48 credit hours
Required Courses: 36 credit hours
Core required for all BIOL majors: 17 credit hours
One course from the Field Ecology Group: 4 credits
| BIOL 301 | Introduction to Marine Biology (SI): From the Gulf Coast to the Florida Keys | 4 |
| BIOL 309/HIST 309 | Tropical Ecology of Guatemala, Belize and Spanish Immersion (SI) | 4 |
| BIOL 336 | Ornithology (SI) | 4 |
| BIOL 348 | Principles of Ecology (SI) | 4 |
| BIOL 352 | Terrestrial Plant Ecology (W) (SI) | 4 |
One course from the Experimental/Laboratory Group: 4 credits
Three additional Biology electives at the 300-level: 11-12 credits
BIOL 392, 395 and BIOL 399 do not count toward the 300-level electives, instead they may be used to satisfy missing credit hours (if necessary) to reach 36 hours of Biology.
Required Supportive Courses: 12 credit hours
Introductory Chemistry: 4 credit hours
Students need to take one Introductory Chemistry course, CHEM 116 or 120.
Organic Chemistry: 4 credit hours
Students need to take One Organic Chemistry course, CHEM 145 or CHEM 201.
Mathematics Requirement
Take one course from the following list:
Note: BIOL 370 may count for EITHER the Mathematics Requirement or one of the 300-level electives, but not for BOTH of the requirements.
The major in Biology requires the achievement of a grade of C- or higher in all required Biology courses and required supportive courses.
Students pursuing pre-professional programs should expect to take CHEM 116 and CHEM 117, as most Graduate Programs will look for that sequence in addition to CHEM 201.
Additional courses in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics are strongly recommended for majors who intend to pursue further studies or employment in biology.
A Biology major wishing to teach at the secondary level is advised to obtain at least 12 credit hours in a second discipline (for example, in Chemistry or Physics) if he or she desires to be certified to teach in that content area.
Emphasis Areas:
Biology majors may choose a special emphasis area by taking specific electives within their major.
Biology Sample Plan of Study
Following is one possible way to complete the major.
Students should fill in gaps with coursework required for the core curriculum and other majors/minors to take an average of 14 credit hours each fall and spring, and 3-4 credit hours each Interim. Total credit hours needs to be 124 for degree completion.
First Year
Fall Semester
| FYS 110 | First Year Seminar I (FS) | 4 |
| BIOL 120 | Biological Principles I (NS) | 4 |
| CHEM 116 | General Chemistry I (NS) | 4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Interim
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Spring Semester
| BIOL 121 | Biological Principles II | 4 |
| CHEM 117 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Second Year
Fall Semester
| BIOL 233 | Genetics | 4 |
| CHEM 201 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Interim
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Spring Semester
| BIOL 234 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Third Year
Fall Semester
| BIOL | Elective course at the 300-level | 4 |
| BIOL 490 | Biology Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 201 | Physics for Life Sciences I (NS) | 4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Interim
Spring Semester
| BIOL | Elective course at the 300-level | 4 |
| PHYS 202 | Physics for Life Sciences II | 4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
| BIOL | Elective course at the 300-level | 4 |
| BIOL | Elective course at the 300-level | 4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Interim
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
Spring Semester
| BIOL | Elective course at the 300-level | 4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |
| | Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course | 3-4 |