Biology Major (BYLJ) (32 hours)

A Major in Biology consists of a minimum of 32 credits of Biological Sciences courses, as well as cognate courses in chemistry, physics and mathematics. This course work includes three introductory courses, three intermediate level courses, two advanced interest courses, and a capstone experience. Only three credit hours may be BIOS 4980 and only four hours may be BIOS 4990.

Introductory Course Requirements

BIOS 1500 - Molecular and Cellular Biology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 1510 - Organismal Biology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 2500 - Genetics Credits: 3 hours

Intermediate Level Courses

Choose at least three (3) of the following:

Note: At least one must be a baccaluareate-level writing course

BIOS 2020 - Botany Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 2030 - General Zoology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 2300 - Cell Biology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 2600 - Introduction to Developmental Biology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 3000 - Evolution Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 3010 - Ecology Credits: 5 hours
Baccalaureate-Level Writing course
BIOS 3120 - Microbiology Credits: 5 hours
BIOS 3190 - Plant Physiology Credits: 4 hours
Baccalaureate-Level Writing course
BIOS 3500 - Human Physiology for Majors Credits: 5 hours
Baccalaureate-Level Writing course

Advanced Courses

A minimum of 6 hours from the following:

BIOS 4270 - Systematic Botany Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 4390 - Animal Behavior Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 4400 - Vertebrate Zoology Credits: 3
BIOS 4410 - Invertebrate Zoology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 4420 - Entomology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 4430 - Conservation Biology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 4560 - Tropical Biology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5310 - Biology of Aging Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5360 - Immunology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 5470 - Ornithology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5590 - Neurobiology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 5600 - Toxicology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5610 - Pharmacology Credits: 3 hours

Capstone Experience

Choose at least one of the following:

BIOS 4980 - Readings in Biological Sciences Credits: 1 to 3 hours
BIOS 4990 - Independent Research in Biological Sciences Credits: 1 to 4 hours
BIOS 5240 - Microbial Genetics Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5250 - Microbial Ecology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5260 - Molecular Biology Laboratory Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5265 - Proteins as Biological Machines Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5270 - Cancer Biology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5340 - Virology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5440 - Global Change Ecology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5445 - Human Ecology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5450 - Chemical Ecology Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5455 - Plant-Herbivore Interactions Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5460 - Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5535 - Freshwater Ecology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 5593 - Biological Basis of Learning and Memory Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5595 - Biology of Sensory Systems Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5620 - Bioethics Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 5700 - General Pathology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 5740 - Developmental Biology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 5970 - Topics in Biological Sciences Credits: 3 to 4 hours

Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement

Students who have chosen the Biology major can satisfy the Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement by successfully completing one of the following:

BIOS 3010 - Ecology Credits: 5 hours
BIOS 3190 - Plant Physiology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 3500 - Human Physiology for Majors Credits: 5 hours

Cognate Requirements

Chemistry

CHEM 1100 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3 hours
and
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II Credits: 3 hours
and
CHEM 1130 - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 3550 - Introductory Biochemistry Credits: 3 hours
with
CHEM 3560 - Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 3700 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Credits: 3 hours
with
CHEM 3710 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Lab Credits: 1 hour
or
CHEM 3750 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 3 hours
with
CHEM 3760 - Organic Chemistry Lab I Credits: 1 hour
and
CHEM 3770 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 3 hours
with
CHEM 3780 - Organic Chemistry Lab II Credits: 1 hour

Mathematics

One calculus course and one statistics course.

MATH 1220 - Calculus I Credits: 4 hours
or
MATH 2000 - Calculus with Applications Credits: 4 hours
AND
STAT 2600 - Elementary Statistics Credits: 4 hours
or
STAT 3660 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 4 hours

Physics

2 semesters with labs (PHYS 1130, 1140 and 1150, 1160). In addition, the following course is recommended for those who plan to pursue advanced degrees in Biology, Botany, and Zoology (especially in the areas of ecology and field biology):

GEOS 1300 - Physical Geology Credits: 4 hours