Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology
The curriculum in Biology is designed to prepare students for professions requiring competence in the biological sciences or for gaining an understanding of the world of living things. The professional group includes students who intend to secure advanced degrees through graduate study, students who are interested in work with various governmental agencies or industries having biological responsibilities, and students who want to prepare for careers in medicine or other health-related professions. Students whose interests are not professional select the curriculum because its broad approach can result in an educated view of the structure and function of living things. Achievement of these goals, including a special interest in a particular area of biology, can be met by selecting one of three options offered by the Department of Biology that will lead to the B.S. degree in Biology. The options and their key areas are: 1. Ecology – behavior, and population and community biology of plants and animals; 2. General Biology – all aspects of modern biology; 3. Vertebrate Physiology – pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pharmacology, and animal physiology.
In order to be eligible for entrance to the Biology major, a student must have:
1) Attained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average. 2) Completed BIOL
110 GN(4), CHEM 012 GN(3), MATH 140 GQ(4); and earned a grade of C or better
in each of these courses. 3) Completed at least one of the following courses,
BIOL 220W GN(4), BIOL 230W GN(4), or BIOL 240W GN(4), with a grade of C or better.
For the B.S. degree in Biology, a minimum of 124 credits is required.
Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)
GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(15 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in front of Bulletin.)
FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
INTERCULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETENCE:
(Included in GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
ENTRANCE TO MAJOR
A freshman entering with an intended major in Biology is initially classified as a pre-major student (SCIEN/BIOL). All other students will be classified according to the following scheme:
- A student transferring into SCIEN/BIOL (pre-major status) must have:
- Attained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average.
- Completed MATH 140 with a grade of C or better.
A student who meets the above mentioned requirements, but who has not demonstrated a comparable level of scholarship in other mathematics & science courses applicable to the major, is strongly encouraged to contact the program coordinator for assistance.
Students transferring from other institutions should meet with the program coordinator immediately to determine status.
- A student entering the BIOLOGY major must have:
- Earned a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00.
- Completed BIOL 110, CHEM 12, and MATH 140 with a grade of C or better in each of these courses.
- Completed at least one of the following courses with a grade of C or better: BIOL 220W, 230W, or 240W
Biology Check Sheets
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 94 credits
(This includes 15 credits of General Education courses: 9 credits of GN courses;
6 credits of GQ courses.)
COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR (ALL OPTIONS): 40-44 credits
PRESCRIBED COURSES (32 credits)
CHEM 012 GN(3)[1], CHEM 013 GN(3)[1],
CHEM 014 GN(1), CHEM 015 GN(1), MATH 140 GQ(4)[1],
MATH 141 GQ(4) (Sem: 1-2)
BIOL 110 GN(4)[1], BIOL 220W GN(4)[1],
BIOL 230W GN(4)[1], BIOL 240W GN(4)[1]
(Sem: 1-4)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (8-12 credits)
PHYS 250 GN(4), PHYS 251 GN(4); or PHYS 211 GN(4), PHYS 212 GN(4), PHYS 213
GN(2), PHYS 214 GN(2) (Sem: 5-6)
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPTION: 50-54 credits
All students take basic core courses and then additional courses in the following groups.
