Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts in Biology

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology degree provides students with flexibility in their major course choices and can include ecology, microbiology, organismal physiology, and biochemistry. Biology is the study of living systems and is the broadest biological sciences major available at KU.

Overview of the Program

• The B.A. Biology degree offers students a comprehensive education in biology, with a focus on the principles of molecular and cellular biology, organismal biology, and evolutionary biology.
• The program requires students to complete a minimum of 35 hours of major courses, including general science requirements, biology core requirements, and electives.
• Students must also complete a capstone course and a minimum of 4 hours of laboratory credit.

Admission Requirements

• All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions.
• Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted.
• Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of the University Registrar website.

First- and Second-Year Preparation

• Because biology study requires preparation in other sciences, students should begin meeting major requirements in the first year.
• It is particularly important to take CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 in the first year and, for several majors, to take CHEM 330, CHEM 331, CHEM 335, and CHEM 336 in the second year.
• Ideally, most majors should also take BIOL 150 and BIOL 152 during the first year, as well as BIOL 105.

Requirements for the B.A. Major in Biology

Major Course Requirements

• General Science Requirements:
  • Biology Orientation Seminar: BIOL 105
  • Chemistry I: CHEM 130 or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191
  • Chemistry II: CHEM 135 or CHEM 195 & CHEM 196
  • Organic Chemistry I: CHEM 330 or CHEM 380
  • Organic Chemistry I Laboratory: CHEM 331
  • Biostatistics: BIOL 370
  • Calculus: MATH 115, MATH 125, or MATH 145
  • Physics I: PHSX 114, PHSX 211 & PHSX 216, or PHSX 213
  • Physics II: PHSX 115, PHSX 212 & PHSX 236, or PHSX 214
• Biology Core Requirements:
  • Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology: BIOL 150 or BIOL 151
  • Principles of Organismal Biology: BIOL 152 or BIOL 153
  • Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors: BIOL 154
  • Principles of Genetics: BIOL 350 or BIOL 360
  • Evolutionary Biology: BIOL 412
  • Tree of Life / Principles of Ecology / Introduction to Systematics: BIOL 413, BIOL 414, or BIOL 428
  • Fundamentals / Development / Function: BIOL 400, BIOL 416, BIOL 417, BIOL 544, BIOL 546, BIOL 555, BIOL 606, or BIOL 600
• Electives and Laboratory Requirements:
  • Satisfied by completing 10 hours of BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher, which include at least 4 hours of laboratory credit and a BIOL Capstone course.

Major Hours & Major GPA

• While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
  • Major Hours: 35 hours of major courses
  • Major Hours in Residence: a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major
  • Major Junior/Senior Hours: a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major
  • Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA: a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major

Sample 4-Year Plan

• Freshman:
  • Fall: BIOL 150 or 152, CHEM 130, BIOL 105, Core 34: English, Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science
  • Spring: BIOL 150 or 152, BIOL 154, CHEM 135, MATH 115 or 125, Core 34: English
• Sophomore:
  • Fall: 1st Semester Language, BIOL 350 or 360, CHEM 330, CHEM 331
  • Spring: 2nd Semester Language, Core 34: Arts and Humanities, BIOL 370, BIOL 412
• Junior:
  • Fall: 3rd Semester Language, BIOL 413, 414, or 428, PHSX 114, Core 34: Social and Behavior Science
  • Spring: 4th Semester Language, BIOL 400, 416, 417, 544, 546, 555, 606, or 600, PHSX 115, Core 34: Communications
• Senior:
  • Fall: BIOL 400, 416, 417, 544, 546, 555, 606, or 600, Core 34: Global Culture, Core 34: Arts and Humanities
  • Spring: BIOL 405, 423, 424, 426, 446, 490, 533, 545, 599, 652, 655, or 699, BIOL Elective 400+, BIOL Lab Elective 400+, Core 34: US Culture

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the sources of genetic variation within populations, how variation is maintained or lost in populations, and mechanisms of evolutionary change operating in populations.
• Describe how organisms inherit genetic information that influences the location, timing, and intensity of gene expression.
• Describe how complex networks are formed by interactions at many biological scales.
• Explain that biological structures exist at all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems.
• Apply the scientific method and communicate scientific arguments, ideas, and results clearly and explicitly through writing and speech.
• Apply quantitative reasoning, mathematical, statistical, and/or informatics tools to explain, evaluate, and effectively interpret claims, theories, and assumptions in the biological sciences.

Departmental Honors

• Undergraduate majors are eligible to graduate with honors in biology if they fulfill the following requirements:
  1. Complete all course work required for the appropriate degree in biology.
  2. Achieve a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in the major.
  3. Complete BIOL 499 Introduction to Honors Research with a grade of B or higher, or complete two credits total of BIOL 423 and/or BIOL 424 with a grade of B or higher.
  4. Complete BIOL 699 Biology Honors Research Colloquium with a grade of B or higher.
  5. Complete an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member in an area appropriate to the degree sought.
  6. Submit an honors thesis to the honors committee once the research is complete and present the results of the completed research at the honors research symposium.

Study Abroad

• Consult an advisor at least 4 months before undertaking study abroad.
• Consult the Office of Study Abroad for information about study in one of the many countries with special arrangements with KU.