Nov 25, 2024

2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog

2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Biology (B.S.)

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Program: B.S.
Department of Biology
College of Arts and Sciences

Science Building 330 ~ 260-481-6305

Biology is one of the most interdisciplinary of all the sciences. In addition to biology, the discipline requires a broad background in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. This background enables the biologist to study the evolution of life; manifestations of life from the level of viruses, bacteria, and individual cells to the structure and function of organisms; and interactions of living organisms with each other and their environment.

For details on pursuing a secondary education second degree (BSEd) to teach Biology in middle school/high school, click on the links to the Secondary Education - Second Degree Program and the School of Education page in this catalog. Note: The BSEd as a second degree in these programs cannot be earned without completion of the bachelor’s degree in the content area from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this degree, students will:

demonstrate comprehension of basic biological principles and theories, and an ability to apply those theories and principles to problem solving
demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method, and be able to apply that knowledge to problem solving
demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate biological information
demonstrate the basic knowledge and experience of field and laboratory work, and be able to communicate the results of an investigation

Program Delivery:

This program is available on-campus

Declaring this Major:

Declare this major within the Department of Biology

General Requirements:

Program Requirements:

A GPA of 2.00 or higher for all courses required for the major.
A GPA of 2.30 or higher in biology core and biology elective/concentration courses.
A maximum of 6 credits in BIOL 29500 or 59500.
All biology courses applied toward graduation must be completed within 10 years from the time the first biology course was completed.

To earn a B.S. with a major in Biology, you must fulfill the following requirements in addition to the General Requirements noted above. To become eligible for the Biology Honors Program, see requirements listed below under Honors in Biology.

General Education Requirements: Credits 33

Cick on the Purdue Fort Wayne General Education Requirements link above for details.
Some majors may require particular General Education courses as specified in their program description. Up to six credits of approved General Education courses satisfying requirements in Areas A and B, and three credits satisfying requirements in Area C, may originate in the major. A grade of C- or higher in each course, and an overall GPA of 2.0 is required to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne General Education Requirements.

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

Click on the Purdue Fort Wayne College Requirements link above. Go to Arts and Sciences Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree

English Writing and Speaking: Credits 6

See Part A in Arts and Sciences Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree for Speaking requirement

ENGL 23301 - Intermediate Expository Writing Cr. 3.

International Language: Credits 8

See Part B in Arts and Sciences Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree

Core (Major) Courses: Credits 23

BIOL 11700 - Principles of Ecology and Evolution Cr. 4.
BIOL 11900 - Principles of Structure and Function Cr. 4.
BIOL 12000 - Biology Resource Seminar Cr. 1.
BIOL 21700 - Intermediate Ecology Cr. 3.
BIOL 21800 - Genetics and Molecular Biology Cr. 4.
BIOL 21900 - Principles of Functional Biology Cr. 4.
BIOL 49100 - Senior Biology Seminar Cr. 1-3. Note: Effective Fall 2014, 3 credits are required

Supporting Courses

Calculus and Statistics: Credits 9

The following calculus and statistics course pattern is typical. Course substitutions are possible with advisor approval. Please note that most graduate programs require a full year of calculus.

Biology Elective Courses: Credits 16

Take at least one course with a laboratory from each of the A and B elective course lists below.

The A elective courses focus on topics regarding the intact organism and its interaction with the environment, and so are organismal, population, community, and ecosystem in nature.
The B elective courses focus on processes acting within the organism, and thus detail molecular, cellular, and organ-system mechanisms.

A-Electives

(organismal, population, community, and ecosystem)

BIOL 33500 - Animal Behavior Cr. 3.
BIOL 34500 - Vertebrate Biology Cr. 4.
includes laboratory
BIOL 43400 - Marine Community Ecology Cr. 3.
includes laboratory
BIOL 44500 - Aquatic Biology Cr. 3.
includes laboratory
BIOL 50100 - Field Botany Cr. 4.
includes laboratory
BIOL 50200 - Conservation Biology Cr. 3.
BIOL 50500 - Biology of Invertebrate Animals Cr. 3.
includes laboratory
BIOL 52000 - Contemporary Parasitology Cr. 3.
BIOL 54110 - Invasion Biology Cr. 3.
BIOL 54300 - Population Ecology Cr. 4.
includes laboratory
BIOL 55600 - Physiology I Cr. 3.
BIOL 57810 - Biology Of Disease Vectors Cr. 3.
BIOL 58000 - Evolution Cr. 3.
BIOL 58200 - Ecotoxicology Cr. 3.
BIOL 58600 - Topics in Behavior and Ecology Cr. 3.
ENTM 20600 - General Applied Entomology Cr. 2.
separate laboratory available (ENTM 20700)
ENTM 20700 - General Applied Entomology Laboratory Cr. 1.
FNR 50500 - Molecular Ecology and Evolution Cr. 3.
FNR 22500 - Dendrology Cr. 3.
includes laboratory
FNR 52300 - Aquaculture Cr. 3.

B-Electives

(molecular, cellular, and organ-system)

BIOL 21500 - Basic Human Anatomy Cr. 4.
includes laboratory
BIOL 31500 - Developmental Anatomy Cr. 4.
includes laboratory
BIOL 35000 - Introduction To Plant Physiology Cr. 4.
includes laboratory
BIOL 38100 - Cell Biology Cr. 3.
BIOL 43700 - General Microbiology Cr. 4.
includes laboratory
BIOL 50600 - Human Molecular Genetics Cr. 3.
BIOL 50900 - Molecular Biology and Applications Cr. 3.
separate laboratory available (BIOL 58400)
BIOL 51600 - Molecular Biology of Cancer Cr. 3.
BIOL 51810 - Biomedicine Cr. 3.
BIOL 52410 - Bacterial Diversity and Systematics Cr. 3.
BIOL 53300 - Medical Microbiology Cr. 3.
BIOL 53700 - Immunobiology Cr. 3.
BIOL 54400 - Principles of Virology Cr. 3.
BIOL 55110 - Proteins: Structure and Functions Cr. 3.
BIOL 55900 - Endocrinology Cr. 3.
BIOL 56500 - Immunobiology Lab Cr. 1.
BIOL 56600 - Developmental Biology Cr. 3.
separate laboratory available (BIOL 56700)
BIOL 56700 - Laboratory in Developmental Biology Cr. 1.
BIOL 57710 - Emerging Infectious Diseases Cr. 3.
BIOL 58400 - Molecular Biology and Applications Laboratory Cr. 1.

General Electives

Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120.

Honors in Biology

You may earn an Honors Degree in Biology by achieving an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher and a Biology GPA of 3.50 or higher while completing at least 6 research credits. Research credits should be composed of BIOL 59500, although BIOL 29500 credits will be accepted if it can be demonstrated that the BIOL 29500 research was conducted on the same topic as the BIOL 59500 research. A senior thesis committee of three faculty members must be established at least one semester before graduation. Students must prepare a plan of research, senior thesis, and give a public oral presentation of the thesis research for review by the thesis committee. Students earning the Departmental Honors Degree in Biology are not eligible for the Biology Research Certificate.

Time Limit

All Biology courses applied toward graduation must be completed within ten (10) years from the time the first Biology course was completed.

Total Credits: 120

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for satisfying the graduation requirements specified for your selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies and procedures governing your academic career. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.