B.A. in Biological Science
Description
A B.A. in biological science can prepare a student for a variety of careers or for graduate work in many fields, including organismal biology, medicine, education, cell or molecular biology, ecology, and conservation biology.
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120
General Education Requirements
Requirements: See the General Education/Core Curriculum for the College of Liberal Arts. The math requirement for the B.A. in biological science is 6 hours. This may be met with two of the following courses: Math 121 or Math 125 (but not both), Math 115, Math 123, Math 261 or higher.
Course Requirements
A major in biological science for the B.A. degree requires a minimum of 32 semester hours of biology credit including 24 at the 300 level or above. This requirement includes introductory courses (Bisc 160, 161, 162, 163 for 8 credit hours); biology core courses for 12 credit hours: ecology (Bisc 322), genetics (Bisc 336), and physiology (Bisc 330 or Bisc 438 or Bisc 516); biology electives for 12 credit hours minimum); and the major field achievement test (Bisc 498, which must be taken as a senior) (0 hours). Seminars and nonmajors courses do not satisfy the biology electives requirement. Chem 105, 115, 106, and 116 are required, and chemistry is a recommended minor.
Other Academic Requirements
Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all course work counted for the major in biological science, and every biological science course requires a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses, including those prerequisite courses from other departments. For example, Bisc 160 and 161 must be passed with a grade of C or better before Bisc 162 and 163 may be taken. In addition, Bisc 160, 161, 162, and 163 must be passed with a grade of C or better before any additional biological science course at the 300 level or above is attempted. Bisc 150, 206, 207, 210, 220, and 492 cannot be used toward a major in biological sciences.
Specializations
- Emphasis-Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
- Emphasis-Molecular, Cellular, & MicroBio
- Emphasis-Organismal Biology
- Emphasis-Pre-Health Biological Sciences