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 HSS-A 101 Student Success Seminar (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 take 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.)
• SUST-S 201 Foundations of Sustainability (3 cr.)
• SUST-S 305 Topics in Environmental Chemistry (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 Undergraduate 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-Clinical Lab Science, Pre-Cytotechnology, Pre-Nuclear Medicine Technology, Pre-Radiation Therapy

Students interested in these programs should enroll in the B.S. in Biological and Physical Sciences at IU Kokomo. By selecting appropriate elective courses, students can then complete the admission requirements for these degree programs available on other campuses. Students are advised to consult with their academic advisors, faculty members, and appropriate program websites regarding admission requirements including courses, required grades and other admission requirements.