School of Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Biology

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology centers on a traditional core that includes cell biology, genetics, morphology, physiology, plant science, and microbiology. Additional courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and mathematics round out the basic program. In addition to their scientific training, students in biology are expected to be able to communicate effectively and to possess an understanding of Western culture and society. Biology B.A. students are exposed to a core of courses in the humanities and social and behavioral sciences, as well as the natural sciences. Graduates of the program are well suited to continue their education at the graduate level, or to enter a health-related profession such as medicine or dentistry. The degree program is structured along three tracks to enable students to pursue post-baccalaureate studies. These tracks are biology, pre-medicine, and pre-dentistry.

Degree Requirements:
  1. Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
  2. Entering freshmen must take SSCI-E 105 Science Freshmen Learning Community (1 cr.).
  3. General Education. Students must complete all of the requirements of the School of Arts and Sciences general education curriculum.
  4. Mathematics. Students must takes MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques and either MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus or MATH-M 215 Calculus I.
  5. A student must complete a total of 30 credit hours in 300–400-level courses within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Sciences, although credits may come from both schools.
  6. Specific Biology B.A. Degree Requirements - Students must complete BIOL-L 105 Introduction to Biology (5 cr.), CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I (3 cr.), CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II (3 cr.), CHEM-C 125 Experimental Chemistry I (2 cr.), CHEM-C 126 Experimental Chemistry II (2 cr.), CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.), CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.), CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2 cr.), CHEM-C 344 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (2 cr.), PHY- P 201 or P 221 General Physics I (5 cr.), and PHYS-P 202 or PHYS-P 222 General Physics II (5-cr.); and either MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I (3 cr.) or MATH-M 215 Calculus I (5 cr.) (mathematics courses require a grade or C- or higher), and MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.). In addition, students must satisfy the computer literacy requirement.
  7. Biology Courses - A minimum of 33 credit hours in biology at or above the 200-level must be taken with a grade of C- or better in each course. The following biology courses are required: BIOL-L 211/213 Molecular Biology with lab (5 cr.) or PLSC-B 203 Survey of the Plant Kingdom (5 cr.), ZOOL-Z 315 Developmental Anatomy (5 cr.), BIOL-L 364 Principles of Genetics (3 cr.), MICR M-310 Microbiology (3 cr.), MICR-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.), BIOL-L 473 Ecology (3 cr.), PHSL-P 416 Comparative Animal Physiology (3 cr.), and BIOL-L 403 Biology Seminar (3 cr.). Students must also select a minimum of 6 credits from the following courses: BIOL-L 321 Immunology (3 cr.), BIOL-L 490 Individual Study (1-12 cr.); CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.); PLSC-B 364 Summer Flowering Plants (5 cr.); BIOL-L 345 Vertebrate Biology, BIOL-L 379 Ornithology (3 cr.), BIOL-L 336 Evolutionary Medicine (3 cr.), PHSL-P 418 Comparative Animal Physiology Lab (2 cr.), and BIOL-L 367 Cell Physiology (3 cr.). For other biology electives, consult an advisor. 
  8. A student must complete a total of 30 credit hours in 300–400-level courses within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Sciences, although credits may come from both schools.
  9. 30 of the last 60 credit hours at Indiana University Kokomo.

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