BS in Biology with Ecology Emphasis
The growing significance of environmental issues to the overall health of our world in the new century requires more individuals who are scientifically trained to contribute to solving environmental problems.
The BS in Biology with ecology emphasis is designed to provide in-depth training for students planning to do research in various areas of environmental sciences as either graduate students or employees of environmental agencies and companies.
This specialized biology major requires 37 credit hours including 9 required courses (21 credit hours) and elective courses (16 credit hours). This track allows students to acquire a strong background in fundamental biology with a specialization in the basic science of ecology and evolution. Students will follow the program outlined below
Requirements
21 credit hours plus cognate requirements
- BIOL 101 General Biology I (3)
- BIOL 111 General Biology I Lab (1)
- BIOL 102 General Biology II (3)
- BIOL 112 General Biology II Lab (1)
- BIOL 251 Cell Biology (3)
- BIOL 265 Ecology (3)
- BIOL 266 Ecology Lab (1)
- BIOL 282 Genetics (3)
- BIOL 319 Evolution (3)
Electives
16 credit hours
A minimum of two electives must be selected from the following list. The remaining credits may come from this list or from other electives offered in Biology. A minimum of (any) two electives must have laboratory components.
- BIOL 205 Plant Biology (4)
- BIOL 215 Ornithology (3)
- BIOL 296 Introduction to Research (1)
- BIOL 316 Limnology (4)
- BIOL 320 Animal Behavior (3)
- BIOL 325 Primatology—Behavior & Ecology (3)
- BIOL 327 Wetland Ecology (4)
- BIOL 328 Conservation Biology (3)
- BIOL 335 Biostatistics (4)
- BIOL 345 Sociobiology (3)
- BIOL 360 Field Biology (3)
- BIOL 363 Entomology (4)
- BIOL 368 Plant Ecology (4)
- BIOL 369 Invertebrate Biology (3)
- BIOL 370 Ichthyology (4)
- BIOL 375 Aquatic Insects (4)
- BIOL 393 Natural Resources Conservation (3)
- BIOL 395 Special Topics (1–4)*
- CHEM 312–313 Environmental Chemistry (4)Or ONE of the following
- BIOL 396 Research (Capstone Course (3)
- BIOL 398 Internship (Capstone Course) (1–3)*
* courses must be taken in an Ecology related topic.
Chemistry
16 credit hours
- CHEM 101 General Chemistry A (3) *
- CHEM 111 General Chemistry Lab A (1)
- CHEM 102 General Chemistry B (3) *
- CHEM 112 General Chemistry Lab B (1)
- CHEM 223 Organic Chemistry A (3) **
- CHEM 225 Organic Chemistry Lab A (1)
- CHEM 224 Organic Chemistry B (3) **
- CHEM 226 Organic Chemistry Lab B (1)
*OR CHEM 105, CHEM 106
**OR CHEM 221, CHEM 222
Mathematics
6 credit hours
- MATH 131 OR 161 Calculus I (3/4)
- MATH 132 OR 162 Calculus II (3/4)
Physics
8 credit hours
- PHYS 111 Physics I (PHYS 111K or PHYS 125 may be substituted) (3/3/4)
- PHYS 111L Physics Lab I (1)
- PHYS 112 Physics II (PHYS 112K or PHYS 126 may be substituted) (3/3/4)
- PHYS 112L Physics Lab II (1)
Suggested Course Sequence
The biology department recommends that students pursuing the BS in Biology with Ecology Emphasis complete their required classes in the following sequence. Requirements include courses in Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Mathematics (MATH) and Physics (PHYS):
| First Semester | Credit Hrs | Second Semester | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101, 111(lab) CHEM 101 CHEM 111 MATH 131 |
4 3 1 3 |
BIOL 102, 112(lab) CHEM 102 CHEM 112 MATH 132 |
4 3 1 3 |
| Third Semester | Credit Hrs | Fourth Semester | Credit Hrs |
| BIOL 265 BIOL 266 CHEM 223 CHEM 225 |
3 1 3 1 |
BIOL 282 CHEM 224 CHEM 226 |
3 3 1 |
| Fifth Semester | Credit Hrs | Sixth Semester | Credit Hrs |
| BIOL 251 PHYS 111 PHYS 111L |
3 3 1 |
BIOL 319 PHYS 112 PHYS 112L BIOL Elective (Ecology) |
3 3 1 3 |
| Seventh Semester | Credit Hrs | Eighth Semester | Credit Hrs |
| BIOL Elective (Ecology) | 4 | BIOL Electives | 8 |
The growing significance of environmental issues to the overall health of our world in the new century requires more individuals who are scientifically trained to contribute to solving environmental problems.
