits)

3. Complete BIOL 4449 (4 credits):

• BIOL 4449 Gene Expression (4 credits)

IV REQUIRED COURSES IN RELATED FIELDS

A. Select 1 of the following groups (8 credits):

GROUP 1:

• CHEM 2211 Principles of Chemistry I (4 credits)
• CHEM 2212 Principles of Chemistry II (4 credits)

GROUP 2:

• CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
• CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II (4 credits)

B. Complete 8 credits from the following courses:

• CHEM 3311 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
• CHEM 3371 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
• CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
• CHEM 3372 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
• CHEM 4411 Biochemistry I (3 credits)
• CHEM 4471 Biochemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
• PHYS 1101 General Physics I (4 credits)
  or PHYS 2101 University Physics I (4 credits)
• PHYS 1102 General Physics II (4 credits)
  or PHYS 2102 University Physics II (4 credits)

C. Select 1 of the following courses:

• MATH 2471 Calculus I (5 credits)
• STAT 2610 Applied Statistics (4 credits)
• PSY 3401 Basic Statistics for Research (4 credits)

Program Learning Outcomes | Biology, B.S.

1. Communicate: Effectively present research using common, professional formats (written and/or verbal). This includes using figures, graphs, tables, and illustrations to promote dissemination and clarity of knowledge.

2. Create Purpose or Hypothesis: Provide justification for the importance of pursuing a project or construct a testable hypothesis (or hypotheses).

3. Observe and Question: Integrate information or observations to promote curiosity and question generation.

4. Recognize Larger Implications: Demonstrate understanding of the ethical/social dimensions or societal implications of science, recognize inherent biases, and communicate scientific ideas to non-science audiences.

5. Re-engage: Demonstrate an ability to re-engage with the research process by identifying sources of error, possible limitations of their research, next steps in a project, or re-designing more appropriate experimental methods/controls.

6. Research: Plan and execute research, experiments, data collection, analysis of the results, and/or synthesis of new or coalesced knowledge.

7. Review Research Literature: Search and review appropriate sources with a goal of independent information discovery or critically identifying knowledge gaps.