The bachelor of science (BS) in biology exposes students to a broad background in the discipline including required courses in chemistry and physics. Students complete a strong, general series of biology and support courses which allows pursuit of a wide variety of careers such as professional work (physician, dentist, veterinarian), governmental work, (EPA, National Fisheries), field work (oceanographer, wildlife specialist), high school teaching, industrial or clinical research, aquaculture, etc.
Many biology majors continue into graduate programs in a specialized subfield. It is the goal of the department to provide solid biology degrees that expose students to all areas of biology while allowing each student flexibility when entering the job market.
If they wish, students may select one of the specialized options offered under the bachelor of science in biology major including biomedical science, biotechnology, environmental biology, and marine biology and aquaculture.
The marine biology and aquaculture option provides a broad science background supported by observations of marine organisms and their environment as well as the opportunity to focus on the controlled cultivation and harvest of aquatic plants and animals. Students in this option will take numerous courses at the Cat Cove Marine Laboratory and have the opportunity to conduct research there and the adjacent ocean and marshes of the North Shore. Courses include Invertebrate Zoology, Biological Oceanography, Fish Biology, Marine Botany and Introduction to Aquaculture.
General Education Requirements
Competencies
Competencies must be completed within the student’s first 30 credits.
- Basic College Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- General Education Categories (34-35 credits total)
FYS, W-I, and OC courses must be completed within the student’s first 30 credits. Courses used to satisfy the general education requirements of the university must be taken from a minimum of six different academic disciplines. First Year Seminar and Level I Written Communications courses are exempt from this restriction. Courses may not be used to fulfill both major discipline and general education requirements.
-FYS
First Year Seminar (Required of all freshmen and transfers with fewer than 15 transfer credits) 3 credits
-WI- Written Communication Level I 3 credits
-OC- Oral Communication 3 credits
PGR- Personal Growth and Responsibility3 credits
CEA- Creative Expression and Appreciation 3 credits
HP- The Human Past 3 credits
CS- Contemporary Society 3 credits
WC- World Cultures 3 credits
#SR- Scientific Reasoning Laboratory Course 4 credits
Any Scientific Reasoning Course 3-4 credits
QR-Quantitative Reasoning 3 credits
- Written Communication (Level II and Level III) and Diversity, Power Dynamics and Social Justice
Courses taken for Written Communication Level II, Level III and Diversity, Power Dynamics and Social Justice may be used to satisfy requirements anywhere else in a student’s program of study where they may apply. Credits will be counted in the area where they apply.
WII - Written Communication - Level II
WIII - Written Communication - Level III
DPDS-Diversity, Power Dynamics and Social Justice
- Students may choose to use support courses to satisfy general education categories, but may not be required to do so. Note: If a course is used to satisfy two or more requirements (for example, a support course and Scientific Reasoning requirement), the credits are counted in only one place. Using a course to satisfy more than one requirement does not reduce the credit total required for graduation.
- Courses used to satisfy the general education requirements of the university must be taken from a minimum of six different academic disciplines. First Year Seminar and Level I Written Communications courses are exempt from this restriction. Courses may not be used to fulfill both major discipline and general education requirements.
- These Scientific Reasoning General Education Category courses do not have to be a sequence or be from the same discipline.
- Level II and Level III Written Communications courses and Diversity, Power Dynamics and Social Justice may be used to satisfy requirements anywhere else in a student’s program of study where they may apply. The credits are counted only in one area.
- General Education categories to be completed with the first 30 credits. Exceptions in the timing of these courses will be made for transfer students.
Courses in Major (42-45 credits total)
Required (36-37 credits)
- BIO 131 Introduction to Organisms
- BIO 132 Introduction to Cells
- BIO 212 Cell Biology
- BIO 217 General Genetics
- BIO 218 Ecology & the Environment
- BIO 219 Evolution
- ✝ BIO _____ Populations/Ecosystem Elective
- ✝ BIO _____ Organismal/Physiology Elective
- ✝ BIO _____ Cellular/Molecular Elective
Biology Capstone Courses
- BIO 415 Biology Seminar
- BIO ____ Capstone Elective
- BIO 419 Portfolio Seminar
Free Biology Electives (6-8 credits)
- BIO ____ ______________________
- BIO ____ ______________________
Required Chemistry Support Courses (12 credits)
Required Support Courses (7 – 8 credits)
- MAT 150 Precalculus
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OR
- MAT 220 Calculus I
- PHS 211A College Physics I
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OR
- PHS 221 General Physics I with Calculus
Free Electives (20-25 credits includes Minor option)
Additional free elective credits beyond the credits listed may be required based on the use of support courses to satisfy General Education Category requirements
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~Minor (Optional):
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Options sequence within the BS Biology Degree
Without Options Sequence
Physics - PHS212A or PHS222 is required (see advising sheet for Biology courses)
Biomedical Sciences
Physics - PHS212A or PHS222 is required (see advising sheet for Biology courses)
Biotechnology
Physics - PHS212A or PHS222 is required (see advising sheet for Biology courses)
Environmental Biology
The second Physics course is NOT required (see advising sheet for Biology and other courses)
Marine Biology and Aquaculture
Physics - PHS212A or PHS222 is required (see advising sheet for Biology courses)
Additional Information and Notes
- The sequence can be either PHS211A and 212A or PHS221 and 222.
- One Biology elective must be chosen from each group (Population/Ecosystems, Organismal/Physiology, Cellular/Molecular) and then any two more 300-400 level electives. At least two of these must have a lab.
- The Capstone Elective can include certain courses (BIO300 Botany, BIO313 Molecular Biology, BIO323 Fish Biology, BIO325 Behavioral Ecology, BIO345 Introduction to Aquaculture, BIO407 Directed Study, BIO408 Research in Biology, BIO416 Biology Internship), independent studies, internships, study abroad, service-learning and other courses – approval required by the chairperson of Biology.
- The Portfolio Seminar is a 1 -credit hybrid class where students reflect on their capstone experience and that ensures all portfolio requirements are met.
- It is recommended that students complete CHE213 and earn a Chemistry minor.
Total credits for graduation: 120
ISCED Categories
