Departments & Programs

Department of Biology
Biology Plans of Study

No single semester-by-semester plan of study will guide all students through the degree options because of the flexibility encouraged within the programs. However, one possible sequence of courses for each option is given below; variations from these examples of plans of study should be made in consultation with a departmental advisor.

Bachelor of Arts Sample Program (124 cr. required)

Freshman Year
First Semester
SCI-I120 Windows on Science 1
BIOL-K101 Concepts of Biology I  5
CHEM-C105 Principles of Chemistry I 3
CHEM-C125 Experimental Chemistry I 2
MATH 15300 Algebra and Trigonometry I 3
ENG-W131 Elementary Composition I 3
Total 17
Second Semester
BIOL-K103 Concepts of Biology II 5
CHEM-C106 Principles of Chemistry II 3
CHEM-C126 Experimental Chemistry II 2
MATH 15400 Algebra and Trigonometry II  3
ENG-W132 Elementary Composition II  3
Total 16
Sophomore Year
Third Semester
BIOL-K322 Genetics and Molecular Biology 3
BIOL-K323 Genetics and Molecular Biology Lab    2
CHEM-C341 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM-C343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I   2
Humanities-List H 3
Elective or major’s course   3
Total 16
Fourth Semester
BIOL-K322 Genetics and Molecular Biology 3
CHEM-C342 Organic Chemistry II 2
CHEM-C344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 3

COMM-R110 Fund of Speech Communication

3
CSCI Course 3
Total 14
Junior Year
Fifth Semester
BIOL-K341 Principles of Ecology and Evolution    3
PHYS-P201 General Physics I    5
Comparative World Cultures-List C    3
Foreign language I     3
Social Sciences-List S    3
Total 17
Sixth Semester
BIOL Course and Lab (Area II)    5
HIST-H114 History of Western Civilization II     3
CHEM-C341 Organic Chemistry I 3
Foreign language II    3
Total 16
Senior Year
Seventh Semester
BIOL Course and Lab (Area I) 5
300 level elective 3
Foreign language III 4
Elective 3
Total 15
Eighth Semester
BIOL-K490 Capstone in Biology (or BIOL-K493 Independent Research)  1
BIOL Course and Lab (Area III) 4
Electives 7
CAND 99100 Candidate for Graduation 0
Total 13

Bachelor of Science Sample Program (124 cr. required)

The major has 40 credit hours.

The School of Science Purdue degrees are 124 credit hours. To graduate in four years a student generally must take four semesters of 15 credits and four semesters of 16 credits. When figuring the number of credit hours that you will take each semester, students should be sure to consider the effect on total number of credit hours balanced over four years.

Freshman Year
First Semester
SCI-I120 Windows on Science 1
BIOL-K101 Concepts of Biology I  5
CHEM-C105 Principles of Chemistry I   3
CHEM-C125 Experimental Chemistry I 2
ENG-W131 Elementary Composition I 3
Elective or precalculus math 3
Total 17
Second Semester
BIOL-K103 Concepts of Biology II    5
CHEM-C106 Principles of Chemistry II    3
CHEM-C126 Experimental Chemistry II    2
MATH 23100 Calculus for the Life Sciences I    3
ENG-W132 Elementary Composition II  3
Total 16
Sophomore Year
Third Semester
BIOL-K322 Genetics and Molecular Biology     3
BIOL-K323 Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory     2
CHEM-C341 Organic Chemistry I     3
CHEM-C343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I    2
MATH 23200 Calculus for the Life Sciences II     3
Humanities-List H    3
Total 16
Fourth Semester
BIOL Course and Lab (Area III) 4
CHEM-C342 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM-C344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 2
COMM-R110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
Social Sciences-List S 3
Total 15
Junior Year
Fifth Semester
BIOL-K341 Principles of Ecology and Evolution    3
BIOL-K342 Principles of Ecology and Evolution Laboratory 2
PHYS-P201 General Physics I 5
CSCI Course    3
Comparative World Cultures-List C 3
Total 16
Sixth Semester
PHYS-P202 General Physics II     5
HIST-H114 History of Western Civilization II     3
BIOL Course and Lab (Area II)     5
Elective     3
Total 16
Senior Year
Seventh Semester
BIOL Course and Lab (Area I)    5
BIOL-K493 Independent Research    1
Elective or major’s requirement 3
Elective or major’s requirement 3
Elective or major’s requirement    3
Total 15
Eighth Semester
BIOL-K493 Independent Research    1
BIOL-K494 Senior Research Thesis    1
BIOL major’s requirement    3
Elective or major’s requirement 4
Elective or major’s requirement    4
CAND 99100 Candidate for Graduation 0
Total 13