2007-2008 Academic Catalog

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• Course Descriptions

Biology Major (BS)

This major offers a 52-semester-hour course of study, enabling students to pursue a variety of careers that include research, the health professions, teaching, and non-science fields that require critical-thinking skills. Students are required to obtain a minimum grade of C- in all courses taken for the major.

Special General Education Requirements

The chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses (listed below) also fulfill up to 12 hours of the sciences requirement for general education. A minimum grade of C- must be obtained in all biology and chemistry courses for graduation.

Major Requirements

Requirements for the biology major consist of 34 semester hours in biology and 18-19 additional hours in chemistry and mathematics to include the following courses:

Biology (34 hours)

BIOL 101 General Biology (4)
BIOL 102 General Biology (4)
BIOL 350 Genetics (4)
BIOL 360 Ecology (4)
BIOL 490 Biological Exploration (2)

Students must choose 16 hours of upper-division biology (BIOL) courses (an upper-division botany course is highly recommended)

Chemistry (16 hours)

CHEM 211 General Chemistry (4)
CHEM 212 General Chemistry (4)
CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry (4)

Students must choose one of the following courses:
CHEM 310 Analytical Chemistry (4)
CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry (4)

Mathematics (4 hours)

MATH 190 Precalculus Mathematics (4) or above (MATH 201 Calculus I or MATH 202 Calculus II highly recommended)

Recommended Supporting Courses

Students are encouraged to choose one of the following sequences:
PHYS 201 and PHYS 202 General Physics (8)
PHYS 211 and PHYS 212 General Physics with Calculus (8) (recommended)

Thesis Option

Students can petition the department thesis committee by the end of the fall semester of their junior year for permission to do original research as part of their degree requirement. Students allowed to pursue the thesis option must:

1. Complete an acceptable research proposal and the Research Methods course (BIOL 384) by the end of the spring semester of the junior year.
2. Take up to 4 hours of Biological Research (BIOL 465) between the spring semester of their junior year and graduation, and Senior Thesis (BIOL 496) during the spring semester of their senior year.
3. Complete a written thesis acceptable to the thesis committee by April 1 of their senior year.
4. Prepare a poster and give an oral presentation of their research prior to graduation.

The department considers this an honor to be noted on the student's transcript. The thesis is designed to enhance a student's preparation for graduate or professional school.