Schools
School of Natural Sciences
Biology (Bachelor of Science)
The B.S. in Biology degree provides a stronger background in science and math than the B.A. degree and will better prepare students for research-oriented careers as professional biologists and medical professionals. The degree may also serve as a terminal degree for a variety of biology professions. Courses in second semester calculus, as well as individual study in biological research, are recommended depending on the career goals. Two courses in mathematics: calculus (M 215 or M 119) and statistics (K 300) are required; second semester calculus (M 120 or M 216) is recommended for some programs such as veterinarian medicine and pharmacy. Biology major courses may be repeated only a limited number of times including late withdrawals.
Student Learning Goals
- Students will have a broad understanding of biology.
- Students will be able to analyze and critique biological data.
- Students will be able to evaluate and synthesize biological information from multiple sources.
- Students will demonstrate a broad range of biological skills.
- Students will present scientific work orally.
- Students will present scientific work in writing.
Major/Department Policies
No grade less than C (2.0) will be accepted in any required School of Natural Science course.
Degree/Certificate Requirements
Degree Program Admission Requirements
Dept. |
Course Number |
Title |
Credit Hours |
Minimum Grade |
Co-Reqs (C) or Pre-reqs (P) |
BIOL-L |
101 or 102 |
Introduction to Biological Sciences 1 Introduction to Biological Sciences 2 |
5 |
C |
None |
See “General Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees at IU Southeast.”
General Education Component
Note: This is not a re-statement of the University’s General Education Requirement but a list of specific General Education courses which are also requirements or pre-requisites for course work in the school/major.
Dept. |
Course Number |
Title |
Credit Hours |
Minimum Grade |
Co-Reqs (C) or Pre-reqs (P) |
MATH-M |
119 or 215 |
Quantitative Reasoning: Brief Survey of Calculus 1 or Calculus |
3 5 |
C |
R: MATH-M 122 or MATH-M 125 & M 126 |
CHEM-C |
105 and 125 |
Natural Sciences: Principles of Chemistry I and Experimental Chemistry I |
3/2 |
C |
None |
Core Program
The program is divided into three tiers and students are expected to complete the courses with a C before they move to the next tier. Failure to do so may result in poor academic performance.
Tier 1: Biology: BIOL-L101, BIOL-L102, BIOL-L211, and BIOL-L317/Z318 or BIOL-L 346 or PLSC-B373 or PLSC-B375 (w/permission); Chemistry: CHEM-C105/C125, CHEM-C106/C126.
Tier 2: Biology: BIOL-L311/L319, PHSL-P416/P418 or PLSC-B370, Organismal Diversity requirement; Chemistry CHEM-C341/C343, CHEM-C342/C344; Math: MATH-M 215 & MATH-K 300.
Tier 3: Biology: Ecology requirement, BIOL-L318, BIOL-L312, BIOL-L403, Required Upper Level elective(s) 5 or 6 credits; Chemistry: CHEM-C484 (or C485); Physics one-year sequence.
