Program Overview
Introduction to the Biological Sciences Major
The Biological Sciences major is designed for students who wish to develop an individualized combination of courses at the advanced level. This major is suitable for those planning a career in which general familiarity with biological topics is desirable, such as jobs in scientific journalism, biological and pharmaceutical supply industries, biological or medical research, scientific libraries and museums, or in any industry where the products or by-products have potential biological impact.
Biological Sciences BS Requirements
- All students within the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences must complete General Education Requirements, providing breadth to their education beyond training in the Biological Sciences.
- All majors within the Department of Biological Sciences must also complete co-requisite courses in Chemistry, Math, and Physics, giving them the scientific background to maximize their education within the Biological Sciences major.
- The major progress tracker is a comprehensive list of the courses Biological Sciences majors must complete to obtain the B.S. degree. Students should review the BIOSC Courses webpage for available BIOSC electives and track their progress through the major and general education requirements.
Sample Schedule
This is a sample schedule of how one could arrange a well-balanced curriculum for a major in Biological Sciences. It is recommended that students enroll in no more than 6-8 credits of science/math each term and balance all labs across several terms.
Year One
- Fall Semester: BIOSC 0150, CHEM 0110 (with lab), Elective
- Spring Semester: BIOSC 0157 lab, BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120 (with lab), Elective
Year Two
- Fall Semester: BIOSC 0267 lab, BIOSC 0350 (or elective), CHEM 0310, GenEd, Elective
- Spring Semester: MATH 0220, CHEM 0320, CHEM 0345 lab, GenEd, Elective, Elective
Year Three
- Fall Semester: BIOSC Elective (or 0350 genetics), STAT 1000, PHYS 0110 / 0174, GenEd, Elective
- Spring Semester: BIOSC 1000, PHYS 0212 / 0219 lab, PHYS 0111 / 0175, GenEd, Elective
Year Four
- Fall Semester: BIOSC Elect., BIOSC Elect., BIOSC Lab, GenEd, Elective, Elective
- Spring Semester: BIOSC 0370 or 1130, BIOSC Elect., BIOSC 1010 (Writ), BIOSC Lab, Elective
Careers
The Biological Sciences major offers a wide range of career opportunities. Students can pursue careers in scientific journalism, biological and pharmaceutical supply industries, biological or medical research, scientific libraries and museums, or in any industry where the products or by-products have potential biological impact.
Majors Offered by the Department of Biological Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Biochemistry Major
- Computational Biology Major
- Ecology and Evolution Major
- Microbiology Major
- Molecular Biology Major
Research Areas
The Department of Biological Sciences offers research opportunities in various areas, including:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Computational Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Ecology
- Evolution
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Biology
- Structural Biology
- Science Education Research