College of Science and Health > Academics > Biological Sciences > Undergraduate > Biological Sciences (BS) > Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Biological Sciences Core

Course Title Quarter Hours
BIO 191GENERAL BIOLOGY I FOR SCIENCE MAJORS4
BIO 192GENERAL BIOLOGY II FOR SCIENCE MAJORS4
BIO 193GENERAL BIOLOGY III FOR SCIENCE MAJORS4
BIO 206BIOSTATISTICS4
BIO 260GENETICS4
BIO 395BIOLOGY CAPSTONE SEMINAR (Liberal Studies Program Capstone)4

Chemistry

Course Title Quarter Hours
Select one of the following:4-6
CHE 120
CHE 131
GENERAL CHEMISTRY IP
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
CHE 130
CHE 131
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
The following courses are required:
CHE 132
CHE 133
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
4
CHE 134
CHE 135
GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III
4
CHE 230
CHE 231
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
4
CHE 232
CHE 233
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
4

Students are typically expected to take the first year chemistry courses simultaneously with BIO 191, BIO 192, and BIO 193.

Physics

Course Title Quarter Hours
PHY 150GENERAL PHYSICS I4
PHY 151GENERAL PHYSICS II4
PHY 152GENERAL PHYSICS III4

Students may substitute comparable sequences of Physics courses designed for science majors.

Mathematics

Choose one of the following Calculus sequences:

Course Title Quarter Hours
Sequence One
MAT 150CALCULUS I4
MAT 151CALCULUS II4
Sequence Two
MAT 147CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS I6
MAT 148CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS II6
MAT 149CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS III6
Sequence Three
MAT 160CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS I5
MAT 161CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS II5
Sequence Four
MAT 170CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES I5
MAT 171CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES II5
Sequence Five
MAT 155SUMMER CALCULUS I6
MAT 156SUMMER CALCULUS II6

Students may be advised on the basis of their performance on the Mathematics Diagnostic test to take one or more course before calculus.

Concentration Requirements

Students must also complete the requirements from one of the following concentrations: Integrative Biology; Microbiology and Biotechnology; Medicine and Health; Neuroscience; Ecology and Evolution; Cell & Molecular Biology; or Physiology. Students are limited to only declaring one concentration.

Sequencing

Since programs in the Biological Sciences tend to be structured, it is useful for students to take courses in sequence. Students should begin with the General Biology and General Chemistry sequences. These are prerequisite to higher level requirements such as Ecology, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Organic Chemistry, which should preferably be taken in the sophomore year. Since calculus is required for the degree, students should also begin their study of mathematics as soon as possible, preferably prior to their junior year, so that they can be adequately prepared for the General Physics sequence, best taken in the junior year. Because of this highly structured sequence, students are strongly encouraged to work with their departmental advisor in order to plan their course schedules and plan alternatives if necessary. Such planning is particularly important for transfer students, as the sequence presented above is highly recommended and most likely to be completed in a timely fashion.

The predominance of chemistry and biology course sequences required in the freshman and sophomore years generally dictates that, with the exception of the Liberal Studies Core courses, the majority of the Liberal Studies courses may be postponed until the junior and senior years. Students may therefore be taking fewer Liberal Studies courses in the first two years than many other programs, concentrating instead on major field requirements, which are prerequisites to upper division courses.​​

Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited.  No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major. 

Honors in Research for BS students in Biology

The Honors in Research recognizes students who, with a faculty advisor in the Biology department, have developed a high-quality and novel research project that contains publishable data. The student will write a senior thesis and complete an oral presentation to the department. If the thesis is approved by the faculty mentor advisor, faculty reader, and the Honors in Research Program Director, the successful student will be awarded Honors in Research in Biology.

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