Program Overview

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Biology BS

The B.S. degree in biology is designed to prepare students for basic technical positions and graduate studies in the life sciences. Candidates for the degree have the same core courses and general education requirements as those seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as additional requirements in depth of study, laboratory experience, communication skills, and background in associated science areas.

General Education Requirements

Students must satisfy the university and college general education requirements. Some Biology courses may be used to meet the science and mathematics requirement of the university.

• Candidates for the B.A. degree must fulfill the foreign language requirement of the College of Arts and Sciences.
• There is no foreign language requirement for the B.S. degree.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option

Up to 18 credit hours may be taken on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (s/u) basis. Excluded from this option are required courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Non-major Biology Courses

The following 1000 level biology courses do not count toward the biology credit hours required for a major in biology. Moreover, if biology majors take these courses, they are treated as biology courses when computing the 70 credit hours outside of biology needed to be included in the 120 total credit hours required for graduation.

• BIOL 1012: General Biology: The Science of Life (MOTR BIOL 100)
• BIOL 1013: General Biology Laboratory: The Science of Life
• BIOL 1102: Human Biology (MOTR LIFS 150)
• BIOL 1131: Human Physiology and Anatomy I
• BIOL 1141: Human Physiology and Anatomy II
• BIOL 1110: Nutrition in Health
• BIOL 1150: Concepts in Health and Wellness
• BIOL 1162: General Microbiology
• BIOL 1202: Environmental Biology

Degree Requirements

The B.S. degree in biology is designed to prepare students for basic technical positions and graduate studies in the life sciences. Candidates for the degree have the same core courses and general education requirements as those seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as additional requirements in depth of study, laboratory experience, communication skills, and background in associated science areas. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in biology courses. Candidates must earn a minimum grade of C- in all core courses.

To fulfill the requirements for the B.S. the coursework below must be completed. A minimum of 22 hours of biology courses at or above the 2000 level, including two laboratory courses and one 4000 level course, must be taken in residence in the UMSL Department of Biology in order to receive a B.S. degree from the College of Arts and Sciences with a major in biology.

Lecture and Seminar Course Requirements

The following biology courses or their equivalents are required:

• Core:
  • BIOL 1800: Introduction to the Biology Major
  • BIOL 1821: Introductory Biology: Organisms and the Environment (MOTR BIOL 150LEC)
  • BIOL 1831: Introductory Biology: From Molecules to Organisms (MOTR BIOL 150L)
  • BIOL 2012: Genetics
  • BIOL 3302: Evolution
  • BIOL 3622: Cell Biology
• Capstone: Select one of the following:
  • BIOL 4889: Senior Seminar
  • SEC ED 4985: Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Life Sciences

Elective Courses

Five additional biology lecture courses at the 2000 level or higher are required. They may be selected from any of the lecture or lecture-laboratory courses offered. Selection of these courses should reflect the career interest of the student and may be selected from optional academic tracks.

Laboratory Course Requirements

Four biology laboratory courses at the 2000 level or higher are required. They may be selected from any of the lecture-laboratory or laboratory courses offered.

Communication Skills

Courses in both formal speaking and writing are required for development of the basic communication skills needed to transmit scientific information.

• Formal Speaking:
  • COMM 1040: Introduction to Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110)
• Writing:
  • ENGL 3160: Writing in the Sciences (strongly preferred)
  • or ENGL 3110

Associated Science Areas

The following courses or their equivalents must be successfully completed:

• PHYSICS 1011: Basic Physics I
• PHYSICS 1011L: Basic Physics I Laboratory
• PHYSICS 1012: Basic Physics II
• PHYSICS 1012L: Basic Physics II Laboratory
• CHEM 1111: Introductory Chemistry I (MOTR CHEM 150L)
• CHEM 1121: Introductory Chemistry II
• CHEM 2612: Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 2622: Organic Chemistry II
• or BIOL 4732: Principles of Biochemistry
• CHEM 2223: Quantitative Analysis in Chemistry
• or CHEM 2633: Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• MATH 1030: College Algebra (MOTR MATH 130)
• MATH 1100: Basic Calculus
• or MATH 1800: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
• BIOL 4122: Biostatistics
• or MATH 1320: Introduction to Probability and Statistics
• PHIL 2256: Bioethics
• or PHIL 3380: Philosophy of Science

Research Opportunity

Students in the B.S. Biology degree program who are interested in gaining research experience are encouraged to take a minimum of 2 credit hours of undergraduate research, BIOL 4905.

