Nov 30, 2024

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biological Sciences (BS)

Program Educational Goals:

Program description: Designed for students desiring a deeper understanding of biological phenomena with the freedom to select their courses of interest.

Goal 1: Demonstrate knowledge of major Biology core concepts.
Goal 2: Understand and apply the process of science, including experimental design, data analysis and interpretation.
Goal 3: Use critical thinking and quantitative reasoning for analysis and evaluation.
Goal 4: Demonstrate written and oral skills for communicating scientific ideas.
Goal 5: Gain skills to work independently and collaboratively.
Program-specific goal: Develop a deeper OR broader understanding of Biology in area(s) of interest selected by the student.

Four Year Plan

Please refer to the Four-Year Plan for departmental recommended path toward graduation.

University Requirements:

ENGL 110 - First-Year Writing (C- minimum)
First Year Seminar (FYS) (0-4 credits)
Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) (three credits)
Multicultural Requirement (three credits)
University Breadth Requirements (C- minimum):
- Creative Arts and Humanities (three credits)
- History and Cultural Change (three credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (three credits)
- Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (three credits)
Capstone Experience

College Requirements:

Second Writing Requirement:

A Second Writing Requirement approved by the College of Arts and Sciences. This course must be taken after completion of 60 credit hours, completed with a minimum grade of C-, and the section enrolled must be designated as satisfying the requirement in the academic term completed.

Foreign Language:

Completion of the intermediate-level course (107,112, or 202) in an ancient or modern language with minimum grades of D-.
- The number of credits (0-12) needed and initial placement will depend on the number of years of high school study of foreign language.
  - Students with four or more years of high school work in a single foreign language, or who have gained proficiency in a foreign language by other means, may attempt to fulfill the requirement in that language by taking an exemption examination through the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department.

College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements:

The College Breadth Requirements are taken in addition to the University Breadth Requirement. Up to three credits from each of the University Breadth Requirement categories may be used to simultaneously satisfy these College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements. College Breadth courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

A total of 21 credits from Groups A, B, and C is required with a minimum of six credits in each group. The six credits from each group could be from the same area.

Major Requirements:

Minimum grade C- required in all BISC courses for a total of at least 43 credits in Biological Sciences.

Biology courses (other than BISC 100 ) at the 100-level may not be counted toward these degrees. BISC276 does not count towards this degree.

Literature-based Biology:

A literature-based course chosen from the approved list .

Biology Electives:

Biology electives at the 300-level or above to total 43 credit hours in Biological Sciences. BISC 100 , BISC 207 , and BISC 208 count towards the total of 43 credits needed for the major. Nine of the 43 credits may come from a list of approved courses from other academic units (minimum grade C-). Up to four credits of research or independent study (BISC 366 , BISC 466 , or BISC 468 ) or six credits of thesis (either BISC 451 and BISC 452 or UNIV 401 and UNIV 402 ) may be counted toward the 43 credits.

Related Coursework:

Chemistry:

Two semesters of General Chemistry, two semesters of Organic Chemistry with laboratory and one semester of Biochemisty are required. Students may choose from the following options.

General Chemistry:

Eight credits from the following:

CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 1
CHEM 104 - General Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 134 - General Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 1

Organic Chemistry with Lab:

Take one of the following two sequences:

Sequence I:
CHEM 321 - Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 325 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credit(s): 1
CHEM 322 - Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 326 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II Credit(s): 1
Sequence II:
CHEM 331 - Organic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 333 - Organic Chemistry Majors Laboratory I Credit(s): 1-2
CHEM 332 - Organic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 334 - Organic Chemistry Majors Laboratory II Credit(s): 2

Biochemistry:

One of the following:

CHEM 214 - Elementary Biochemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 342 - Introduction to Biochemistry and Chemical Biology Credit(s): 3
CHEM 527 - Introductory Biochemistry
CHEM 641 - Biochemistry

Physics:

Eight credits from the following:

PHYS 201 - Introductory Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 221 - Introductory Physics Laboratory I Credit(s): 1
or
PHYS 207 - Fundamentals of Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 227 - Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory I Credit(s): 1
PHYS 202 - Introductory Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 222 - Introductory Physics Laboratory II Credit(s): 1
or
PHYS 208 - Fundamentals of Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 228 - Fundamentials of Physics Laboratory II Credit(s): 1

Mathematics:

Choose one of the following options:

MATH 221 - Calculus I Credit(s): 3
or
MATH 232 - Integrated Calculus IB Credit(s): 3
or
MATH 241 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus A Credit(s): 4

Statistics:

STAT 200 - Basic Statistical Practice Credit(s): 3
or
BISC 643 - Biological Data Analysis*

Note:

*BISC 643: D- grade requirement to fulfill this requirement; C- to count as BISC credit.

Electives:

After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.