BS Degree in Biology
Description
This degree prepares students for a wide variety of careers in a biological sub-discipline such as human health, medicine, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, natural resource management, public health, and environmental health. Students gain skills relevant to field work, lab work in clinical or industry settings, research, and data analysis. Graduates can seek employment within the private sector, local, state, or federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, and academia. This degree is suitable for students planning to pursue an advanced graduate degree or apply for admission to a pre-professional school such as medical, physician’s assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dental, chiropractic, or veterinary school. To receive the B.S. Degree in Biology, the student must meet the minimum university requirements and specific requirements for one of the four emphases offered within program. Completion of 120 credits is required for this degree, which includes the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum.
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.
- 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.
- Demonstrate competence in lab and field skills
- Apply discipline-specific professional skills.
- Acquire basic research skills in introductory courses.
- Refine research skills in advanced courses including independent research.
- Acquire multicultural and ethical perspectives in the advancement and application of science in society.
Program Delivery Mode
Land plus: face-to-face where some online courses may be available or required
Core Requirements
( 31 credits )
Biology:
BIOL 111/BIOL 111L Cell Biology with Lab (4)
BIOL 115/BIOL 115L Organismal Biology with Lab (4)
BIOL 275 Biostatistics (4)
Chemistry:
CHEM 150 General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 210 General Chemistry II (3)
Chemistry Lab (choose two courses):
CHEM 150L General Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHEM 210L General Chemistry II Lab (1)
CHEM 275 General Chemistry Research Based Lab (3)
Physics I (choose one course):
PHYS 160 Physics I with Algebra & Lab (4)
PHYS 200 Physics I with Calculus & Lab (4)
Physics II (choose one course):
PHYS 161 Physics II with Algebra & Lab (4)
PHYS 201 Physics II with Calculus & Lab (4)
Math (choose one course):
MATH 142 Precalculus (5)
MATH 143 Trigonometry (3)
MATH 261 Calculus I (4)
Designated Writing Intensive Course for Major
Any of the following: BIOL 305 General Botany with Lab (4)
BIOL 348 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 360 Cellular & Molecular Physiology with Lab (4)
BIOL 365 Developmental Biology with Lab (4)
BIOL 372 Aquatic Biology (4)
BIOL 423 Advanced Gross Anatomy with Lab (4)
BIOL 430 Immunobiology with Lab (4)
BIOL 478 Research Design (3)
BCBT 461 Biotechniques: Nucleic Acids and Bioinformatics (3)
BCBT 463 Genomics, Proteomics, and Beyond (3)
BCBT 464 Histology and Detection (3)
Program Requirements
Students must also complete an emphasis.
Emphasis in Human Health Sciences
Program Requirements
( 14 credits )
BIOL 323/BIOL 323L Human Anatomy with Lab (4)
BIOL 349/BIOL 349L Human Physiology with Lab (4)
PSY 113 General Psychology (3)
PSY 202 Developmental Psychology (3)
Restricted Electives
( 18 credits )
18 credits. At least 12 credits must be 300+. At least 12 credits must come from courses in the BIOL rubric. A maximum of 3 credits of BIOL 469 and 3 credits of BIOL 497 or BCBT 397 may count towards the restricted electives credit total.
AT 210 Medical Terminology (1)
EXS 320 Anatomical Kinesiology (3)
EXS 420 Biomechanics (3)
PSY 261 Personality (3)
PSY 463 Abnormal Psychology (3)
SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Emphasis in Medical and Cellular Biology
Program Requirements
( 16 credits )
BIOL 341/BIOL 341L Genetics with Lab (4)
BIOL 350/BIOL 350L Microbiology with Lab (4)
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)
Restricted Electives
( 15 credits )
A maximum of 3 credits of BIOL 469 and 3 credits of BIOL 494 or BCBT 394 may count towards the restricted electives credit total.
Choose at least three courses from the following list:
BIOL 248 Introduction to Public Health (3)
BIOL 311 Neurobiology (4)
BIOL 323/BIOL 323L Human Anatomy with Lab (4)
BIOL 348 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 349/BIOL 349L Human Physiology with Lab (4)
BIOL 360/BIOL 360L Cellular and Molecular Physiology with Lab (4)
BIOL 365/BIOL 365L Developmental Biology with Lab (4)
BIOL 385 Molecular Biology (3) and BIOL 385L Molecular Biology Lab (1)
BIOL 400/CHEM 400 Biochemistry I (3) and BIOL 405/CHEM 405 Biochemistry Laboratory I (1)
BIOL 410/CHEM 410 Biochemistry II (3)
BIOL 423/BIOL 423L Advanced Gross Anatomy with Lab (4)
BIOL 430/BIOL 430L Immunobiology with Lab (4)
BIOL 438 Medical Microbiology (3)
BIOL 469 Internship (1-3)
BIOL 478 Research Design (3)
BIOL 494 Undergraduate Research in Biology (1-3)
BCBT 394 Biochemistry & Biotechnology Research (1-3)
BCBT 463 Proteomics and Genomics (3)
BCBT 464 Histology and Cell Culture (3)
Choose one course from the following list:
BIOL 305/BIOL 305L General Botany with Lab (4)
BIOL 308 Pacific Northwest Ecology (3)
BIOL 321 Invertebrate Zoology (3)
BIOL 322 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BIOL 326 Minnesota Plant Identification (4)
BIOL 335 Tropical Conservation Biology (3)
BIOL 345 Principles of Ecology (4)
BIOL 372 Aquatic Biology (4)
BIOL 402 Principles of Animal Behavior (3)
BIOL 455 Wildlife Ecology (4)
Emphasis in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Program Requirements
( 17 credits )
BIOL 341/BIOL 341L Genetics with Lab (4)
BIOL 345 Principles of Ecology (4)
BIOL 348 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 478 Research Design (3)
Students are required to take a single three-credit course in in one of the following courses:
BIOL 469 Internship (3)
BIOL 494 Undergraduate Research in Biology (3)
BIOL 469 and BIOL 494 must be taken as single 3-credit block, and a maximum of 3 credits of BIOL 469 may count towards the restricted elective credit total. Students should consult with their academic advisor to find an internship or research opportunity.
