Biology Major Requirements
Entry-level requirements and co-requisites:
BIO 1001, BIO 1002: are prerequisites for all biology courses above the 2000 level. Note: If a C - or below is received in either of these foundational classes, it must be retaken and passed with a minimum grade of C before students can progress to 3000-level electives.
CHM 1001, CHM 1003, CHM 1002, CHM 1004: completed with a minimum grade of C-. Note: these classes are prerequisites for some biology courses above the 2000 level.
Prospective majors and students interested in enrolling in Principles of Biology I (BIO 1001) or Principles of Biology II (BIO 1002) need to complete the Biology Placement Exam, which is an online exam located on Blackboard. If a student does not pass the placement exam, they should start with Intro to Biology (BIO 1000) during the fall semester of their first year.
It is strongly recommended that students majoring in Biology take Principles of Biology and Principles of Chemistry in their first year. Students who begin the program as General Biology majors and plan to pursue graduate study or a career in the health professions must complete the appropriate co-requisites before applying. Advising sheets are available in the biology department.
Upper Level Biology Requirements:
Five elective courses above the 1000 level. Three of these must be laboratory courses (4 credits), and two 3-credit electives (one of which may be an independent study or internship).
For the General Biology Program, no more than two of the major courses may be at the 2000 level. Students preparing for the health professions or graduate school (see below) should not take more than one 2000 level course as part of their five course electives. Biology majors should seek an advisor from the Biology faculty no later than the beginning of their sophomore year to guide their choice of program, electives and career goals.
Biology Senior Research Program
In addition to the entry-level requirements, co-requisites, and the five electives, as outlined above, every undergraduate major must complete a research methods class in the fall semester of their third of fourth year. There is the option for students with acceptable GPA requirements to enroll in a research class where students work closely with a mentor from the biology faculty to develop a group or independent original research project that culminates in a thesis and presentation.
BIO 3400: Research Methods in the Life Sciences (3 credits)
Optional active research courses:
BIO 3996: Biology Team Research (3 credits) OR
BIO 3997: Independent Biology Research (3 credits)
Note: All upper level major courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.
All of the biology faculty members have on-going and short-term research projects that allow for scholarship development for both faculty and students. Students often have the opportunity to present their undergraduate research projects at local, regional and national conferences, and some projects are ultimately published in peer-reviewed journals.