Department of Biology

Students wishing to choose a biology major should consult the Chair of the Department early in their university career. Since the department includes a number of biological fields in zoology and botany, no single curriculum can be listed for all majors. All students majoring in biology are required to take 31-34 hours from a core curriculum that includes BIO 130, 131, 133, 341, 370, 470 as well as four courses (one each) from the following disciplines: Botany, Field Biology, Physiology and Zoology. See below for a detailed explanation under the heading Biology Major Requirements.

Each student is strongly encouraged to work closely with a departmental adviser to design the program best suited to the interests and goals of the student. Biology courses may be selected so as to emphasize anatomy and physiology, general biology, botany, zoology, invertebrate zoology, microbiology, wildlife science, or aquatic biology. An emphasis should be selected by all biology majors.

The list of Recommended Courses within each emphasis is not etched in stone. Other courses may be substituted with the approval of one's adviser. A premedical and predental emphasis is also available as well as a premedical technology emphasis. These latter emphases are described in more detail in this Bulletin under the heading of Preprofessional Programs.

A minimum of 40 semester hours of biology, including the core curriculum, (with 15 hours in advanced courses) is required for a B.S. degree with a major in biology. Each biology major must also satisfy all the requirements for the B.S. degree for the College of Sciences and Mathematics outlined earlier in this Bulletin.

Students who major in biology must complete the following requirements: ENG 273; six semester hours from MTH 133, 138, 139, 220; eight semester hours from CHE 133, 134; six to eight semester hours from CHE 231, 331, 332, GOL 131, 132, MTH 220, 233, 234, PHY 131, 132. Biology majors contemplating graduate work are advised to complete MTH 233, CHE 331 and 332 and PHY 131 and 132. Each student is also required to complete a minor of 18 to 24 semester hours in a single discipline.

Each student is also required to complete a minor of 18 to 24 semester hours in a single discipline.At least six hours in the minor must be in advanced level courses. Biology majors may choose a combined sciences and mathematics minor consisting of CHE 133, 134; MTH 133 and 138 or 139; eight hours from GOL 131, 132 or PHY 131, 132; plus six advanced hours from CHE, GOL, MTH or PHY. Biology majors contemplating graduate work are advised to elect a minor in a selected science or in mathematics.