Schools

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 tracks to enable students to pursue post-baccalaureate studies. These tracks are biology, pre-medicine, pre-optometry, 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-S 105 Science Freshmen Learning Community (1 cr.).

3.  General Education. Students must complete all of the requirements of the campus general education (here) curriculum and of the B.A. general education curriculum (here).

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.  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.)
  • PHYS-P 201 General Physics or PHYS-P 221 Physics I (5 cr.)
  • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II or PHYS-P 222 Physics II (5 cr.)

In addition, students must satisfy the computer literacy requirement by taking CSCI-C 106, INFO-I 101, or another approved computer science course. All School of Sciences students must complete ENG-W 221 Writing in the Disciplines (3 cr.).

6.  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.)
  • BIOL-L 364 Principles of Genetics (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 403 Biology Seminar (3 cr.).
  • BIOL-L 473 Ecology (3 cr.)
  • MICR-M 310 Microbiology (3 cr.)
  • MICR-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • PHSL-P 416 Comparative Animal Physiology (3 cr.)
  • ZOOL-Z 315 Developmental Anatomy (5 cr.)

Students must also select a minimum of 6 credits from the following courses:

  • BIOL-L 321 Immunology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 329 Biochemistry I: Proteins and Enzymes (5 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 336 Evolutionary Medicine (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 345 Vertebrate Biology
  • BIOL-L 367 Cell Physiology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 379 Ornithology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 474 (2 cr.) Ecology Lab
  • BIOL-L 490 Individual Study (1-12 cr.)
  • PHSL-P 418 Comparative Animal Physiology Lab (2 cr.)
  • PLSC-B 364 Summer Flowering Plants (5 cr.)

For other biology electives, consult an advisor or the Dean.

7.  30 of the last 60 credit hours must be completed at Indiana University Kokomo.

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