Program Overview

Biology - Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts curriculum is intended for students who desire a broad education with emphasis in biology in a program chosen by the student in consultation with an academic advisor. The Bachelor of Arts is recommended for those who plan to teach at the primary levels or to use a background in life science in business or other endeavors.

Requirements

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include:

• General Education requirements
• Viewing a Wider World requirements
• Elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above

Course List

• General Education:
  • Area I: Communications (10 credits)
    • English Composition - Level 1
    • English Composition - Level 2
    • Oral Communication
  • Area II: Mathematics (3-4 credits)
    • MATH 1430G: Applications of Calculus I
    • or MATH 1511G: Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
  • Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences (11 credits)
    • CHEM 1215G: General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
    • CHEM 1225G: General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
    • Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences course (3 credits)
  • Area V: Humanities (3 credits)
  • Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts (3 credits)
• Departmental Requirements:
  • BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L: Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Laboratory
  • BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L: Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Laboratory
  • BIOL 301: Principles of Ecology
  • BIOL 305: Principles of Genetics
  • BIOL 377: Cell Biology
  • BIOL 467: Evolution
• Biology Electives: 12 credits
  • Select sufficient upper-division biology electives to bring total upper-division credits to 24
• Non-Departmental Requirements:
  • Organic Chemistry Requirement (4-8 credits)
    • CHEM 2120 & 2120L: Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Laboratory
    • or CHEM 313, CHEM 314, & CHEM 315: Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • Select 3-4 credits from one of the following departments: astronomy, computer science, geology, or physics
• Second Language Requirement (0-8 credits)
  • Options to complete this requirement are listed below
• Electives: 19-33 credits
  • Select sufficient electives to bring the total to 120, including at least 48 upper-division credits

Second Language Requirement

For the Bachelor of Arts in Biology, there is a one-year second language requirement. The options to complete this requirement are:

1. Complete one of the following sequences:
   • FREN 1110 & FREN 1120: French I and French II
   • GRMN 1110 & GRMN 1120: German I and German II
   • JAPN 1110 & JAPN 1120: Japanese I and Japanese II
   • SPAN 1110 & SPAN 1120: Spanish I and Spanish II
   • PORT 1110 & PORT 1120: Portuguese I and Portuguese II
2. Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language:
   • SIGN 1110: American Sign Language I
   • SIGN 1120: American Sign Language II
3. Challenge the 1120 level for the following courses:
   • FREN 1120: French II
   • PORT 1120: Portuguese II
   • SPAN 1120: Spanish II
   • SPAN 2210: Spanish for Heritage Learners III
4. Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics
5. Obtain college certification of completion of three years of a second language at the high school level with a grade of C- or higher in the second-year level
6. Obtain certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director
7. Obtain, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of a second language if such language is not taught at NMSU
8. In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam for admission, the dean will automatically waive the second language requirement

A Suggested Plan of Study for Students

This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1220G College Algebra and ENGL 1110G Composition I. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English.

First Year

• Semester 1:
  • MATH 1220G: College Algebra
  • ENGL 1110G: Composition I
  • BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L: Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Laboratory
  • Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course
  • Elective Course
• Semester 2:
  • CHEM 1215G: General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • CHEM 1121: General Supplemental Instruction I
  • BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L: Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Laboratory
  • Choose from one of the following:
    • MATH 1430G: Applications of Calculus I
    • MATH 1511G: Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
  • Choose from one of the following Area I Oral Communication General Education Courses:
    • COMM 1115G: Introduction to Communication
    • HNRS 2175G: Introduction to Communication Honors
    • ACOM 1130G: Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture

Second Year

• Semester 1:
  • ENGL 2210G: Professional and Technical Communication Honors
  • CHEM 1225G: General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • CHEM 1122: General Supplemental Instruction II
  • BIOL 305: Principles of Genetics
  • Elective Course
• Semester 2:
  • BIOL 377: Cell Biology
  • First Course in Second Language Series
  • Upper-division Biology Elective Course
  • Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course
  • Area V: Humanities Course

Third Year

• Semester 1:
  • CHEM 313: Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 303: Organic Supplemental Instruction I
  • Upper-division Biology Elective Course
  • Next Second Language Course in Series
  • VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course
  • Elective Course
• Semester 2:
  • CHEM 314: Organic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 315: Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • Upper-division Biology Elective Course
  • Science Elective Course with prefix ASTR, C S, GEOL, or PHYS
  • Elective Course

Fourth Year

• Semester 1:
  • BIOL 301: Principles of Ecology
  • Upper-division Biology Elective Course
  • VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course
  • Upper-division Elective Course
  • Upper-division Elective Course
• Semester 2:
  • BIOL 467: Evolution
  • Upper-division Elective Course
  • Elective Course
  • Elective Course

Total Credits: 120-123