B.A. Degree in Biology
Description
To receive the B.A. Degree in Biology, the student must meet the minimum university requirements and specific requirements for the program. Completion of 120 credits is required for this degree which includes the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core (42 credits).
Student Learning Outcomes
- Understand fundamental biological concepts at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels.
- Recognize evolution by natural selection as a unifying theme across biological disciplines.
- Demonstrate competence in general lab and field skills and be introduced to discipline-specific skills and their professional applications.
- Apply critical thinking skills and quantitative tools to evaluate biological information.
- Practice effective oral and written communication of scientific ideas in the manner of professional biologists.
- Acquire basic research skills in introductory courses and refine these skills in advanced courses including independent research.
- Recognize the value of multicultural and ethical perspectives in the advancement and application of science in human society.
Core Requirements
( 12 credits )
BIOL 111 Cell Biology (4)
BIOL 115 Organismal Biology (4)
BIOL 341 Genetics (4)
Program Requirements
BIOL 345 Principles of Ecology (4)
BIOL 348 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 350 Microbiology (4)
Related Requirements
( 16 credits )
Students must complete at least six credits in mathematics at the level of MATH 127 or above. Students must complete General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II and their corresponding labs. Students may choose from College Physics I and II OR General Physics I and II.
CHEM 150 General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 150L General Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHEM 210 General Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 210L General Chemistry II Lab (1)
PHYS 160 College Physics I with Lab (4) and
PHYS 161 College Physics II with Lab (4) or
PHYS 200 General Physics I with Lab (4) and
PHYS 201 General Physics II with Lab (4)
Restricted Electives
( 12 credits )
Students must take one course from the Physiology area (Biology 347, 349, or 360); one course from the Zoology area (Biology 321, 322, 372, 402, or 455); one course from the Cellular and Molecular area (Biology 365, 385, 385L, 430, or 438); and one course from the Botany area (Biology 305, 325 or 326). Students who enroll in BIOL 385L must also enroll in BIOL 385.
BIOL 305 General Botany (4)
BIOL 321 Invertebrate Zoology (3)
BIOL 322 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BIOL 326 Minnesota Plant Identification (4)
BIOL 347 Plant Physiology (4)
BIOL 349 Human Physiology (4)
BIOL 360 Cellular and Molecular Physiology (4)
BIOL 365 Developmental Biology (4)
BIOL 372 Aquatic Biology (4)
BIOL 385 Molecular Biology (3)
BIOL 385L Molecular Biology Lab (1)
BIOL 402 Principles of Animal Behavior (3)
BIOL 430 Immunobiology (3)
BIOL 438 Medical Microbiology (3)
BIOL 455 Wildlife Ecology (4)
Emphasis in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Program Requirements
( 20 credits )
BIOL 275 Quantitative Biology (4)
BIOL 345 Principles of Ecology (4)
BIOL 348 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 365 Developmental Biology (4) or
BIOL 385 Molecular Biology (3)
BIOL 478 Research Design (3)
BIOL 497 Research in Biology (3)
Related Requirements
( 19 credits )
Students must complete one MATH course from the list. Students must complete eight credits of General Chemistry I & II. Students must complete eight credits of PHYS chosen from College Physics I & II OR General Physics I & II.
CHEM 150 General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 150L General Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHEM 210 General Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 210L General Chemistry II Lab (1)
MATH 127 College Algebra (3) or
MATH 142 Pre-Calculus (4) or
MATH 143 Trigonometry (3) or
MATH 261 Calculus I (4)
PHYS 160 College Physics I with Lab (4) and
PHYS 161 College Physics II with Lab (4) or
PHYS 200 General Physics I with Lab (4) and
PHYS 201 General Physics II with Lab (4)
Restricted Electives
( 15 credits )
Students must complete a minimum of one course from the Suborganismal area (Select from BIOL 347, 349, 360); one course from the Organismal area (Select from Biology 305, 321, 322, 350); one course from the Populations and Ecosystems area (Select from Biology 326, 372, 402, 455); and two additional courses to reach a minimum of 15 credits.
