The liberal arts track and biology core curriculum expose the student to major subject areas in biology while providing considerable flexibility for each student. For example, minimal mathematics and chemistry requirements allow students to develop minor subject areas or a second major in another science area, or in an outside field such as sociology, journalism, business or geosciences. This degree is suitable for students who may apply for admission into law school or for those who seek employment in business, environmental studies, or industry. Biology major courses may be repeated only a limited number of times including late withdrawals.

The B.A. degree will not automatically fulfill requirements for entrance into medical, dental, optometry, medical technology, other allied health programs, or most graduate school programs. Students desiring eventual admission into a professional program or laboratory-related fields should follow the B.S. in Biology degree program.

Biology BA Residency Requirement

In addition to the IU Southeast Residency Requirement for Bachelor's Degrees and the School of Natural Science Residency Requirement, students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Biology must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours in Biological Sciences, including at least two courses with associated lab, in residence at IU Southeast

General Education Core & BA Distribution Component

All students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Biology must complete the campus General Education Core Requirements.  See General Education Core for all IU Southeast Baccalaureate Degrees for a complete listing of requirements.

Students must also complete the campus BA Distribution requirements as stated in Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements.

Core Program

All courses listed below require a grade of C or better.  Courses marked with an asterisk (*) can be used to satisfy a General Education Core Requirement or a BA Distribution Requirement.

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/ZOOL-Z318 or BIOL-L 346 or PLSC-B373 or PHSL-P 416/P418 or PLSC-B370 or PHSL-P215; Chemistry: CHEM-C 101*/C121* & CHEM-C102/C122; Mathematics*: MATH-M 122, MATH-M 125, or MATH-M 126. 

Tier 2:  Biology BIOL-L311/L319 & Organismal Diversity requirement; Computer Literacy: CSCI-C 106.

Tier 3:  Biology Ecology requirement, BIOL-L318, BIOL-L312, BIOL-L403, Required Upper Level elective(s) 10 or 11 credits.

• BIOL-L 101* Introduction to Biological Sciences 1
• BIOL-L 102* Introduction to Biological Sciences 2
• BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology
• CHEM-C 101* Elementary Chemistry I
• CHEM-C 121* Elementary Chemistry I Lab
• CHEM-C 102* Elementary Chemistry II
• CHEM-C 122* Elementary Chemistry II Lab
• MATH-M 122* College Algebra OR MATH-M 125 Pre-Calculus OR MATH-M 126 Trigonometric Functions

Physiology and Developmental Requirement (Choose one of the following as part of Tier 1)

• BIOL-L317 Developmental Biology AND
• BIOL-Z 318 Developmental Biology Lab

                                OR 

• BIOL-L 346 Survey of Molecular Developmental Biology 

                                 OR 

• PLSC-B 373 Plant Growth & Development 

                                 OR

• PHSL-P 416 Comparative Animal Physiology* AND
• PHSL-P 418 Lab in Comparative Animal Physiology

                                OR

• PLSC-B 370 Plant Physiology 

                                OR

• PHSL-P 215 Human Physiology 

  Tier 2

• BIOL-L 311 Genetics & BIOL-L 319 Genetics Lab

Organismal Diversity Requirement (Choose one of the following as part of Tier 2)

• PLSC-B 364 Summer Flowering Plants

                                OR

• MICR-M 310 Microbiology AND MICR-M 315 Microbiology Lab

                                OR

• ZOOL-Z 373 Entomology AND ZOOL-Z 383 Laboratory in Entomology

  Tier 3

  Ecology Requirement (Choose one of the following as part of Tier 3)

• BIOL-L 303 Field Biology OR BIOL-L 343 Applied Conservation Biology OR BIOL-L 473 Ecology AND BIOL-L 474 Ecology Lab OR MICR-M 420 Environmental Microbiology
• BIOL-L 318 Evolution
• BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology
• BIOL-L 403 Biology Seminar 
• Any biology course(s) 300-level or above 1st Required Biology Elective
• Any biology course(s) 300-level or above 2nd Required Biology Elective

General & Upper-Level Electives

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours and 30 credit hours at the 300-level or above.  Elective courses may be necessary to complete the minimum credit hour requirements.