Mar 28, 2024  
2021 - 2022 University Catalog 
    
2021 - 2022 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, B.A.


Biology and Marine Biology majors investigate the interconnected processes that shape the living world. The Department of Biology and Marine Biology is housed in the Marine and Natural Sciences building, offering modern teaching and research laboratories, a spacious wet-lab with running seawater, several greenhouses and state-of-the-art instrumentation for cell and molecular biology. The Department offers the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in biology and marine biology. Minors are also offered in biology, marine biology and aquaculture and aquarium science. The Department has a very active program for undergraduate research, and students are encouraged to join an ongoing project as early as their first year.

Biology

Since the life sciences are increasingly interdisciplinary, biology majors can take a wide range of courses in the following general areas: cell and molecular biology; microbiology; physiology and developmental biology; zoology; botany; and ecology. Students prepare for graduate study and careers in these fields, as well as the health sciences, through lectures and labs, independent research and internships. Any student who wishes to pursue a career in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or other health science should contact his/her advisor immediately to ensure appropriate course planning. Research is an integral part of the biology curriculum, and biology majors are encouraged to participate in ongoing research in areas that include: evolutionary genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, microbiology, neurobiology and ecology.

Program Requirements


Students who declare biology and marine biology must achieve a minimum average grade of C- for BIO 103  and BIO 104  in order to advance in these majors. This minimum average grade is a prerequisite for all biology and marine biology courses at the 200-level or above. In order to be considered a candidate for a B.A. or B.S. in biology or marine biology, students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (C) averaged over all required courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.

Foundation Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Biology


The Biology Major

Biology majors can receive either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Biology majors must satisfy all University Core Curriculum requirements and the College speech requirement, COMM 210 . A Critical Writing course at the 200-level or above is a prerequisite to advanced courses and should be completed prior to the junior year. In addition, biology majors must successfully complete the following courses and sufficient electives to total 120 credits. Majors are encouraged to apply electives toward a minor or second major. Biology majors may apply a maximum of two (2) courses from the major requirements towards a minor in Environmental Science, or a maximum of two (2) upper-level Biology electives towards the elective requirements for the major in Environmental Science.

Additional Electives


Take twenty-four (credits) from the following courses at least four of which must be 4-credit courses and at least 3 of which must be at the 300-level or above.

**No more than one field course may be included.

 Students may receive credit only for one of BIO 333 or CHEM 390, even if BIO 333 is used to fulfill the chemistry requirement.

Electives must be chosen from at least two of the following three subject categories:

Evolution & Ecology


Molecular & Cellular Biology


Notes


MATH 124 - Basic Statistics is an acceptable alternative for BIO 250 - Introduction to Biostatistics for the BA degree. BIO 231 - Bioethics: Life, Health and Environment,BIO 204 - Introduction to Marine BiologyBIO 235 - Biological IllustrationBIO 250 - Introduction to BiostatisticsBIO 450 - Research in the Biological Sciences and BIO 451 - Senior Thesis may not be counted towards these upper-level course requirements.

 

Marine Biology may not serve as a minor for a Biology Major.