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2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Science in Biology

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Majors and Concentrations

Bachelor’s degree requirements in biology are modified as necessary. Current requirements are available in the KUUB office and online. Major programs are offered in biochemistry, biology, human biology, and microbiology. Students may choose to concentrate in a range of specialties in the biological sciences, such as botany, cellular biology, developmental biology, environmental biology, ecology, entomology, genetics, marine biology, molecular biology, neurobiology, paleontology, physiology, systematics, or zoology (invertebrate or vertebrate).

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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 184 and CHEM 188 in the first year and, for several majors, to take CHEM 624, CHEM 625, CHEM 626, and CHEM 627 in the second year. Ideally, most majors should also take BIOL 150 and BIOL 152 during the first year. Students who have taken BIOL 100 and BIOL 102, have earned an A or B in both courses, and have decided to major in a biological science should consult a KUUB adviser to request permission to substitute BIOL 100 and BIOL 102 for BIOL 150.

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Requirements for the B.S. Degree in Biology

General Education Requirements
 33 hours

The following general education requirements must be completed by all students pursuing a B.S. in biochemistry, biology, microbiology, or molecular biosciences.

Students must complete at least 124 hours (45 junior/senior hours) to graduate.

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Cellular Biology

General Biology Requirements 21 hours
General Science Requirements 31-32 hours
Cell Biology Requirements 19 hours
Seminar/Laboratory Requirements 4 hours
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Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology

General Biology Requirements 17-18 hours
  • BIOL 150 (or BIOL 151 Honors) Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology (4)
  • BIOL 152 (or BIOL 153 Honors) Principles of Organismal Biology (4)
  • BIOL 350 Principles of Genetics (3)
  • 2 of the following 4 courses:
    BIOL 408 Physiology of Organisms (3)
    BIOL 416 Cell Structure and Function (3)
    BIOL 417 Biology of Development (3)
    BIOL 600 Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures (4)
General Science Requirements 25-28 hours
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Requirements 18 hours
  • BIOL 412 Evolutionary Biology (3)
  • BIOL 413 History and Diversity of Organisms (3)
  • BIOL 414 Principles of Ecology (3)
  • BIOL 415 Field and Laboratory Methods in Ecology (2)
  • BIOL 550 Introduction to Systematics (3)
  • BIOL 570 Introduction to Biostatistics (3)
  • BIOL 599 Senior Seminar: Cell Biology (must be taken in senior year) (1)
Elective and Laboratory Requirements 13 hours
  • BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher, including at least 3 hours of laboratory credit and 2 hours of a seminar or topics course (BIOL 419, BIOL 420, BIOL 499, BIOL 701) (13)

Courses above that have not been used to meet requirements may be used as electives. No more than 3 hours of BIOL 423 Nonlaboratory Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study can be applied toward the elective requirement. No more than 2 hours of BIOL 424 can be applied toward the laboratory requirement.

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Genetics

General Biology Requirements 24 hours
General Science Requirements 28-29 hours
  • CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I (5)
  • CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II (5)
  • CHEM 622 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (3) or
    CHEM 624 Organic Chemistry I (3)
  • *CHEM 625 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2)
    *Students who plan to attend graduate school (particularly those interested in applying molecular techniques) or medical school should also enroll in CHEM 626 and CHEM 627.
  • MATH 121 Calculus I (5) or
    MATH 115 Calculus I (3) and MATH 116 Calculus II (3)
  • PHSX 114 College Physics I (4) and PHSX 115 College Physics II (4) or
    PHSX 211 General Physics I (4) and PHSX 212 General Physics II (4)
Genetics Requirements 15 hours
Elective and Laboratory Requirements 8 hours
  • BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher, including at least 3 hours of laboratory credit and 2 hours of a seminar or topics course (BIOL 419, BIOL 420, BIOL 499, BIOL 701) (8)

Courses above that have not been used to meet requirements may be used as electives. No more than 3 hours of BIOL 423 Nonlaboratory Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study can be applied toward the elective requirement. No more than 2 hours of BIOL 424 can be applied toward the laboratory requirement.

