Program Overview

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Biology Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)

The undergraduate BS degree in Biology is designed for students seeking an interdisciplinary background in the life sciences. The major couples a comprehensive biological, physical, and quantitative sciences core with a variety of electives that can be catered to meet specific professional goals. Biology majors receive excellent training for graduate and professional programs.

Administration

The Biology Undergraduate Major is administered by the Department of Integrative Biology under the School of Life Sciences.

Availability

This major is also available at the OSU-Cascades campus.

Program Overview

The Biology major is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the life sciences. The program requires students to complete a series of core courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and statistics, as well as electives in areas such as biology and society, organismal biology, physiology, and writing intensive courses.

Requirements

Students must complete the following biology courses with a C or better to continue on to upper-division Biology (BI) and Zoology (Z) course work:

• BI 211: Principles of Biology
• BI 212: Principles of Biology
• BI 213: Principles of Biology

Students must also complete the following chemistry courses with a C or better to continue on to upper-division Chemistry (CH) course work:

• CH 231 & CH 261: General Chemistry and Laboratory for Chemistry 231
• CH 232 & CH 262: General Chemistry and Laboratory for Chemistry 232
• CH 233 & CH 263: General Chemistry and Laboratory for Chemistry 233
• CH 331: Organic Chemistry
• CH 332: Organic Chemistry

Course Requirements

The major requires the completion of the following courses:

• Biology Core Courses:
  • BI 197 or BI 198: Professional Development I
  • BI 298: Professional Development for Biologists II
• Baccalaureate Core Communications:
  • Select one of the following: COMM 111, COMM 218
• Baccalaureate Core Writing II:
  • Select one of the following: HC 199, WR 222, WR 327, WR 362
• Mathematics and Statistics Core:
  • Select one of the following: MTH 251 & MTH 252, MTH 227 & MTH 228
  • Statistics: ST 351, ST 352, or ST 411 & ST 412
• Chemistry Core:
  • CH 231 & CH 261: General Chemistry and Laboratory for Chemistry 231
  • CH 232 & CH 262: General Chemistry and Laboratory for Chemistry 232
  • CH 233 & CH 263: General Chemistry and Laboratory for Chemistry 233
  • CH 331 & CH 332 & CH 337: Organic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• Biological Sciences Core:
  • BI 211, BI 212, BI 213: Principles of Biology
  • BI 370: Ecology
  • BI 311: Genetics
  • BB 314: Cell and Molecular Biology
  • BI 445: Evolution
  • MB 302: General Microbiology
  • MB 303: General Microbiology Laboratory
• Senior Biology Major Field Test:
  • BI 498: Senior Biology Field Test
• Biology Electives:
  • Select 19-28 credits from the following areas: Biology and Society, Organismal Biology, Physiology, Writing Intensive Course, Upper-division Science Electives

Options

The Biology major offers several options, including:

• Ecology Option
• Genetics Option
• Marine Biology Option
• Physiology and Behavior Option
• Pre-Dentistry/Biology Option
• Pre-Education Biology Option
• Pre-Medicine/Biology Option
• Pre-Veterinary Medicine Option

Sample Four-Year Plans

Sample four-year plans are available for the Biology major, including:

• Biology - TRACK I
• Biology - TRACK II
• Biology - TRACK III

Total Credits Required

The total credits required for graduation is 180.

Excluded Courses

The following courses are excluded from the major:

• 401-410 credits (except as outlined above or by approval)
• BB 350: Elementary Biochemistry
• BB 490: Biochemistry 1: Structure and Function - BB 492: Biochemistry 3: Genetic Biochemistry
• BI 331: Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology - BI 333: Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology
• BI 341: Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory - BI 343: Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory
• CH 334: Organic Chemistry
• CH 335: Organic Chemistry
• CH 336: Organic Chemistry
• ST 314: Introduction to Statistics for Engineers
• Z 361 & Z 362: Invertebrate Biology and Invertebrate Biology Laboratory
• Z 461: Marine and Estuarine Invertebrate Zoology
• Any 399 or 499 courses not specifically approved by the Biology Lead Advisor.