Biology, BS

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This program prepares you to pursue a graduate degree in biology or to go on to professional schools in the field of health sciences/biomedical sciences. Training in biology also prepares you for a wide variety of career choices, including careers in research in academic, government, and private research laboratories, science teaching, positions in the biomedical, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries, and other related fields. While many positions are open to those holding a BS degree, some may only be open to those holding advanced graduate degrees.

General Education (31 CR)

Courses listed under each area are specific requirements for the BS in Biology that also fulfill the requirements for General Education. See Northern’s General Education Offerings for additional courses to meet the required credits in each area.

Area I. Communications (6 CR)

ENGL 1110 - Composition I 3 CR
ENGL 1120 - Composition II 3 CR
or
ENGL 1210 - Technical Communications 3 CR

Area II. Mathematics (3 CR)

MATH 1220 - College Algebra 3 CR

Area III. Laboratory Sciences (4 CR)

Area IV. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 CR)

Area V. Humanities (3 CR)

Area VI. Fine Arts (3 CR)

Additional Nine Credit Hours for Non STEMH (9 CR)

Choose one of the following civics courses (3):

Program Requirements (89 CR)

Biology Core Curriculum (23 CR)

BIOL 1110 - General Biology 3 CR and
BIOL 1110L - General Biology Lab 1 CR
BIOL 2110 - Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 3 CR and
BIOL 2110L - Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular and Biology Lab 1 CR
BIOL 2410 - Principles of Genetics 3 CR and
BIOL 2410L - Principles of Genetics Lab 1 CR
BIOL 3101 - Evolution 4 CR
BIOL 3105 - Organismal Biology 4 CR
BIOL 4451 - General Ecology 3 CR

Immersive Biology Experience (7 CR)

BIOL 3372 - Advances in Biology Discussion 3 CR
or
BIOL 3382 - Undergraduate Teaching Experience 3 CR
or
BIOL 3392 - Undergraduate Research Experience 3 CR
BIOL 4472 - Biology Seminar 1 CR
BIOL 4492 - Biology Capstone Project 3 CR

Supportive Courses in Math, Chemistry, and Physics (39 CR)

Mathematics (11 CR)

Chemistry (20 CR)

CHEM 1215 - General Chemistry I for Stem Majors 3 CR and
CHEM 1215L - General Chemistry for Stem Majors I Lab 1 CR
CHEM 1225 - General Chemistry II for Stem Majors 3 CR and
CHEM 1225L - General Chemistry II Laboratory for Stem Majors 1 CR
CHEM 3301 - Organic Chemistry I 3 CR and
CHEM 3301L - Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 CR
CHEM 3302 - Organic Chemistry II 3 CR and
CHEM 3302L - Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 CR
CHEM 4421 - Biochemistry 3 CR and
CHEM 4421L - Biochemistry Lab 1 CR

Physics (8 CR)

PHYS 1230 - Algebra-Based Physics I 3 CR and
PHYS 1230L - Algebra-Based Physics I Lab 1 CR
PHYS 1240 - Algebra-Based Physics II 3 CR and
PHYS 1240L - Algebra-Based Physics II Lab 1 CR

Additional Program Requirements (22 CR)

10 of the 22 credit hours MUST be upper division (3000-4499). Please seek departmental advisement to tailor your course selection to your individual career objectives. Note: Course selection must be approved by BIOL program advisor and Chair of the department.

Suggested Areas of Concentration: