Biology Major Description
Proposed New Description of Biology Major
A major in biology consists of 42 semester hours of coursework in biology. The course of study for the major in biology (B.S.) is described below.
Required courses:
Bio 110 – Biological Communities, Evolution and Biodiversity, (4) Bio 115 – Organismal Form and Function (4)
Bio 120 – Cellular Biology (4)
Bio 125 – Molecular Biology (4)
Bio 285 – Sophomore Seminar (0.5 credit for 2 semesters) (1) Bio 485 – Senior Seminar (0.5 credit for 2 semesters) (1)
Elective courses:
Students must complete a total of 24 elective credits in biology, including at least one course from each of the four organizational levels, and at least one course from each of the three skills emphases listed below:
|
Organizational Levels |
Ecological |
Organismal |
Cellular |
Molecular |
Skills |
|
Literacy |
Bio491: Behavioral Endocrin (4,f) |
|
|
|
| |
Experimental |
|
|
|
|
| |
Analytical/
Technical |
|
|
|
|
Elective credits may also be filled by other appropriate courses taken such as:
- upper level biology courses (300 or higher) at other AUC institutions
- up to 4 hours of coursework in other disciplines relevant to biology training (examples might include History of Medicine, Biostatistics, Biomedical Ethics, Epidemiology, etc).
- up to 4 hours of elective credit through independent research, Bio 487, with approval of a faculty supervisor and the department chair.
All biology electives taken outside of the department must receive prior approval from the department Chair.
Cognate courses:
Biology majors must complete the following cognate courses with a grade of C or better:
Chemistry
One year of General Chemistry with lab (111, 111L, 112, 112L) One year of Organic Chemistry with lab (231, 233L, 232, 234L)
Mathematics
Two semesters of Mathematics selected from the following: MAT 211, MAT 212, and MAT 205.PSY 305 or ECO 203 may be substituted for MAT 205 with prior approval from the department Chair.
Physics
One year of General Physics with lab (111, 112)
Computer Science
One semester of Computer Science for Science Majors
Suggested Four-Year Course of Study A:
In this scheme, the required math and CIS courses are closely aligned with the Bio Core courses, allowing for easier integration of math into the intro sequence.
Year |
Fall Semester |
|
Spring Semester |
|
1 |
BIO 110
MAT 115/120
ADW 111
ENG 103
PE
First Year Seminar
|
4
4
4
4
1
0
17
|
BIO 115
MAT 211
ADW 112
For Lang 101
PE
First Year Seminar
|
4
4
4
4
1
0
17
|
2 |
BIO 120
MAT 212/205
CHE 111 & L
For Lang 102
BIO 285a Sophomore Assembly
|
4
4
4
4
0.5
0
16.5
|
BIO 125
CIS 1XX
CHE 112 & L
For Lang 201 x
BIO 285b
Sophomore Assembly
|
4
4
4
4
0.5
0
16.5
|
3 |
BIO elective
CHE 231
CHE 232L
PHY 111
For Lang 202
|
4
4
1
4
4
17 |
BIO elective
CHE 231
CHE 232L
PHY 112 |
4
4
1
4
13
|
4 |
BIO elective
BIO elective
BIO 485a
Core (Fine Arts)
Women’s Studies/Int’l
|
4
4
0.5
4
4
16.5 |
BIO elective
BIO elective
BIO 485b
Core (Social Science)
Core (Humanities) |
4
4
0.5
4
4
16.5
|
Suggested Four-Year Course of Study B:
In this scheme, biology majors begin the chemistry sequence in their first year, which relieves course pressure in their junior year. Foreign language and math requirements are redistributed accordingly.
Year |
Fall Semester |
|
Spring Semester |
|
1 |
BIO 110
CHE 111 & L
ADW 111
ENG 103
PE
First Year Seminar
|
4
4
4
4
1
0
17 |
BIO 115
CHE 112 & L
ADW 112
For Lang 101
PE
First Year Seminar
|
4
4
4
4
1
0
17
|
2 |
BIO 120
CHE 231
CHE 232L
MAT 211 or
MAT 205
For Lang 102
BIO 285a
Sophomore Assembly
|
4
4
1
4
4
0.5
0
17.5 |
BIO 125
CHE 233
CHE 234L
MAT 211 or 212
For Lang 201
BIO 285b x Sophomore Assembly
|
4
4
1
4
4
0.5
0
17.5
|
3 |
BIO elective
PHY 111
For Lang 202 Core (Humanities)
|
4
4
4
4
16 |
BIO elective x
BIO elective
PHY 112
CIS 1XX
|
4
4
4
4
16
|
4 |
BIO elective
BIO 485a
Core (Fine Arts)
Women’s Studies/Int’l
|
4
0.5
4
4
16.5 |
BIO elective
BIO elective
BIO 485b
Core (Social Science) |
4
4
0.5
4
12.5
|
Suggested Four-Year Course of Study C:
In this scheme, biology majors take cognates concurrently with the Biology Intro courses they support.
Year |
Fall Semester |
|
Spring Semester |
|
1 |
BIO 110
MAT 205
ADW 111
ENG 103
PE
First Year Seminar
|
4
4
4
4
1
17 |
BIO 115
PHY 111
ADW 112
For Lang 101
PE
First Year Seminar
|
4
4
4
4
1
0
17
|
2 |
BIO 120
BIO 285a
MAT 211
CHE 111 & L
For Lang 102
Sophomore Assembly
|
4
0.5
4
4
4
0
16.5 |
BIO 125
BIO 285b
CIS 1XX
CHE 112 & L
For Lang 201
Sophomore Assembly |
4
0.5
4
4
4
0
16.5 |
3 |
BIO elective
CHE 231
CHE 232L
PHY 112
|
4
4
1
4
13 |
BIO elective
CHE 233
CHE 233
CHE 234L
Core (Humanities)
For Lang 202 |
4
4
1
4
4
17
|
4 |
BIO elective
BIO elective
BIO 485a
Core (Fine Arts)
Women’s/Int. Studies
|
4
4
0.5
4
4
16.5 |
BIO elective
BIO elective
BIO 485b
Core (Social Science) |
4
4
0.5
4
12.5
|
