In addition to fulfilling University and College (Agricultural & Life Sciences or Letters & Science) requirements, students must complete the following:

1. Mathematics

Math 171: Calculus with Algebra & Trigonometry I (5 cr) and Math 217: Calculus with Algebra & Trigonometry II (5 cr) OR Math 221: Calculus & Analytic Geometry I (5 cr)

AND

Math 222: Calculus & Analytic Geometry 2 (4 cr) OR Stat 301: Intro to Statistical Methods (3 cr) OR Stat 371: Intro to Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences (3 cr)

2. Chemistry

a. General Chemistry
Chem 103 and 104: General Chemistry (4 cr, 5 cr) OR Chem 109: Advanced General Chemistry (5 cr)

b. Organic Chemistry
Chem 343: Intro Organic Chemistry (3 cr), Chem 344: Intro Organic Chemistry Lab (2 cr) and Chem 345: Intermediate Organic Chemistry (3 cr)

3. Physics

Physics 103 and 104: General Physics (4 cr each) OR Physics 201 and 202: General Physics (5 cr each) OR Physics 207 and 208: General Physics (5 cr each)

BIOLOGY COURSES  
The total number of credits in sections 4, 5, and 6 must equal at least 31. Fulfilling minimum credits under each section does not guarantee reaching 31.

4. Introductory Biology.  If you have an AP/IB Biology exam score of 4 or 5, you may be able to place out of some introductory courses.

Option A:

Biology/Botany/Zoology 151 and 152: Intro Biology (5 cr each) plus one foundational course.

Option B: Effective Fall 2017 (see FAQS for previous policy)

Biocore 381: Evolution, Ecology & Genetics (3 cr)
Biocore 382: Evolution, Ecology & Genetics Lab (2 cr)
Biocore 383: Cellular Biology (3 cr)
Biocore 384: Cellular Biology Lab (2 cr)
Biocore 485: Organismal Biology (3 cr)

Biocore courses fulfill both introductory and foundational course requirements.

Option C:

Biology/Zoology 101: Animal Biology (3 cr), Biology/Zoology 102: Animal Biology Lab (2 cr), Biology/Botany 130: General Botany (5 cr) plus one foundational course.

Foundational Courses  The course used to satisfy this requirement does not count toward requirement 5. A second course taken from the list will count in category “A.”

5. Intermediate/advanced Biology (13 cr minimum)

A minimum of three courses at the intermediate/advanced level, selected from three of the five areas listed below, are needed to satisfy the biology breadth requirement. One course must be from category “A” or “B” and one must be from “C” or “D.” The third required course may be selected from any of the five categories not previously chosen. The course(s) used to satisfy any category must be at least, or add up to, 2 credits. These courses must include one approved lab course.  Overall, the courses taken should span plant, animal and microbial biology topics.

In accumulating other biology credits toward the total credits required for their degree, students, in consultation with their advisor, will have the opportunity to specialize or to take many biology intermediate/advanced courses of interest to them. Other courses may also be appropriate and can be approved on a case-by-case basis.

A. Cellular and Subcellular Biology

B. Organismal Biology

C. Ecology

D. Evolution and Systematics

E. Applied Biology, Agriculture and Natural Resources

6. A Laboratory or Field Research Experience (2 cr minimum)

This requirement can be fulfilled with an approved laboratory course beyond that done for requirement 5. Two credits of directed study or research-based senior thesis in a biological science discipline can also count.  699 credits received simultaneously or prior to introductory biology (section 4 above), such as those received for Biology 152, cannot fulfill these requirements. Also, experiences that are focused on teaching assistance, even if the course number used is a 699 course, are not appropriate. With advisor approval, 699 courses can also fulfill the CALS requirement for a capstone experience. However, only a subset of the lab/field courses automatically fulfills the CALS requirement for a capstone experience. See capstone policy and list of approved courses.

The credits taken for requirements 5 and 6 must equal at least 15 and satisfy college requirements for 15 course credits in the major in residence.