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/or fulfill the preprofessional requirements for professional degrees in Health Sciences. 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 (MATH-M 215 or MATH-M 119) and statistics (MATH-K 300) are required; second semester calculus (MATH-M 120 or MATH-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.

Biology BS 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 Science 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.

Degree Program Admission Requirements

To be fully admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Biology degree program, students must meet the School of Natural Science's Admission Requirements and complete BIOL-L 101 (Introduction to Biological Science I) or BIOL-L 102 (Introduction to Biological Science II) with a grade of C or better.

General Education Component

All students pursuing the Bachelor of Science 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.

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.

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 PHSL-P416/P418 or PLSC-B370 or PHSL-P215; Chemistry: CHEM-C105*/C125*, CHEM-C106/C126. 

Tier 2:  Biology: BIOL-L311/L319; Organismal Diversity requirement; Chemistry CHEM-C341/C343, CHEM-C342/C344; Calculus: MATH-M 119* or MATH-M 215* & Statistics: MATH-K 300. 

Tier 3:  Biology: Ecology requirement, BIOL-L318, BIOL-L312, BIOL-L403, Required Upper Level elective(s) 10 or 11 credits; Chemistry: CHEM-C484 (or C485); Physics* one-year sequence.

    Tier 1 

• BIOL-L 101* Introduction to Biological Sciences 1
• BIOL-L 102* Introduction to Biological Sciences 2
• BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology
• CHEM-C 105* Principles of Chemistry I
• CHEM-C 125* Principles of Chemistry I Lab
• CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II
• CHEM-C 126 Principles of Chemistry II Lab

  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

                               OR

• ZOOL-Z 406 Vertebrate Zoology

Tier 3

(Complete all courses listed) 

• BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology
• BIOL-L 318 Evolution
• BIOL-L 403 Biology Seminar
• Biology Elective(s)- 10-11 credits worth of 300/400 level AHLT, ANAT, BIOL, HIM, MICR, PLSC, or ZOOL courses.
  • HIM courses must be HIM-M 390, HIM-M 391, or HIM-M 392

Ecology requirement (Choose one of the following)

• 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

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.