Biology Major (B.S.)

Location(s): On Campus

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This major is offered through the School of Health + Science. It is intended to broadly prepare students in the biological sciences. With careful selection of electives, students may be equipped to pursue graduate work, research, field biology, laboratory work, industrial work, government positions, or other related areas.

Program Requirements

I. Core Curriculum - 49 Credits

All Biological and Health Sciences Department classes must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

BIB 461 - Corinthians Correspondence 3 Credits
BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective (300-400 level) 3 Credits
BIO 143 - General Biology I 3 Credits
BIO 143L - General Biology I Lab 1 Credits
CHM 122 - The Great Commandment 3 Credits
CHM 301 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
CHM 328 - The Great Commission 3 Credits
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
HIS 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits
HIS 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits
MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits
Communication Elective - choose one of the following:
COM 133 - Speech 3 Credits
COM 140 - Perspectives in Communication 3 Credits
COM 252 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credits
Fine Arts Elective - choose one of the following:
FAR/MUS Fine Arts or Music Elective - 3 Credits
HON 225 - Beauty: Art and Culture 3 Credits
History Elective - choose one of the following:
HIS 133 - World Civilizations to 1500 3 Credits
HIS 134 - World Civilizations since 1500 3 Credits
HIS 231 - American Civilization to 1877 3 Credits
HIS 232 - American Civilization since 1877 3 Credits
Social Science Elective - choose one of the following:
PSY 130 - General Psychology 3 Credits
SOC 230 - Sociology 3 Credits

II. Biology Major - 58 Credits

All major core classes must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

BIO 144 - General Biology II 3 Credits
BIO 144L - General Biology II Lab 1 Credits
BIO 262 - Genetics 3 Credits
BIO 262L - Genetics Lab 1 Credits
BIO 321 - Microbiology 3 Credits
BIO 321L - Microbiology Lab 1 Credits
BIO 351 - Ecology 3 Credits
BIO 351L - Ecology Lab 1 Credits
BIO 380 - Bioethics 3 Credits
BIO 486 - Senior Science Seminar 3 Credits
BIO/CHE - Science Elective (300-400 level) 8 Credits*
CHE 261 - General Chemistry I 3 Credits
CHE 261L - General Chemistry I Lab 1 Credits
CHE 262 - General Chemistry II 3 Credits
CHE 262L - General Chemistry II Lab 1 Credits
CHE 307 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Credits
CHE 307L - Organic Chemistry I Lab 2 Credits
MAT 131 - College Algebra 3 Credits
or
MAT 141 - Pre-Calculus 3 Credits
MAT 243 - Calculus I 4 Credits
PHY 225 - Physics I 3 Credits
PHY 225L - Physics I Lab 1 Credits
PHY 226 - Physics II 3 Credits
PHY 226L - Physics II Lab 1 Credits

III. Electives - 18 Credits

* Students should work closely with an advisor to determine the science electives best suited to their area of interest. Choose from BIO, CHE or SCI classes.

A minimum of 36 credits must be at the upper (300-400) level for a bachelor degree.

Total - 125 Credits

Four-Year Suggested Program for the Biology Major

Freshman Year

Fall Semester - 16-17 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits
BIO 143 - General Biology I 3 Credits
BIO 143L - General Biology I Lab 1 Credits
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
Fine Arts Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: FAR or MUS classes or HON 225 ) (even)
or
CHE 261 - General Chemistry I 3 Credits (odd)
and
CHE 261L - General Chemistry I Lab 1 Credits (odd)
MAT 131 - College Algebra 3 Credits
or
MAT 141 - Pre-Calculus 3 Credits

Spring Semester - 16-17 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits
BIO 144 - General Biology II 3 Credits
BIO 144L - General Biology II Lab 1 Credits
CHM 122 - The Great Commandment 3 Credits
ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits (odd)
or
CHE 262 - General Chemistry II 3 Credits (even)
and
CHE 262L - General Chemistry II Lab 1 Credits (even)

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester - 15 Credits

BIO 321 - Microbiology 3 Credits
BIO 321L - Microbiology Lab 1 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits
Even Year Courses
CHE 307 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Credits
CHE 307L - Organic Chemistry I Lab 2 Credits
Fine Arts Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: FAR or MUS classes or HON 225 )
Odd Year Courses
CHE 261 - General Chemistry I 3 Credits
CHE 261L - General Chemistry I Lab 1 Credits
PHY 225 - Physics I 3 Credits
PHY 225L - Physics I Lab 1 Credits

Spring Semester - 16-17 Credits

CHM 328 - The Great Commission 3 Credits
Social Science Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: PSY 130 or SOC 230 )
Even Year Courses
BIO 380 - Bioethics 3 Credits
CHE 262 - General Chemistry II 3 Credits
CHE 262L - General Chemistry II Lab 1 Credits
PHY 226 - Physics II 3 Credits
PHY 226L - Physics II Lab 1 Credits
Odd Year Courses
BIO 262 - Genetics 3 Credits
BIO 262L - Genetics Lab 1 Credits
History Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: HIS 133 , HIS 134 , HIS 231 , or HIS 232 )
MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits

Departmental Acceptance

Students apply for departmental acceptance during their sophomore year spring semester or their junior year fall semester. A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for departmental admission in the Biological and Health Sciences Department .

Junior Year

Fall Semester - 14-15 Credits

CHM 301 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
Communication Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: COM 133 , COM 140 or COM 252 )
Even Year Courses
BIO 351 - Ecology 3 Credits
BIO 351L - Ecology Lab 1 Credits
CHE 307 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Credits
CHE 307L - Organic Chemistry I Lab 2 Credits
Odd Year Courses
BIO/CHE - Science Elective (300-400 level) 4 Credits
PHY 225 - Physics I 3 Credits
PHY 225L - Physics I Lab 1 Credits

Spring Semester - 14 Credits

Elective 3 Credits
Even Year Courses
BIO 380 - Bioethics 3 Credits
PHY 226 - Physics II 3 Credits
PHY 226L - Physics II Lab 1 Credits
MAT 243 - Calculus I 4 Credits
Odd Year Courses
BIO 262 - Genetics 3 Credits
BIO 262L - Genetics Lab 1 Credits
BIO/CHE - Science Elective (300-400 level) 4 Credits
History Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: HIS 133 , HIS 134 , HIS 231 or HIS 232 )

Senior Year

Fall Semester - 16 Credits

BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective (300-400 level) 3 Credits
Elective 9 Credits
BIO 351 - Ecology 3 Credits (even)
and
BIO 351L - Ecology Lab 1 Credits (even)
or
BIO/CHE - Science Elective (300-400 level) 4 Credits (odd)

Spring Semester - 16 Credits

BIB 461 - Corinthians Correspondence 3 Credits
BIO 486 - Senior Science Seminar 3 Credits
Elective 6 Credits
MAT 243 - Calculus I 4 Credits (even)
or
BIO/CHE - Science Elective (300-400 level) 4 Credits (odd)