Biology- Bachelor of Science

For information, contact the Department of Biology, 212 Pearson Hall, 513-529-3100.

Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms. The biology major can be tailored to meet the needs of students interested in the health sciences, animal or plant physiology, cell and molecular biology, ecology or environmental studies, or evolution and systematics. It is possible to complete a Biology Major while earning either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.

Students may not double major in Biology and Botany, or in Biology and Zoology.

Program Requirements

(40 semester hours, plus 33 related hours)

Core Courses
BIO/MBI 115Biological Concepts: Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, and Diversity4
BIO/MBI 116Biological Concepts: Structure, Function, Cellular, and Molecular Biology4
Advanced Course Requirements 132
BIO 203Introduction to Cell Biology3
BIO 206Evolutionary Biology3-4
or BIO 204 Evolution of Plant Biodiversity: Genes to Biosphere
BIO 209Fundamentals of Ecology3
BIO 342Genetics3
Laboratory Course Requirement:
Select at least two advanced courses with a laboratory component 2
Plant-focused Courses:
Select at least one of the following:3-4
Evolution of Plant Biodiversity: Genes to Biosphere
Dendrology
Plant Propagation
Viticulture and Enology
Plant Taxonomy
Basic Horticulture
Plant Diversity
Plant Anatomy
Environmental Plant Physiology
Global Plant Diversity
Field Ecology
Soil Ecology and Sustainable Use
Animal Focused Courses:
Select at least one of the following:3-4
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Vertebrate Zoology
Invertebrate Zoology
Patterns in Development
Ornithology
Mammalogy
Biology Of Cancer
Animal Physiological Ecology
Endocrinology
Neuroanatomy
Animal Behavior
Neurophysiology
Related Courses33
Two years of chemistry are required:10-11
First Term:
College Chemistry
College Chemistry
College Chemistry
and
College Chemistry Laboratory
College Chemistry Laboratory for Majors
Second Term:
College Chemistry
College Chemistry
College Chemistry for Majors
and
College Chemistry Laboratory
College Chemistry Laboratory
Select one of the following options:8-10
Option 1:
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Option 2:
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
and Outlines of Biochemistry
and Outlines of Biochemistry Lab
One semester of physics:4-5
Physics for the Life Sciences with Laboratory I
General Physics I
and General Physics Laboratory I
Select one statistics and one calculus course7-9
Select one microbiology course (200 level or above)3-4
1

The remaining 32 semester hours must be fulfilled by taking biology courses at 200 level or above. Advanced microbiology (MBI) courses and IES 275 can count for up to nine semester hours of this requirement. No more than three semester hours of independent study/research/internship may apply to the major. At least one 400 level course (minimum three semester hours) must be taken.

2

Three semester hours of independent research can be used in lieu of one of these courses