Vertebrate Physiology option students take courses in Physiology and Practicum
General Biology option students take courses in I Plant and Fungi, II Genetics III Ecology, IV Animal Physiology and V Practicum
Ecology option student take courses in I Population/Community Ecology, II Evolutionary Biology, III Functional Ecology and IV Practicum
ECOLOGY OPTION: 50-54 credits
PRESCRIBED COURSES (11 credits)
BIOL 427(3), BIOL 446(3) (Sem: 5-6)
BIOL 450W(5) (Sem: 7-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (21-26 credits)
CHEM 034(3), CHEM 035(3); or CHEM 036(2), CHEM 038(3), CHEM 039(3) (Sem: 3-4)
STAT 200(4) or STAT 240(3) or STAT 250(3) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 6-7 credits from BIOL 406(3), BIOL 412(3), BIOL 414(3), BIOL 415(3),
BIOL 417(4), BIOL 428(3), BIOL 448(3), BIOL 464(3), BIOL 499A(3), HORT 440W(3),
PPATH 416(3) (Sem: 5-6)
BIOL 435(3) or BIOL 482(4) (This course is offered at Wallops Island Marine
Station in May.) (Sem: 5-8)
STAT 462(3) or STAT 464(3) (Sem: 7-8)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (13-22 credits)
Select 13-22 credits from department list (Sem: 1-8)
GENERAL BIOLOGY OPTION: 50-54 credits
PRESCRIBED COURSES (3 credits)
BIOL 427(3) (Sem: 5-6)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (21-24 credits)
CHEM 034(3), CHEM 035(3); or CHEM 036(2), CHEM 038(3), CHEM 039(3) (Sem: 3-4)
STAT 200 GQ(4), STAT 240(3), or STAT 250 GQ(3) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 12 credits of 400-level biology courses, with at least 3 credits from each of the following groups (each course may be used to satisfy a requirement in only one group): (Sem: 5-8)
Group I -- BIOL 401(3), BIOL 403(3), BIOL 407(3), BIOL 410(2), BIOL 413(3),
BIOL 414(3), BIOL 424(3), BIOL 425(3), BIOL 441(3), BIOL 446(3), BIOL 448(3),
BIOL 459(3), BIOL 499A(3), HORT 407(3), HORT 440W(3), PPATH 416(2-4)
Group II -- AN SC 442(3), BIOL 401(3), BIOL 403(3), BIOL 404(3), BIOL 405(3),
BIOL 410(2), BIOL 411(3), BIOL 412(3), BIOL 413(3), BIOL 416(3), BIOL 422W(3),
BIOL 428(3), BIOL 430(3), BIOL 432(3), BIOL 448(3), BIOL 460(3), BIOL 469(3),
BIOL 499A(3), B M B 400(3), B M B 450(2), HORT 407(3)
Group III -- BIOL 406(3), BIOL 412(3), BIOL 414(3), BIOL 415(3), BIOL 417(4),
BIOL 428(3), BIOL 435(3), BIOL 446(3), BIOL 448(3), BIOL 450W(5), BIOL 464(3),
BIOL 482(4), BIOL 499A(3), HORT 440W(3), PPATH 416(2-4)
Group IV -- BIOL 404(3), BIOL 406(3), BIOL 409(3), BIOL 411(3), BIOL 412(3),
BIOL 413(3), BIOL 416(3), BIOL 421(4), BIOL 430(3), BIOL 432(3), BIOL 437(4),
BIOL 440(4), BIOL 446(3), BIOL 460(3), BIOL 469(3), BIOL 470(3), BIOL 471(3),
BIOL 472(3), BIOL 473(2), BIOL 479(3), BIOL 499A(3), B M B 400(3)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (23-30 credits)
Select 23-30 credits from department list (Sem: 1-8)
VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY OPTION:50-54 credits
PRESCRIBED COURSES (18 credits)
CHEM 036(2), CHEM 038(3), CHEM 039(3) (Sem: 3-4)
B M B 401(2), B M B 402(3), BIOL 472(3), BIOL 473(2) (Sem: 5-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (15-16 credits)
STAT 200 GQ(4), STAT 240(3), STAT 250 GQ(3), or STAT 451(3) (Sem: 5-8)
Select 12 credits from B M B 400(3), BIOL 401(3), BIOL 403(3), BIOL 404(3),
BIOL 406(3), BIOL 409(3), BIOL 411(3), BIOL 412(3), BIOL 413(3), BIOL 416(3),
BIOL 421(4), BIOL 430(3), BIOL 432(3), BIOL 437(4), BIOL 440(4), BIOL 446(3),
BIOL 460(3), BIOL 469(3), BIOL 470(3), BIOL 471(3), BIOL 479(3), BIOL 499A(3)
(may select up to 6 credits from department list) (Sem: 5-8)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (16-21 credits)
Select 16-21 credits from department list (Sem: 1-8)
[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.
