Biology Major: Biomedical, Cellular, and Molecular Concentration, B.A., B.S.
B.A. degree or B.S. degree
The Biology Major will prepare students for graduate programs, pre-professional programs, certificate programs, and careers in diverse biological disciplines. Experiences in the program will strengthen skills in teamwork, inquiry and analysis, oral and written communication, problem solving, ethical reasoning, critical and creative thinking, and quantitative and information literacy. Biology students have the opportunity to perform one-on-one research with Biology faculty members and often present their work at local, regional, national, or international venues. To support student success, the Biology department offers numerous scholarship opportunities, granting greater than $60K in awards annually. Biology students are part of a learning community that includes local networking opportunities (registered student organizations and clubs), state and regional collaborations and partnerships (e.g., government agencies, tribal organizations), and global experiences (study abroad opportunities).
The Biomedical, Cellular, and Molecular (BCM) Concentration will prepare students for graduate programs (MS or PhD), health professions programs, and careers in laboratory or research-based settings with universities, state or national science-based agencies, and pharmaceutical or industrial companies. The courses that comprise the BCM concentration prepare students to be competitive applicants for the following professional programs:
- medical school (MD and DO)
- physician assistant (PA)
- dental school (DDS)
- veterinary medicine (DVM)
- pharmacy (PharmD)
- optometry (OD)
- physical therapy (DPT)
- occupational therapy (OTD)
- podiatric school (DPM)
- chiropractic school (DC)
- other health care careers
Students can explore areas in biomedicine, physiology, public health, microbiology, genetics, and cellular, molecular, and developmental biology. In addition to fundamental laboratory skills, students have the opportunity to learn advanced techniques including molecular cloning, protein and nucleic acid analysis, cell culture, and genomic analysis. Extensive hands-on learning opportunities, supported by state-of-the art teaching and research laboratories, will empower students to apply their undergraduate education for employment or graduate/professional training.
Program Requirements
Core Courses I (20 hours)
| BIO 111 | Foundations of Evolution and Diversity | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 112 | Foundations of Cell Biology | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 211 | Foundations of Genetics | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 212 | Foundations of Form and Function | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 213 | Foundations of Ecology | 4(3-3) |
Core Courses II (3 hours)
Required Courses (3-4 hours)
Select one of the following:
| BIO 320 | Biology of Microorganisms | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 324 | Eukaryotic Cell Biology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 390 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 391 | Plant Physiology | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 392 | Mammalian Physiology | 4(3-3) |
Other Requirements I (20 hours)
Other Requirements II (4-8 hours)
Select one of the following options:
Notes: Students selecting Option A in Other Requirements II must select Option A in Other Requirements III. Students selecting Option B or C in Other Requirements II may select any option in Other Requirements III.
Option A (4 hours)
| CHM 342 | Survey of Organic Chemistry | 4(3-3) |
Option B (8 hours)
| CHM 345 | Organic Chemistry I | 3(3-0) |
| CHM 346 | Organic Chemistry II | 3(3-0) |
| CHM 349 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2(0-6) |
Option C (8 hours)
| CHM 343 | Organic Chemistry I: Foundations | 4(4-0) |
| CHM 348 | Organic Chemistry II: Bioorganic | 2(2-0) |
| CHM 349 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2(0-6) |
Other Requirements III (3-6 hours)
Select one of the following options:
Option A (3 hours)
| CHM 421 | Introductory Biochemistry for Health Sciences | 3(3-0) |
Option B (3 hours)
| CHM 520 | Introductory Biochemistry | 3(3-0) |
Option C (6 hours)
Other Requirements IV (0 hours)
Capstone Exit Exam and Survey
This capstone experience may include taking the Biology Major Field Test, analyzing and interpreting data, and/or completing an exit survey.
Electives (10 hours)
Select advanced level elective courses from the list below. At least two (2) courses must be at the 400-level or higher. At least one elective must be a BIO course with laboratory hours. Courses selected in Required Courses may not also be used as electives.
| BIO 320 | Biology of Microorganisms | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 324 | Eukaryotic Cell Biology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 325 | Biotechnology | 3(1-5) |
| BIO 330 | Light Microscopy | 3(2-2) |
| BIO 337 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 365 | Environmental Contaminants | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 390 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 391 | Plant Physiology | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 392 | Mammalian Physiology | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 397 | Special Topics in Biology | 1-6(Spec) |
| BIO 403WI | Undergraduate Research | 3-4(Spec) |
| BIO 435 | Environmental Toxicology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 487/PSY 487 | Recent Advances in Neuroscience Seminar | 2(2-0) |
| BIO 490 | Biomedical Sciences Seminar | 1-3(Spec) |
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Internship in Biology | 1-4(Spec) |
| BIO 497 | Special Topics in Biology | 1-9(Spec) |
| BIO 501 | Evolution | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 524 | Molecular Biology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 534 | Endocrinology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 536 | Histology | 3(2-3) |
| BIO 537 | Immunology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 539 | Virology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 544 | Developmental Biology | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 545 | Molecular Genetics | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 546 | Molecular Genetics Laboratory | 1(0-3) |
| BIO 550 | Transmission Electron Microscopy | 4(1-6) |
| BIO 552 | Scanning Electron Microscope Technique | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 553 | Confocal Microscopy | 3(2-3) |
| BIO 565 | Microbial Diversity and Physiology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 566 | Microbial Diversity and Physiology Laboratory | 1(0-3) |
| BIO 570 | Medical Cell Biology | 3-4(Spec) |
| BIO 575 | Applied Bioinformatics | 4(3-3) |
| BIO 576WI | Mammalian Cell Culture | 3(1-5) |
| BIO 580 | Medical Microbiology | 4(2-4) |
| BIO 585 | Conservation Medicine | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 590 | Cardiovascular Physiology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 591 | Neurophysiology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 595 | Cancer Biology | 3(3-0) |
| BIO 597 | Special Topics in Biology | 1-9(Spec) |
Notes: Credit toward the Biology major may only be earned in BIO 397, BIO 497, and BIO 597 with permission of advisor. Students who choose BIO 546, BIO 566, or BIO 571 must also take the appropriate pre/co-requisite lecture course.
Total: 63-71 semester hours