Biology, BS

Emphasizing hand-on experiential learning, the Bachelor of Science (BS) major in biology is designed to prepare students for careers in the life sciences, for graduate work in basic and applied research, and for professional careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, teaching, and other biological pursuits. The general requirements of the biology major enable students to structure their coursework to create programs with an emphasis in physiology, zoology, ecology, molecular biology, or bioinformatics. Two focused tracks are available within the BS in Biology curriculum: the Biomedical Science Concentration and the Data Science Concentration.

The BS in Biology provides a broad biological foundation with the flexibility to prepare for a wide variety of biology-related careers and graduate and professional programs.
The BS in Biology with Biomedical Science Concentration satisfies most health care professional school course requirements, includes a variety of health-related elective options, and can be paired with a Chemistry Minor .

The BS in Biology with Data Science Concentration provides students with data-oriented and programming options that can be paired with a Data Science Minor to prepare for a future in bioinformatics, modeling, and related computational careers.

Requirements

In order to earn the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology, students must complete a minimum of 180 quarter credits with a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 2.00, including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

Module I: Engaging Academic Inquiry

UCOR 1100 - Academic Writing Seminar
UCOR 1200 - Quantitative Reasoning (satisfied in major)
UCOR 1300 - Creative Expression and Interpretation
UCOR 1400 - Inquiry Seminar in the Humanities
UCOR 1600 - Inquiry Seminar in the Social Sciences
UCOR 1800 - Inquiry Seminar in the Natural Sciences (satisfied in major)

Module II: Engaging Jesuit Traditions

Module III: Engaging the World

II. Major Requirements

62 credits in biology^,1, including:

Cell/Molecular Biology

Choose one of the following four options:

Field Biology/Biodiversity

Choose one of the following four courses:

Organismal Biology/Physiology

Choose one of the following four courses:

BIOL Electives (15)

Choose 15 credits of Biology electives¹ from BIOL 2210 or above, or from one of the optional concentration areas below. Course substitutions may be allowed within the concentrations with consent of the department.

Biomedical Science Concentration

Recommended BIOL courses include ^3,⁴:

Data Science Concentration

Recommended BIOL courses include ^{6 ,7}:

Senior Synthesis:

III. Other Major Department Requirements

50 credits in chemistry, computer science, environmental science, mathematics, and physics including:

Chemistry

Mathematics, choose one option:

Option a:
MATH 1210 - Statistics for Life Sciences
MATH 1230 - Calculus for Life Sciences
Option b:
MATH 1334 - Calculus I
MATH 1335 - Calculus II

Physics, choose one series:

Natural and Physical Sciences (10)

Choose 10 credits from CHEM 2100 or above; CPSC 1220 or above, ENSC 3500 , 3700 ; MATH 1210 or above; or from one of the optional concentration areas below. Course substitutions may be allowed within the concentrations with consent of the department. Some options for the BS in Biology include^{3, 6}:

Biomedical Science Concentration

Recommended courses include ^3,4:

Data Science Concentration

Recommended courses include ^{6, 7}:

NOTES:

A minimum grade of C (2.00) is required for any biology course that will serve as a prerequisite for another biology course, and a maximum of five credits of research courses, which include BIOL 3990 and 4990 , may be counted towards Biology Electives.
One course of plant science beyond the BIOL 1610 /1611 , 1620 /1621 , 1630 /1631 series is required.
A minor in Chemistry can be earned with the BS in Biology by taking CHEM 2500 /2501 , 2510 /2511 , 3000 , and ≥3 more CHEM credits, such as CHEM 3600 - Introductory Biochemistry , a recommended course for health careers.
Consult graduate or professional schools for required prerequisite courses for medical, dental, veterinary, physical therapy, optometry, physician assistant, and other programs. For example, some schools may require one or more quarters of Calculus, Biochemistry, or Microbiology; some may not accept Advanced Placement credit; or some may require from 0 to 3 quarters of Organic Chemistry.
This course is an option within the three BIOL categories (Cell/Molecular Biology, Field Biology/Biodiversity, and Organismal Biology/Physiology) in the BS in Biology curriculum.
A minor in Data Science can be earned with the BS in Biology by taking CPSC 1220 and 2300 ; BIOL 2730 or CHEM 3000 ; MATH 1210 or 2310 ; DATA 3310 and 3320 .
Consult graduate or professional schools for required prerequisite courses for programs. For example, some schools may require one or more quarters of Calculus or Statistics; some may not accept Advanced Placement credit; or some may require various programming experience.