Biology

Bachelor of Science in Biology (618)

Our Biology curriculum starts with a “core biological sciences curriculum” consisting of two survey courses with companion laboratories and two senior-level courses. The survey courses provide students with a broad and basic understanding of the fundamental fields of modern biology including cell and molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, microbiology, botany, invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, ecology and evolution. The senior-level courses focus on applying the knowledge that students have gained to develop and complete a senior project and then learning how to communicate findings with other scientists and the general public.

Upon completion of the two survey courses, each biology major must pursue one of the following five concentrations to allow students with different interests to obtain the proper training necessary to attain their specific career goals:

  • Agribusiness (618U) – for students who seek employment or want to pursue graduate degrees in agricultural business.
  • Biomedical (618M) – for students who are interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in medicine, dentistry, allied health sciences, pharmacy, or biomedical research.
  • Clinical Laboratory Sciences (618T)– for students who are interested in pursuing employment in medical technology.
  • Forensic Investigation (618Q) – for students who are interested in pursuing employment in the office of the coroner, medical examiner’s office or law enforcement agencies.
  • General Biology (618W) – for students who require the flexibility of an online degree, and wish to pursue employment or graduate degrees in the field of biology.
  • Wildlife Biology and Conservation (618X)– for students who are interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in natural resource or wildlife management, zoology, or ecology.
  • Veterinary Technology (618V)– for students who are interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in veterinary medicine.

Curriculum Effective Fall 2023:

Biology Major Requirements: (56 credit hours for 618M, N, M, R, T, W; 71 semester hours for 618U)

Students seeking a major in Biology must complete the following:

Biology core: 14 semester hours
— BIOL1010/1011
— BIOL1020/1021
— and either BIOL4970 & 4995, or BIOL 4990 & 4995, or VTEC4900

Concentration-dependent courses: 32-57 credit hours in one of seven available concentrations.

  • Agribusiness (618U): Select 15 semester hours from BIOL2040, 2290, 3030, 3050, 3220-3221, 3340-3341, 3630, 4040-4041, 4150. Select 15 semester hours from BIOL 2100-2101,2120-2121, 2140-2141, 2150-2151, 2180, 2990, 4170-4171,4400. Take 27 semester hours from ACCT 1040; BUAD 2120,2200, 3250; CIS 1090; MGT 3220, 3580; MKTG 3230; and one advanced business elective.
  • Biomedical (618M): Select from BIOL 1060, 2060-2061,2080-2081, 2090-2091, 2500, 3020, 3060-3061, 3130, 3170-3171, 3210-3211, 3250, 3270-3271, 3280, 3290, 3310-3311,3320-3321, 4050, 4060-4061, 4120-4121, 4130, 4160-4161,4190-4191, 4220-4221, 4240, 4260-4261, 4270, 4280, 4300-4301, 4310-4311, 4320, 4340, 4410, 4930, CHEM 4040-4041 or 4050.
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (618T): You must take BIOL 2060-2061,4190-4191, 4730, 4740, 4750, 4760, 4770, 4780, 4790 and CHEM 3010-3011 or CHEM 4040-4041.This concentration requires acceptance into an affiliated training program approved by the Council on Allied Health Education and Accreditation. Enrollment in this concentration does not guarantee acceptance into the training program.
  • Forensic Investigation (618Q): Select 16 semester hours from BIOL 2060-2061, 2070-2071, 2500, 3060-3061, 3270-3271,3310-3311, 3320-3321, 3500-3501, 4300-4301, CHEM 2110-2111, 2120-2121, 3010-3011, 4040-4041, 4050, or 4160-4161. Select 16 semester hours from CJ 1100, 2300, 2600, 3360, 4000, 4450, 4460 and 4470.
  • General Biology (618W): BIOL 1060, 2040, 2180, 2210, 2240, 2250-2251, 2260-2261, 2300, 3020, 3030, 3050, 3060-3061, 3170-3171, 4130, 4150, 4340, 4060-4061.
  • Wildlife Biology and Conservation (618X): Select from BIOL 2030-2031, 2050-2051, 2080-2081, 2100-2101, 2120-2121, 2140-2141, 2150-2151, 2180, 2290, 2500, 2990, 3010-3011, 3040-3041, 3060-3061, 3070, 3140-3141, 3210-3211, 3220-3221, 3280, 3340-3341, 3630, 4040-4041, 4170-4171, 4180-4181, 4220-4221,4240, 4400-4401, 4410, 4500, or 4960; RSST 2010, 3010,4010.
  • Veterinary Technology (618V): Take BIOL 2060-2061,VTEC 1010-1011, 1020, 1030-1031, 2060, 2090-2091, 2600, 2900, 3010, 3100-3101, 3190-3191, 3200-3201, 3700-3701,4090, and 4200.

Biology electives: 10 semester hours for 618 M, N, and R, and 9 semester hours for 618T. 618U and 618V students are not required to take biology electives. These courses can be any biology course or Nutrition 1030.