Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Cincinnati offers a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences, with a duration of 4 years and a minimum of 120 credits required for completion.

Program Structure

The program is structured into four years, with each year divided into fall and spring semesters.

Year 1

• Fall Semester:
  • BIOL1081: Biology I: Molecules, Cells, and the Foundation of Life (3 credits)
  • BIOL1081L: Biology I Laboratory (1 credit)
  • CHEM1040: General Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CHEM1040L: General Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
  • STAT1031 or STAT1034: Statistics (3 credits)
  • A&S First-Year Seminar (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • BIOL1082: Biology II: Evolution, Physiology, and Ecology (3 credits)
  • BIOL1082L: Biology II Laboratory (1 credit)
  • CHEM1041: General Chemistry II (4 credits)
  • CHEM1041L: General Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
  • ENGL1001: English Composition (3 credits)
  • MATH1044 or MATH1061 or STAT1035: Mathematics (3-4 credits)
  • PD1170: Career Readiness for the Liberal Arts (1 credit)

Year 2

• Fall Semester:
  • BIOL2083 or BIOL2084C: Biology (3-4 credits)
  • CHEM2030 or CHEM2040: Chemistry (4 credits)
  • CHEM2030L or CHEM2040L: Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
  • Arts & Humanities (3 credits)
  • Foreign Language: Basic sequence (two 5-credit hour courses) or Extended Basic sequence (four 3-credit hour courses) (3-5 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • BIOL2083 or BIOL2085C: Biology (3-4 credits)
  • CHEM2031 or CHEM2041: Chemistry (4 credits)
  • CHEM2031L or CHEM2041L: Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
  • ENGL2089: Intermediate Composition (3 credits)
  • Foreign Language (3-5 credits)

Year 3

• Fall Semester:
  • BIOL2061: Professionalism, Purpose, and Careers in Biology (2 credits)
  • Upper Level BIOL (Lec & Lab) (4 credits)
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
  • Foreign Language or Free Elective (3 credits)
  • Free Elective (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • Upper Level BIOL (Lec & Lab) (4 credits)
  • Upper Level BIOL Elective (3 credits)
  • Civility & Democracy (3 credits)
  • Foreign Language or Elective (3 credits)
  • Free Elective (3 credits)

Year 4

• Fall Semester:
  • BIOL5050: Biology Capstone (1 credit)
  • Upper Level BIOL Elective (3 credits)
  • Arts & Humanities or Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
  • Free Elective (3 credits)
  • Free Elective (2-3 credits)
  • Free Elective (0-3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • Upper Level BIOL Elective (3 credits)
  • A&S approved history (3 credits)
  • Free Elective (3 credits)
  • Free Elective (3 credits)
  • Free Elective (0-1 credits)

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research is strongly suggested, depending on career trajectory. Faculty permission is required. Courses include:

• BIOL4095 (Fall)
• BIOL4096 (Spring)
• BIOL4097 (Summer)

Specializations

The program offers specializations in:

• Animal Interest
• Biomedical Interest
• Evolution & Ecology Interest
• Cell & Molecular Biology Interest

Each specialization requires 5 upper-level electives, with 2 being labs.

Credit Hours

The minimum number of credit hours required for completion is 120. However, this can vary based on previously earned credits and placement into required coursework.