2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog

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Biology

The mission of the Biology program is to provide excellence through its curriculum so that graduates of this program will be deeply insightful in life sciences and have a scientifically sound knowledge base that prepares them for employment or entry into professional/graduate studies.

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology develops the student's understanding of the life sciences through study of foundational biological concepts, study of basic principles of the structures and functions of organisms and through study of ecosystems and the environment as related to life. The curriculum prepares the students to pursue graduate study in biological sciences, health professions, entry level biology related professions or to teach Biology at the secondary level.

Candidates interested in biology teacher licensure must complete the Biology program of study, take a tightly prescribed set of education courses. Completing the required education courses in addition to the Biology major may require 18 or more hours per semester. Students may also take education courses in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program post-graduation and prior to student teaching. Students may then elect to complete the Master's program after student teaching. Biology teacher candidates should work with a Biology advisor and an Educator Preparation advisor in the School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts to ensure enrollment in the required courses.

Degree Requirements

Area I – Foundation Skills - 2 hours

FSL 101Foundations of Scholarship and Learning

2

FSL 101 is required only for new and transferring freshmen with less than 24 credit hours. Students must earn a "C" or higher in FSL 101.

Area I - Rhetoric and Communication - 15 hours

ENG 101English Composition I

3
ENG 102English Composition II

3
SPEE 220Fundamentals of Speech

3
SPAN 111Elementary Spanish I

3
SPAN 112Elementary Spanish II

3
Students must earn a "C" or higher in ENG 101, ENG 102, and SPAN 111.

Area II - Mathematics - 3 or 4 hours

Choose one:
MATH 111College Algebra

3
MATH 121Calculus I

4
Students must earn a "C" or higher in MATH 111 and MATH 121.

Area II - Arts and Humanities - 3 hours

Choose one:

ART 191Enhancing Art Understanding

3
ENG 210Introduction to Film Studies

3
MU 129Music Listening

3
PHIL 201Introduction to Philosophy

3
THR 100Introduction to Theatre

3

Area II - Literature in English- 3 hours

Choose one:

ENG 215Introduction to Literature

3
ENG 216Topics in Literature

3

Area II - The Social Sciences - 6 hours

Choose two:

ANTH 210/SOC 210Cultural Anthropology

3
ECON 241Principles of Macroeconomics

3
or
ECON 242Principles of Microeconomics

3
PSY 201General Psychology

3
or
PSY 211Psychology of Human Growth & Development

3
SOC 221Introduction to Sociology

3

Area II - History - 6 hours

Choose one of two sequences:
HIS 191World Civilization to 1500

3
and
HIS 192World Civilization since 1500

3
or
HIS 201History of the United States I

3
and
HIS 202History of the United States II

3

Area II - The Natural Sciences - 7 hours

BIO 111General Biology I

3
CHEM 111General Chemistry I

3
CHEM 111LGeneral Chemistry I Lab

1
Students must earn a "C" or higher in BIO 111, CHEM 111, and CHEM 111L.

Required Biology Core Courses - 29 hours

BIO 113Introduction to Zoology

3
BIO 113LIntroduction to Zoology Lab

1
BIO 114Introduction to Botany

3
BIO 114LIntroduction to Botany Lab

1
BIO 203Microbiology

3
BIO 203LMicrobiology Lab

1
BIO 311Biology Seminar I

1

Choose one of these Cell oriented courses

BIO 302Genetics

4
BIO 416Cell Biology

4

Choose either of these Zoology courses

BIO 410Invertebrate Zoology

4
BIO 413Vertebrate Zoology

4

Choose either of these Botany courses

BIO 412Flowering Botany

4
BIO 417Non-Flowering Botany

4

Choose either of these Environmental courses

BIO 304Aquatic Biology

4
BIO 414General Ecology

4

Students must earn a "C" or higher in all Required Biology Core Courses.

Biology Electives - 12 hours

Choose 12 hours of Biology courses at the 200 level or higher.
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all Biology electives.

Requirements for major - 26-27 hours

GEOG 200World Regional Geography

3
CHEM 112General Chemistry II

3
CHEM 112LGeneral Chemistry II Lab

1
CHEM 311Organic Chemistry I

3
CHEM 311LOrganic Chemistry I Lab

1
CHEM 312Organic Chemistry II

3
CHEM 312LOrganic Chemistry II Lab

1

Choose one:

MATH 112Trigonometry

3
MATH 121Calculus I

4
MATH 122Calculus II

4
PSY 205/MATH 205Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

3

Choose one sequence:

PHY 201College Physics I

4
and
PHY 202College Physics II

4
or
PHY 210General Physics I

4
and
PHY 211General Physics II

4
Students must earn a "C" or higher in additional requirements for major.

General Electives - 6-10 hours

Select sufficient courses from any academic discipline to bring the total hours for graduation to a minimum of 120.

Total GEC Credit Hours (43-46 hours)
Total Required Biology Core Courses (29 hours)
Total Required Biology Electives (12 hours)
Total Required Non Biology Courses (26-27 hours)
Total General Electives (6-10 hours)

120 minimum hours required for graduation.