Restricted Electives
( 18 credits )
18 credits. Course selections should be made in close consultation with student’s academic advisor, depending upon the career goals of the student.
Developmental and Molecular Biology (choose one):
BIOL 365 Developmental Biology (4)
BIOL 385 Molecular Biology (3)
Suborganismal Biology (choose one):
BIOL 311 Neurobiology (4)
BIOL 347 Plant Physiology (4)
BIOL 349 Human Physiology (4)
BIOL 360 Cellular and Molecular Physiology (4)
Organismal Biology (choose one):
BIOL 305 General Botany (4)
BIOL 321 Invertebrate Zoology (3)
BIOL 322 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BIOL 350 Microbiology (4)
Populations and Ecosystems (choose one):
BIOL 308 Pacific Northwest Ecology (3)
BIOL 326 Minnesota Plant Identification (4)
BIOL 335 Tropical Conservation Biology (3)
BIOL 372 Aquatic Biology (4)
BIOL 402 Principles of Animal Behavior (3)
BIOL 455 Wildlife Ecology (4)
Additional Options to meet 18 credit total:
BIOL 385L Molecular Biology lab (1)
BIOL 469 Internship (1-3)
BIOL 494 Undergraduate Research in Biology (1-3)
Emphasis in One Health
Program Requirements
( 20 credits )
BIOL 248 Introduction to Public Health (3)
BIOL 345 Principles of Ecology (4)
BIOL 438 Medical Microbiology (3)
Choose one microbiology course:
BIOL 236/BIOL 236L Introduction to Microbiology (4)
BIOL 350/BIOL 350L Microbiology (4)
Choose one course:
PSY 113 General Psychology (3)
SOC 110 Intro to Sociology (3)
SUST 200 Nature of Sustainability (3)
Choose one global health course:
HSAD 218 Introduction to Healthcare and Global Health (3)
NURS 485 Global Health Perspectives (3)
BIOL 335 Tropical Conservation Biology (3)
Restricted Electives
( 18 credits )
18 credits. Course selections should be made in close consultation with student’s academic advisor, depending upon the career goals of the student.
Choose at least one course related to the human health component of One Health:
BIOL 349 Human Physiology (4)
BIOL 430 Immunobiology (4)
Choose at least one course related to the animal health component of One Health:
BIOL 321 Invertebrate Zoology (3)
BIOL 322 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BIOL 455 Wildlife Ecology (4)
Choose at least one course related to the environmental health component of One Health:
SUST 432 Environmental Dilemmas (3)
SUST 421 Systems Thinking (3)
BIOL 305 General Botany (4)
BIOL 347 Plant Physiology (4)
BIOL 335 Tropical Conservation Biology (3)
BIOL 372 Aquatic Biology (3)
Choose at least one course related to professional skill development:
BIOL 469 Internship (3-6)
BIOL 494 Independent Research (3)
HSAD 326 Epidemiology and Introductory Biostatistics (3)
POL 341 Public Policy (3)
GEOS 205 Thinking Spatially (3)
GEOS 307 Intro to GIS (3)
BIOL 478 Research Design (3)
BIOL 469 and BIOL 497 must be taken as single 3-credit block and a maximum of 6 credits of BIOL 469 may count towards the restricted elective credit total. Students should consult with their academic advisor to find an internship or research opportunity.
Other restricted elective course options:
ANTH 306 Medical Anthropology (3)
ANTH 307 Ecological Anthropology (3)
BIOL 236/BIOL 236L Foundations of Microbiology & Lab (4)
BIOL 323/BIOL 323L Human Anatomy & Lab (4)
BIOL 341 Genetics (4)
BIOL 348 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 335 Tropical Conservation Biology (3)
CHEM 102 Environmental Chemistry (3)
CHEM 304 The Environment and You (3)
CHEM 350 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 380 Analytical Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 400 Biochemistry (3)
HIST 374 Plagues and Peoples (3)
HLTH 305 Intro to Nutrition (3)
HLTH 330 Disease Prevention (3)
HSAD 218 Intro to Healthcare and Global Health (3)
NURS 485 Global Health Perspectives (3)
PHIL 311 Morals and Medicine (3)
POL 340 Public Administration (3)
POL 345 Environmental Politics (3)
PSCI 378 Energy and the Environment (3)
PSY 113 General Psychology (3)
PSY 324 Environmental Psychology (3)
PSY 275 Behavior Modification (3)
SW 250 Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work (3)
SOC 110 Intro to Sociology (3)
SOC 319 Society and the Environment (3)
SOC 375 Sociology of Health and Medicine (3)
WS 330 Gender, Justice, and the Environment (3)