Dept. |
Course Number |
Title |
Credit Hours |
Minimum Grade |
Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs |
|
|
Tier 1 |
|
|
|
BIOL-L |
101 |
Introduction to Biological Sciences 1 |
5 |
C |
None |
BIOL-L |
102 |
Introduction to Biological Sciences 2 |
5 |
C |
None |
BIOL-L |
211 |
Molecular Biology |
3 |
C |
P: BIOL-L 101, BIOL-L 102, and CHEM-C101 or CHEM-C105 w/grade of C or better |
BIOL-L BIOL-Z |
317 318 |
Developmental Biology Developmental Biology Lab |
3/2
|
C
|
P: BIOL-L 101 and BIOL-L102 with a C or better C: BIOL-L 317 |
OR |
|
|
|||
BIOL-L | 346 |
Survey of Molecular Developmental Biology |
5 |
C |
P: BIOL-L 101, BIOL-L 102 |
OR |
|
|
|||
PLSC-B |
373 |
Plant Growth Development |
5 |
C |
None |
OR |
|
|
|||
PLSC-B |
375 |
Horticulture Plants (with Coordinator permission) |
5 |
C |
None |
AND |
|
|
|||
CHEM-C |
105 |
Principles of Chemistry I |
3 |
C |
None |
CHEM-C |
125 |
Experimental Chemistry I |
2 |
C |
C: CHEM-C 105 |
CHEM-C |
106 |
Principles of Chemistry II |
3 |
C |
P: CHEM-C 105 |
CHEM-C |
126 |
Experimental Chemistry II |
2 |
C |
P: CHEM-C125 C: CHEM-C 106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tier 2 |
|
|
|
BIOL-L BIOL-L |
311 319 |
Genetics Genetics Lab |
3/3 |
C |
P:BIOL-L 211 C: BIOL-L 311 |
PHSL-P |
416 & 418 |
Comparative Animal Physiology Lab in Comparative Animal Physiology |
3/2
|
C |
P: BIOL-L 211 C: PHSL-P 416 |
OR |
|
|
|||
PLSC-B |
370 |
Plant Physiology |
5 |
C |
None |
AND |
|
|
|||
Organismal Diversity Requirement (one 5 credit course - choose from PLSC-B 364, MICR-M 310/315, or ZOOL-Z 373/383) |
|
|
|||
PLSC-B MICRO-M MICRO-M ZOOL-Z ZOOL-Z |
364 310 & 315 373 & 383 |
Summer Flowering Plants Microbiology Microbiology Lab Entomology Laboratory in Entomology |
5 3 2 3 2 |
C |
None P: BIOL-L211 C: MICR-M 310 None None |
AND |
|
|
|||
CHEM-C |
341 |
Organic Chemistry Lectures I |
3 |
C |
P: CHEM-C 106 |
CHEM-C |
343 |
Organic Chemistry Laboratories I |
2 |
C |
P: CHEM-C 341 |
CHEM-C |
342 |
Organic Chemistry Lectures II |
3 |
C |
P: CHEM-C 341 |
CHEM-C |
344 |
Organic Chemistry Laboratories II |
2 |
C |
P: CHEM-C 343 C: CHEM-C 342 |
MATH-M |
215 or 119 |
Calculus or Brief Survey of Calculus 1 |
5 3 |
C |
P: MATH-M 125 & M126 or Placement P: MATH-M 122 or Placement |
MATH-K |
300 |
Statistical Techniques for Health Professions |
3 |
C |
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tier 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Biology Ecology Requirement (choose from BIOL-L 303, BIOL-L 343, BIOL-L 473/L474, or MICR-M 420/BIOL-L 474) |
|
|
|
BIOL-L BIOL-L BIOL-L MICR-M BIOL-L |
303 343 473 420 474 |
Field Biology OR Applied Conservation Biology OR Ecology OR Environmental Microbiology AND Laboratory in Ecology |
3 5 3 3 2 |
C |
P: One BIOL course P: BIOL-L 211 w/grade of C or better P: BIOL-L 211 P: BIOL-L 211 P: BIOL-L 211 |
AND |
|
|
|||
BIOL-L |
318 |
Evolution |
5 |
C |
P: BIOL-L 311 |
BIOL-L |
312 |
Cell Biology |
3 |
C |
P: BIOL-L 211 |
BIOL-L |
403 |
Biology Seminar |
1 |
C |
P: Senior standing |
Any biology course |
300-level or above |
Required Biology Elective |
5 or 3/3 |
C |
|
CHEM-C |
484 |
Biomolecules and Catabolism |
3 |
C |
P: CHEM-C 342 & BIOL-L 101 |
PHYS-P |
201 or 221 |
General Physics 1 or Physics 1 |
5 |
C |
R: MATH-M 122 or high school equivalent C: MATH-M215 |
PHYS-P |
202 or 222 |
General Physics 2 or Physics 2 |
5 |
C |
P: PHYS-P201 P: PHYS-P221 |
General Electives
Other elective(s) to equal a minimum of 120 credit