Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Advisor Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog Program: Biology, B.A.
This is for planning purposes only, please check with your advisor with questions about your degree progress

Biology, B.A.

Biology, the study of life, encompasses investigations of all aspects of living organisms, including evolution, genetics, cellular structure and function, anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, diversity, conservation, host-pathogen interactions, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Biologists study basic aspects of organisms and how they function, how they are adapted to and interact with their environment (both internally and externally), and how they are related to each other through descent with modification from common ancestors. Fields of biology are intimately intertwined with all other areas of natural science as well as the social sciences, philosophy, art, and the humanities. Efforts of biologists have important contributions to an understanding of functioning and adaptations of living organisms as well as to the applied problems and issues facing all inhabitants on planet Earth, such as those involving medical advances, diseases, global changes, agriculture, biotechnology, bioinformatics, environmental management, conservation of species and genetic diversity, and many others.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in biology are expected to:

  • Understand the basic principles of living systems at the molecular, cellular, and organismal level and how these principles are unified through evolution;
  • Understand the nature, methods of acquiring, and limitations of scientific evidence and be able to participate in the process of scientific inquiry;
  • