The Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Physical Sciences centers on a traditional core of courses in the natural sciences. Through academic advising and proper course selection, students may choose a curriculum that is uniquely suited to their specific needs in the biological and physical sciences. Students may follow a very specific curriculum or they may elect to pursue a more general science education. Graduates of the program are prepared to continue their education at the graduate level of certain disciplines or to enter a health-related profession such as physical therapy or occupational therapy. They may also choose to follow the track in environmental and earth sciences.

Basic Degree Requirement

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 Indiana University Kokomo campus-wide general education curriculum.

4.  All School of Sciences students must complete ENG-W 221 Writing in the Disciplines (3 cr.)

5.  Mathematics and Informatics. Students must takes MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.), MATH-M 215 Calculus I (5 cr.), and INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics (4 cr.). CSCI-C 106 (3 cr.) can replace INFO-I 101.

6.  Sciences. Students must complete at least 30 credit hours at the 300-/400-level and at least 15 additional credit hours at the 200-level and above in courses from the School of Sciences (total of 45 cr.). At the 200-level and above, at least two lab courses must be selected from two different areas (biology and physical sciences). At the 300-/400-level, at least two additional courses with a lab (4-5 cr each) must be selected and either a capstone course, a research course, or an internship is required.

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

Earth and Sustainability Sciences Track Specific Requirement (in addition to the basic degree requirement)

1.  Biology Courses (13-15 cr.):

• BIOL-L 105 Introduction to Biology (5 cr.)
• BIOL-L 473/474 Ecology and Lab in Ecology (5 cr.)
• Biology elective (3-5 cr.)

2.  Chemistry Courses (20 cr.):

• CHEM-C 105/125 Principles of Chemistry and Lab (5 cr.)
• CHEM-C 106/126 Principles of Chemistry II and Lab (5 cr.)
• CHEM-C 300 Energy and Green Chemistry - A Natural Science Perspective (3-4 cr.)
• CHEM-C 390 Special Topics:Environmental Science (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 390 Special Topics:Sustainability (3 cr.)

3.  Geology Courses (23 cr.):

• GEOG-G 107 Physical Systems of the Environment (3 cr.) 
• GEOG-G 315 Environmental Conversation (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 100 General Geology (5 cr.) or
  • GEOL-G 133 Geology of the United States (5 cr.)
• GEOL-G 300 Environment and Urban Geology (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 400 Energy: Sources and Needs (3 cr.)
• GEOL-T 312 Geology of Indiana (3 cr.)
• SUST-S 201 Foundations of Sustainability (3 cr.)

4.  Physics courses (5-8 cr.):

• PHYS-P 201 General Physics or PHYS-P 221 Physics I (5 cr.)
• PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics (3 cr.) is recommended. 

5.  Capstone, research course, or internship (min 3 cr.):

• BIOL-L 403 Biology Seminar (3 cr.) 
• BIOL-L 490 Individual Study (1-12 cr.)
• CHEM-C 409 Chemical Research (1-3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 495 Capstone in Chemistry (1-3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 410 Undergradate Research in Geology (1-6 cr.)
• GEOL-G 440 Professional Practice in Geosciences (1-6 cr.)
• SUST-S 491 Internship in Sustainability (3 cr.)

6.  Management and Economics Courses (9 cr.): Choose 2 courses (6 cr) from the following list:

• BUS-A 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting (3 cr.)
• BUS-Z 302 Managing and Behavior in Organizations (3 cr.)
• PAHM-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)
• PAHM-V 264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)
• PAHM-V 348 Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial Reporting (3 cr.)
• Choose 1 course (3 cr.) from the following list:
  • ECON-E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 cr.)
  • ECON-E 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)
  • ECON-E 300 Survey of Economics (3 cr.)

7.  Science electives (to complete 120 cr.):

• BIOL-L 203 Evolution and Diversity of Life (3 cr.)
• BIOL-L 345 Vertebrate Biology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-L 350 Environmental Biology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-L 379 Principles of Ornithology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-L 465 Advanced Field Biology (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 310/311 Analytical Chemistry and Lab (5 cr.)
• CHEM-C 341/343 Organic Chemistry I and Lab (5 cr.)
• GEOL-T 326 Geology of Mineral Resources (3 cr.)
• MICR-M 320 Environmental and Public Health Microbiology (3 cr.)
• PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics (3 cr.)
• PLSC-B 364 Summer Flowering Plants (5 cr.)

Pre-Physical Therapy Track Specific Requirement (in addition to the basic degree requirement)

1.  Biology courses (10 cr.):

• ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.)
• PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.)

2.  Chemistry courses (10 cr.):

• CHEM-C 105/125 Principles of Chemistry I (5 cr.)
• CHEM-C 106/126 Principles of Chemistry II (5 cr.)

3.  Physics courses (10 cr.):

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

4.  Psychology courses (6 cr.):

• PSY-P 103 General Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 216 Life Span Development (3 cr.)

5.  Medical terminology (2 cr.):

• CLAS-C 209 Medical Terms from Greek and Latin (2 cr.)

6.  Health Science courses (6-9 cr.):

Required:

• HPER-P 204 Motor Development (3 cr.)
• HPER-P 212 Introduction to Exercise Science (3 cr.)

HPER-P 452 is recommended for the pre-physical therapy track and will count toward the 30 cr requirement at the 300-/400-level in courses from the School of Sciences (pre-physical therapy track only). 

Pre-Occupational Therapy Track Specific Requirement (in addition to the basic degree requirement)

1.  Biology courses (10 cr.):

• ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.)
• PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.)

2.  Psychology courses (9 cr.):

• PSY-P 103 General Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 216 Life Span Development (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 324 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)

3.  Medical terminology (2 cr.):

• CLAS-C 209 Medical Terms from Greek and Latin (2 cr.)

4.  Sociology (3 cr.):

• SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)