Biology, B.S.
Students interested in Biology, or related fields, are encouraged to earn at least a baccalaureate degree (BS). Many professions (e.g., Pharmacy or Medicine) require additional post -baccalaureate education. The BS degree in Biology may be used for entry into a career or in preparation for graduate (Masters/PhD) or professional schools (medical, dental, pharmacy, etc.).
Matriculation Requirements
BIOL 1610 College Biology I BB with C- or higher and approval of Biology Department advisor.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
| General Education Requirements: | 39 Credits | |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| or ENGH 1005 | Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC | |
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| MATH 1050 | College Algebra QL | 4 |
| or MATH 1055 | College Algebra with Preliminaries QL | |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| US History to 1877 AS and US History since 1877 AS (6) | ||
| American Civilization AS (3) | ||
| US Economic History AS (3) | ||
| American Heritage AS (3) | ||
| American National Government AS (3) | ||
| Complete the following: | ||
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics and Values IH | 3 |
| or PHIL 205G | Ethics and Values IH GI | |
| HLTH 1100 | Personal Health and Wellness TE | 2 |
| or EXSC 1097 | Fitness for Life TE | |
| Distribution Courses: | ||
| BIOL 1610 | College Biology I BB | 4 |
| CHEM 1210 | Principles of Chemistry I PP | 4 |
| CHEM 1220 | Principles of Chemistry II PP | 4 |
| Humanities Distribution | 3 | |
| Fine Arts Distribution | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Discipline Core Requirements | 54 Credits | |
| BIOL 1615 | College Biology I Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 1620 | College Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 1625 | College Biology II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 3400 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3500 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 3550 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3600 | Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 3700 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4500 | Principles of Evolution WE | 3 |
| BIOL 492R | Professional Development | 1 |
| BIOL 497R | Biology Colloquium (0.5 cr, two required)) | 1 |
| BIOL 4940 | Student Seminar WE | 2 |
| Complete one of the following upper division lab courses: One course from this category needs to be taken although only 1 credit hour is required | 1 | |
| Introduction to Data Analysis for Biologists (3) | ||
| Guided Research Experience (1-3) | ||
| Cell Biology Laboratory (1) | ||
| Advanced Genetics Laboratory (1) | ||
| Experiments in Molecular Biology (1) | ||
| Bioinformatics and Genome Analysis (4) | ||
| Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics WE (3) | ||
| Microbial Ecology WE (4) | ||
| General Microbiology Laboratory (1) | ||
| Applied Virological Methods (3) | ||
| Mycology (4) | ||
| Ethnobotany WE (4) | ||
| Plant Anatomy (4) | ||
| Plant Systematics (3) | ||
| Plant Pathology (3) | ||
| Plant Physiology WE and Plant Physiology Laboratory (4) | ||
| Plant Tissue Culture WE (4) | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
| Principles of Statistics QL (4) | ||
| Trigonometry QL and Calculus I QL (7) | ||
| PHYS 2010 | College Physics I PP | 4 |
| PHYS 2015 | College Physics I Lab | 1 |
| PHYS 2020 | College Physics II PP | 4 |
| PHYS 2025 | College Physics II Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 2310 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 2315 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 2320 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| Elective Requirements | 27 Credits | |
| Choose 4 credits from any MICR electives. 1 | 4 | |
| Choose 3 credits from any BOT electives. 1 | 3 | |
| Choose 3 credits from any ZOOL electives. 1 | 3 | |
| Additional credits to meet credit and upper-division requirements. | 17 | |
- 1
Upper division is suggested to meet upper division requirements
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the required minimum credit hours.
- If an AA or AS degree has been earned, a maximum of 64 of these credits may apply toward the BS.
- At least 30 credit hours in residence at UVU or satellite sites are required, with 10 hours earned during the last 45 hours.
- A minimum of 40 credits must be upper-division (numbered 3000 or above).
- A minimum of 40 credits must be in the major (BIOL, BOT, BTEC, MICR, or ZOOL prefixes), 30 of which must be upper-division. A minimum of nine Department credits must be taken at UVU.
- Except for 490R Special Topics courses, a maximum cumulative total of 9 credits in any combination of upper division Departmental courses with an "R" designation may count toward graduation.
- Complete Biology Department core courses with a grade of "C-" or higher in each course.
- Achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 with a minimum GPA of 2.25 in biology department courses.
- Complete the appropriate application for graduation form.
- Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
- Successful completion of two writing enriched (WE) courses.
Graduation Plan
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005 | Introduction to Academic Writing CC or Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC | 3 |
| American Institutions | 3 | |
| Fine Arts Distribution | 3 | |
| Humanities Distribution | 3 | |
| MATH 1050 or MATH 1055 | College Algebra QL or College Algebra with Preliminaries QL | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIOL 1610 | College Biology I BB | 4 |
| BIOL 1615 | College Biology I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHIL 205G | Ethics and Values IH GI | 3 |
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| CHEM 1210 | Principles of Chemistry I PP | 4 |
| CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| BIOL 1620 | College Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 1625 | College Biology II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1220 | Principles of Chemistry II PP | 4 |
| CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
| Principles of Statistics QL | ||
| Trigonometry QL | ||
| Calculus I QL | ||
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| BIOL 3500 | Genetics | 3 |
| CHEM 2310 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 2315 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| Social/Behavioral Science Distribution | 3 | |
| HLTH 1100 or EXSC 1097 | Personal Health and Wellness TE or Fitness for Life TE | 2 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| BIOL 3700 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 3400 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 2320 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| BIOL 497R | Biology Colloquium | 0.5 |
| Credit Hours | 15.5 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| BIOL 3600 | Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| PHYS 2010 | College Physics I PP | 4 |
| PHYS 2015 | College Physics I Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3550 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| Zoology Elective | 3 | |
| BIOL 497R | Biology Colloquium | 0.5 |
| Credit Hours | 14.5 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 7 | ||
| BIOL 4500 | Principles of Evolution WE | 3 |
| Botany Elective | 3 | |
| PHYS 2020 | College Physics II PP | 4 |
| PHYS 2025 | College Physics II Lab | 1 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| BIOL 492R | Professional Development | 1 |
| Micr Elective | 4 | |
| BIOL 4940 | Student Seminar WE | 2 |
| Elective | 8 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Apply the process of science through the use of hypothesis testing in the design and completion of scientific experiments
- Critically evaluate scientific information
- Quantitatively analyze scientific data through graph interpretation, statistical analysis, and problem solving
- Effectively communicate scientific information in both written and oral formats.
- Explain fundamental biological concepts including cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecological principles, organismal biology, and biodiversity
- Apply scientific concepts both across and outside of biology that demonstrate interdisciplinary understanding