BIOL 305 General Botany (4)
BIOL 321 Invertebrate Zoology (3)
BIOL 322 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BIOL 326 Minnesota Plant Identification (4)
BIOL 347 Plant Physiology (4)
BIOL 349 Human Physiology (4)
BIOL 350 Microbiology (4)
BIOL 360 Cellular and Molecular Physiology (4)
BIOL 372 Aquatic Biology (4)
BIOL 385 Molecular Biology (3)
BIOL 385L Molecular Biology Lab (1)
BIOL 402 Principles of Animal Behavior (3)
BIOL 455 Wildlife Ecology (4)
Recommended Electives
Select a minimum of six credits from the following list of courses:
BIOL 335 Tropical Field Biology (3)
BIOL 346 An Ecological Perspective (3)
BIOL 365 Developmental Biology (4)
BIOL 469 Internship (1-12)
BIOL 470 Undergraduate Laboratory Teaching (1)
BIOL 497 Undergraduate Research in Biology (1-3)
CHEM 350 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 355 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHEM 360 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 365 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
CHEM 400 Biochemistry I (3)
CHEM 405 Biochemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHEM 410 Biochemistry II (3)
CHEM 415 Biochemistry Laboratory II (1)
GEOS 305 Oceanography (3)
GEOS 416 Paleontology (3)
GEOS 417 Taphonomy and Paleoecology (3)
HSAD 326 Epidemiology (3)
MATH 262 Calculus II (4)
Emphasis in Health and Medical Sciences
Program Requirements
( 12 credits )
BIOL 323 Human Anatomy (4)
BIOL 349 Human Physiology (4)
BIOL 350 Microbiology (4)
Related Requirements
( 8 credits )
Students must complete General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II and their corresponding labs. Students may choose from College Physics I and II OR General Physics I and II and their corresponding labs.
CHEM 150 General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 150L General Chemistry Laboratory I (1) and
CHEM 210 General Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 210L General Chemistry II Lab (1)
PHYS 160 College Physics I with Lab (4) and
PHYS 161 College Physics II with Lab (4) or
PHYS 200 General Physics I with Lab (4) and
PHYS 201 General Physics II with Lab (4)
Restricted Electives
( 3-4 credits )
Students must take one course, of at least three credits, from those listed below. BIOL 385L may be taken with BIOL 385.
BIOL 360 Cellular and Molecular Physiology (4)
BIOL 365 Developmental Biology (4)
BIOL 385 Molecular Biology (3)
BIOL 385L Molecular Biology Lab (1)
BIOL 430 Immunobiology (3)
BIOL 438 Medical Microbiology (3)
Recommended Electives
Students must earn a minimum of eighteen credits from biology courses approved for majors and/or the following list of electives. Course selection should be made in consultation with a faculty advisor and will vary with the pre-professional area of interest.
ACCT 230 Principles of Accounting I (3)
ANTH 306 Medical Anthropology (3)
AT 210 Medical Terminology (1)
BIOL 275 Quantitative Biology (4)
BIOL 300 Biology of Women (3)
BIOL 345 Principles of Ecology (4)
BIOL 360 Cellular and Molecular Physiology (4)
BIOL 365 Developmental Biology (4)
BIOL 385 Molecular Biology (3)
BIOL 385L Molecular Biology Lab (1)
BIOL 390 Blood Work in the Medical Laboratory (topics) (3)
BIOL 430 Immunobiology (3) WI
BIOL 438 Medical Microbiology (3)
ENTR 230 Entrepreneurial Finance (3) *was BUS 230
CHEM 350 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 355 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHEM 360 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 365 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
CHEM 380 Analytical Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 400 Biochemistry I (3)
CHEM 405 Biochemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHEM 410 Biochemistry II (3)
CHEM 415 Biochemistry Laboratory II (1)
COMM 211 Group and Team Communication (3)
COMH 200 Introduction to Health Promotion and Public Health (2)
COMH 315 Health Agencies and Services (3)
HSAD 401 Health Aspects of Aging (3) *was COMH 401
COMH 418 Global Health Issues (3)
CSIS 104 Spreadsheet and Database Applications (3)
ENGL 387 Technical Report Writing (3)
HLTH 305 Introduction to Nutrition (3)
HLTH 330 Disease Prevention (2)
HSAD 326 Epidemiology (3)
HSAD 414 Health Services Planning and Evaluation (3)
HSAD 416 Health Services Management (3)
HSAD 418 Medical and Health Care Law (3)
HSAD 419 Financial Management of Health Care Organizations (3)
MATH 234 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
MGMT 360 Principles of Management (3)
PE 320 Anatomical Kinesiology (3)
PE 420 Biomechanics (3)
PHIL 311 Morals and Medicine (3)
PHIL 318 Professional Ethics (3)
PSY 202 Developmental Psychology (3)
PSY 220 Social Behavior (3)
PSY 265 Health Psychology (3)
PSY 310 Psychology of Women (3)
PSY 317 Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (3)
PSY 320 Social Psychology (3)
PSY 345 Physiological Psychology (3)
PSY 402 Child/Adolescent Psychology (3)
PSY 403 Adulthood and Aging (3)
PSY 463 Abnormal Psychology (3)
SOC 308 Social Gerontology (3)
SOC 375 Sociology of Health and Medicine (3)
SW 411 Chemical Dependency (3)