Thesis in Biology Research and the Degree with Distinction

The Department of Biology offers high-achieving students the opportunity to present primary research in the form of a written thesis and to graduate with a Degree with Distinction in Biology.

Pre-professional Graduation

The Department of Biology sponsors a 3+4 Program for the UMSL College of Optometry.

UMSL – Logan College (3+3 program)

The Department of Biology has developed a 3+3 articulation agreement with Logan College of Chiropractic (LCC).

Learning Outcomes

Integrative Knowledge

Graduates will demonstrate a clear understanding of the overriding principles and theorems within and between the content areas of anatomy, botany, cytology, ecology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, physiology, and zoology.

Laboratory Skills

Graduates will demonstrate basic skills associated with performing laboratory experiments or field studies in biology.

Critical Thinking Skills

Graduates will be able to formulate meaningful hypotheses, design experiments to test them, and evaluate data critically.

Scientific Literacy

Graduates will be able to identify the need for information, procure the information from relevant scientific literature publications and databases, and critically evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias.

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to present scientific concepts and information in a clear and accurate manner.

Professional and Research Ethics

Graduates will honestly and objectively evaluate and report data in an ethical and legal manner.

Sample Plan of Study

First Year

• Fall:
  • INTDSC 1003
  • BIOL 1800
  • ENGL 1100
  • MATH 1030
  • CORE - US History and Government
  • EXPLORE - Social Sciences
• Spring:
  • MATH 1035
  • BIOL 1821
  • CHEM 1111
  • COMM 1040

Second Year

• Fall:
  • BIOL 1831
  • CHEM 1121
  • MATH 1100
  • EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts
  • EXPLORE - Social Sciences
• Spring:
  • BIOL 2012
  • BIOL 2013
  • CHEM 2612
  • MATH 1320

Third Year

• Fall:
  • BIOL 2000+ Biology Lecture Elective
  • BIOL 2000+ Biology Lab Elective
  • BIOL 3622
  • CHEM 2622, BIOL 4732, or CHEM 4712
  • PHYSICS 1011
  • PHYSICS 1011L
• Spring:
  • BIOL 2000+ Biology Lecture Elective
  • BIOL 2000+ Biology Lab Elective
  • BIOL 3302
  • CHEM 2223
  • PHYSICS 1012
  • PHYSICS 1012L

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • BIOL XXXX Biology Lecture Elective
  • BIOL XXXX Biology Lab Elective
  • BIOL 4000-level Lecture Course
  • EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts
  • Global Perspectives Requirement
• Spring:
  • BIOL 4889
  • BIOL 4XXX 4000-Level Biology Lecture Elective
  • ENGL 3160
  • PHIL 2256 or 3380
  • EXPLORE - Social Sciences

Academic Tracks within the Major of Biology

Biology majors may choose to focus their elective hours in a particular sub-discipline of biology, or academic track. These tracks are groups of departmental courses that fit within sub-disciplines of biology and are recommendations for students wanting to pursue careers in specific sub-disciplines.

• Cell and Molecular Biology Track
• Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology Track
• Pre-professional/Health Sciences Track

B.S. Ed. in Secondary Education with Emphasis in Biology

The B.S. Ed. is a professional education degree designed for students who wish to pursue a teaching career in secondary schools.

B.A. or B.S. in Biology with Master's Level Coursework for Secondary Teacher Certification

In addition to the B.S. Ed., students may opt to complete a B.A. or B.S. degree in their discipline as an undergraduate, followed by admission to the Graduate School for Master's level teaching certification.