The BS in Biology with ecology emphasis is designed to provide in-depth training for students planning to do research in various areas of environmental sciences as either graduate students or employees of environmental agencies and companies.
This specialized biology major requires 37 credit hours including 9 required courses (21 credit hours) and elective courses (16 credit hours). This track allows students to acquire a strong background in fundamental biology with a specialization in the basic science of ecology and evolution. Students will follow the program outlined below
Requirements
21 credit hours plus cognate requirements
- BIOL 101 General Biology I (3)
- BIOL 111 General Biology I Lab (1)
- BIOL 102 General Biology II (3)
- BIOL 112 General Biology II Lab (1)
- BIOL 251 Cell Biology (3)
- BIOL 265 Ecology (3)
- BIOL 266 Ecology Lab (1)
- BIOL 282 Genetics (3)
- BIOL 319 Evolution (3)
Electives
16 credit hours
A minimum of two electives must be selected from the following list. The remaining credits may come from this list or from other electives offered in Biology. A minimum of (any) two electives must have laboratory components.
- BIOL 205 Plant Biology (4)
- BIOL 215 Ornithology (3)
- BIOL 296 Introduction to Research (1)
- BIOL 316 Limnology (4)
- BIOL 320 Animal Behavior (3)
- BIOL 325 Primatology—Behavior & Ecology (3)
- BIOL 327 Wetland Ecology (4)
- BIOL 328 Conservation Biology (3)
- BIOL 335 Biostatistics (4)
- BIOL 345 Sociobiology (3)
- BIOL 360 Field Biology (3)
- BIOL 363 Entomology (4)
- BIOL 368 Plant Ecology (4)
- BIOL 369 Invertebrate Biology (3)
- BIOL 370 Ichthyology (4)
- BIOL 375 Aquatic Insects (4)
- BIOL 393 Natural Resources Conservation (3)
- BIOL 395 Special Topics (1–4)*
- CHEM 312–313 Environmental Chemistry (4)Or ONE of the following
- BIOL 396 Research (Capstone Course (3)
- BIOL 398 Internship (Capstone Course) (1–3)*
* courses must be taken in an Ecology related topic.
Chemistry
16 credit hours
- CHEM 101 General Chemistry A (3) *
- CHEM 111 General Chemistry Lab A (1)
- CHEM 102 General Chemistry B (3) *
- CHEM 112 General Chemistry Lab B (1)
- CHEM 223 Organic Chemistry A (3) **
- CHEM 225 Organic Chemistry Lab A (1)
- CHEM 224 Organic Chemistry B (3) **
- CHEM 226 Organic Chemistry Lab B (1)
*OR CHEM 105, CHEM 106
**OR CHEM 221, CHEM 222
Mathematics
6 credit hours
- MATH 131 OR 161 Calculus I (3/4)
- MATH 132 OR 162 Calculus II (3/4)
Physics
8 credit hours
- PHYS 111 Physics I (PHYS 111K or PHYS 125 may be substituted) (3/3/4)
- PHYS 111L Physics Lab I (1)
- PHYS 112 Physics II (PHYS 112K or PHYS 126 may be substituted) (3/3/4)
- PHYS 112L Physics Lab II (1)
Suggested Course Sequence
The biology department recommends that students pursuing the BS in Biology with Ecology Emphasis complete their required classes in the following sequence. Requirements include courses in Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Mathematics (MATH) and Physics (PHYS):
| First Semester | Credit Hrs | Second Semester | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101, 111(lab) CHEM 101 CHEM 111 MATH 131 |
4 3 1 3 |
BIOL 102, 112(lab) CHEM 102 CHEM 112 MATH 132 |
4 3 1 3 |
| Third Semester | Credit Hrs | Fourth Semester | Credit Hrs |
| BIOL 265 BIOL 266 CHEM 223 CHEM 225 |
3 1 3 1 |
BIOL 282 CHEM 224 CHEM 226 |
3 3 1 |
| Fifth Semester | Credit Hrs | Sixth Semester | Credit Hrs |
| BIOL 251 PHYS 111 PHYS 111L |
3 3 1 |
BIOL 319 PHYS 112 PHYS 112L BIOL Elective (Ecology) |
3 3 1 3 |
| Seventh Semester | Credit Hrs | Eighth Semester | Credit Hrs |
| BIOL Elective (Ecology) | 4 | BIOL Electives | 8 |