Biology (BS) - Course Requirements
Biology Course Requirements
Information accurate as of the 2024 - 2025 catalog.
For previous year's catalogs, please see the undergraduate catalog page.
| Num. | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GSU 100 | The First Year Experience | 0 hours |
| All degree seeking students are required to take GSU 100 during their first semester. | ||
| General Education Requirements | 30 hours | |
| Students must complete BIOL 120 and MATH 115 as part of the General Education requirements. | ||
| Biology Major | 71 hours | |
| BIOL 121 | Principles of Biology II | 4 |
| BIOL 193 | Scientific Writing | 1 |
| BIOL 236 | Introduction to Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 293 | Experimental Design | 1 |
| BIOL 493 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 497 (OR) BIOL 499 |
Internship II (OR) Individual Research Problems |
3 |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| MATH 120 (OR) MATH 125 (OR) MATH 202 |
Precalculus (OR) College Trigonometry (OR) Calculus I |
3 - 4 |
| MATH 256 | Probability and Statistics I | 3 |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics II | 4 |
| Biology Electives | 30 hours | |
| Students are required to complete at least one course from each of the following categories: | ||
| Organismal Biology (select at least one) | ||
| BIOL 305 | General Botany | 4 |
| BIOL 314 | Zoology | 4 |
| BIOL 351 | Flora of West Virginia | 3 |
| BIOL 361 | Microbiology | 4 |
| WLMT 404* | Mammalogy | 4 |
| *WLMT 404 will not count for the one required course in this category. If a student takes WLMT 404, they must select at least two from this category. | ||
| Ecology/Evolution (select at least one) | ||
| BIOL 371 | Evolution | 4 |
| BIOL 400 | Ecology and Field Biology | 4 |
| Cellular/Physiology (select at least one) | ||
| BIOL 321 | Animal Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 335 | Cell Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 420 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 435 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 460 | Physiological Ecology | 4 |
| CHEM 380 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 381 | Biochemistry II | 4 |
| Applied Biology (select at least one) | ||
| BIOL 425 | Bioethics | 2 |
| BIOL 436 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 470 | Conservation Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 480 | Topics in Biology | 2 |
| HLTH 231 | Anatomy & Physiology II*# | 4 |
| NRMT 201 | Forest Ecology# | 3 |
|
* This course has a prerequisite (HLTH 230) that does not count toward the biology major, but will count toward General Electives. # If you apply HLTH 231 or NRMT 201 toward the biology major you must take equivalent hours of upper-level electives from the General Electives. |
||
| General Electives | 19 hours | |
| General electives should be selected with consultation with your advisor to determine the best electives to help you toward a career and/or professional goal. | ||
| Total minimum hours for degree | 120 hours | |
Suggested for a Career in:
- Ecology and Conservation
-
Num. Title BIOL 305 Botany BIOL 314 Zoology BIOL 351 Flora of West Virginia BIOL 371 Evolution BIOL 400 Ecology and Field Biology BIOL 460 Physiological Ecology BIOL 470 Conservation Biology NRMT 201 Forest Ecology - Pre-Professional (Pre-Med, Pre-Dental, Pre-Physician Assistant, Pre-Veterinarian)
-
Num. Title BIOL 314 Zoology BIOL 335 Cell Physiology BIOL 361 Microbiology BIOL 371 Evolution BIOL 420 Neurobiology BIOL 425 Bioethics BIOL 435 Developmental Biology CHEM 302 Organic Chemistry II CHEM 380 Biochemistry I CHEM 381 Biochemistry II HLTH 230 Anatomy and Physiology I - Wildlife Biology
-
Required courses: Completion of these courses will allow eligibility to apply for an Associate Certificate in Wildlife Biology from the Wildlife Society
Num. Title BIOL 305 Botany BIOL 314 Zoology BIOL 351 Flora of West Virginia BIOL 371 Evolution BIOL 400 Ecology and Field Biology BIOL 460 Physiological Ecology BIOL 470 Conservation Biology ENVR 393 Environmental Compliance PSYC 201 General Psychology WLMT 301 Wildlife Law and Policy WLMT 302 Wildlife Habitat Management WLMT 404 Mammalogy WLMT 493 Wildlife Techniques - Other Biology Careers
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Talk to your advisor about the best courses for you.