Biology-Health Sciences, Biology Research Sciences option, BS

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Students will learn to apply concepts from a range of biological concepts such as biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and cell biology to a diverse array of questions ranging from how plants move towards light to the molecular basis of cancer. Students will also be exposed to interdisciplinary approaches to biology, such as bioinformatics, which combines genetics, and molecular biology. The broad scope of the Molecular and Cell Biology major makes it ideal for students interested in a wide variety of careers including medicine, postgraduate training in basic or translational research, biotechnology, science writing and policy, public health, and science education. Training in these areas is beneficial for careers in biological research, a number of high-tech industries, graduate school, and science professions. This challenging major requires creativity, rigor, and the ability to analyze, distill, and interpret data. A love of living systems and a level of comfort with complexity are both essential.

Curriculum:

This map shows required courses for the degree and recommended terms to take each course (the term sequence is subject to change depending on transfer courses, AP/IB/CLEP credit, and course availability).

Degree Required courses and recommended terms during which they should be taken:

Freshman Year

Fall

BIO 211 - Principles of Biology Credit Hours: 4
MATH 111Z - Precalculus I: Functions Credit Hours: 4
WRI 121Z - Composition I Credit Hours: 4
Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3

Winter

BIO 212 - Principles of Biology Credit Hours: 4
MATH 112Z - Precalculus II: Trigonometry Credit Hours: 4
Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
Health Biology Elective Credit: 3

Spring

BIO 213 - Principles of Biology Credit Hours: 4
COM 111Z - Public Speaking Credit Hours: 4
MATH 361 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 4
or
STAT 243Z - Elementary Statistics I Credit Hours: 4
Lower Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 2

Sophomore Year

Fall

BIO 345 - Medical Microbiology Credit Hours: 5
CHE 221 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 5
MATH 251 - Differential Calculus Credit Hours: 4
Humanities Elective Credit Hours: 3

Winter

BIO 209 - Current Research Tpc Med Sci I Credit Hours: 1
CHE 222 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 5
MATH 252 - Integral Calculus Credit Hours: 4
SPE 321 - Small Group/Team Comm Credit Hours: 3
Upper Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 3

Spring

CHE 223 - General Chemistry III Credit Hours: 5
WRI 122Z - Composition II Credit Hours: 4
or
WRI 227Z - Technical Writing Credit Hours: 4
Upper Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4
Humanities Elective Credit Hours: 3

Junior Year

Fall

CHE 331 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4 ^d
PHY 221 - General Physics w/Calculus Credit Hours: 4
Upper Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4
Humanities Elective Credit Hours: 3

Winter

CHE 332 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4
PHY 222 - General Physics w/Calculus Credit Hours: 4 ^d
Upper Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4
Humanities Elective Credit Hours: 3

Spring

CHE 333 - Organic Chemistry III Credit Hours: 4
PHY 223 - General Physics w/Calculus Credit Hours: 4 ^d
WRI 327 - Advanced Tech Writing Credit Hours: 3 ^g
Health Biology Elective Credit: 3

Senior Year

Fall

CHE 450 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 4
Upper Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 3^c
Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
Elective Credit Hours: 3^e
Elective Credit Hours: 3^e

Winter

BIO 409 - Crnt Rsch Tpcs in Med Sci II Credit Hours: 2
BIO 346 - Pathophysiology I Credit Hours: 3
CHE 451 - Biochemistry II Credit Hours: 4
Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
Elective Credit Hours: 3

Spring

Upper Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 3^c
Upper Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4^c
Upper Division Health Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4^c
Elective Credit Hours: 3^e

Lower Division Health Biology Electives

BIO 216 - Intro to Veterinary Medicine Credit Hours: 4
BIO 226 - Intro to Wildlife Rehab Credit Hours: 3
BIO 200 - Medical Terminology Credit Hours: 2
BIO 205 - Nutrition Credit Hours: 3

Upper Division Health Biology Electives

BIO 495 - Research Project in Biology Credit Hours: Varies (1-4)
BIO 461 - Human Cadaver Dissection Credit Hours: 1
BIO 462 - Human Cadaver Dissection Credit Hours: 1
BIO 426 - Evolutionary Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 435 - Exercise Physiology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 436 - Immunology Credit Hours: 4
BIO 352 - Developmental Biology Credit Hours: 4
BIO 357 - Intro to Neuroscience Credit Hours: 3
BIO 341 - Medical Genetics Credit Hours: 3
BIO 347 - Pathophysiology II Credit Hours: 3
BIO 326 - Parasitology Credit Hours: 4
CHE 495 - Research Project in Chemistry Credit Hours: Varies (1-4)
CHE 452 - Biochemistry III Credit Hours: 4
ENV 434 - Advanced Data Analysis Credit Hours: 4
STAT 414 - Stat Methods in Epidemiology Credit Hours: 4

Total for a B.S. in Biology Health Sciences, Biological Research option: 181 Credit Hours

^c Minimum of 21 credits of upper-division health biology electives must be completed, chosen from the upper-division list above

^d PHY 221, PHY 222, PHY 223, may be replaced by PHY 201, PHY 202, PHY 203 with advisor consent

^e Advisor approval of all elective choices is required. Additional courses from the health biology lists above, and/or suitable courses from BUS, COM, ENV, MATH, PSY, or SOC are recommended

^f SPE 321 may be replaced by COM 205 or COM 225

^g WRI 327 may be replaced by WRI 345 or WRI 410

When choosing electives or substituting courses, students are responsible for completing a minimum of 60 credits of upper-division work before a degree will be awarded. Upper-division work is defined as 300 and 400 level classes at a bachelor’s degree granting institution.