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Neurobiology

General Biology Requirements 21-23 hours
General Science Requirements 31-32 hours
Neurobiology Requirements 19 hours
  • BIOL 416 Cell Structure and Function (3)
  • BIOL 417 Biology of Development (3)
  • BIOL 426 Laboratory in Cell Biology (3)
  • BIOL 435 Introduction to Neurobiology (3)
  • BIOL 650 Advanced Neurobiology (3)
  • BIOL 676 Mammalian Neuroanatomy (3)
  • BIOL 599 Senior Seminar: Neurobiology (must be taken in senior year) (1)
Neurobiology Electives
 9 hours
  • Select at least 2 courses from the following list:
    BIOL 454 Brain Diseases and Neurological Disorders (3)
    BIOL 570 Introduction to Biostatistics (3)
    BIOL 646 Mammalian Physiology (4)
    BIOL 647 Mammalian Physiology Laboratory (2)
    BIOL 652 Comparative Animal Behavior (3)
    BIOL 672 Gene Expression (3)
    BIOL 673 Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (3)
    BIOL 755 Mechanisms of Development (3)
    BIOL 775 Chemistry of the Nervous System (3)
    BIOL 777 Integrative and Developmental Neurobiology (3)
  • Additional electives chosen from the list above, or any BIOL courses at the 400 level or above (3)
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Organismal Biology

General Biology Requirements 18 hours
General Science Requirements 28-29 hours
Organismal Biology Requirements 21 hours
Elective and Laboratory Requirements 10 hours
  • BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher, including at least 2 hours of laboratory credit and 1 hour of a seminar or topics course (BIOL 419, BIOL 420, BIOL 499, BIOL 701) (10)

Courses above that have not been used to meet requirements may be used as electives. No more than 3 hours of BIOL 423 Nonlaboratory Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study can be applied toward the elective requirement. No more than 2 hours of BIOL 424 can be applied toward the laboratory requirement.

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Teaching Biology

General Biology Requirements 30-31 hours
  • BIOL 150 (or BIOL 151 Honors) Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology (4)
  • BIOL 152 (or BIOL 153 Honors) Principles of Organismal Biology (4)
  • BIOL 350 Principles of Genetics (3)
  • BIOL 412 Evolutionary Biology (3)
  • BIOL 414 Principles of Ecology (3)
  • BIOL 416 Cell Structure and Function (3)
  • BIOL 598 Research Methods (1-3)
  • BIOL 599 Senior Seminar: Biology (1)
  • 1 of the following 2 courses:
    BIOL 413 History and Diversity of Organisms (3)
    BIOL 550 Introduction to Systematics (3)
  • 1 of the following 3 courses:
    BIOL 400 (or BIOL 401 Honors) Fundamentals of Microbiology (3)
    BIOL 408 Physiology of Organisms (3)
    BIOL 600 Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures (4)
General Science Requirements 28-29 hours
Education Requirement 21 hours
  • LA&S 290 Approaches to Teaching Science and Mathematics I (1)
  • LA&S 291 Approaches to Teaching Science and Mathematics II (1)
  • C&T 360 Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science (3)
  • C&T 366 Classroom Interactions in Mathematics and Science (3)
  • C&T 448 Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum (3)
  • C&T 460 Project-Based Instruction in Mathematics and Science (3)
  • C&T 500 Student Teaching (6)
  • C&T 598 Special Course: _____ (1)
Seminar/Laboratory Requirement 7 hours
  • BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher which include at least 4 hours of laboratory credit. Courses listed above which have not been used to fulfill the requirements may be used as electives. No more than 3 hours of BIOL 423 Nonlaboratory Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study (combined) can be applied toward the elective requirement, with no more than 2 hours of BIOL 424 being applied toward the laboratory requirement.
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Bachelor of Science in Biology is in the:

Biology Undergraduate Program

Which is in the:

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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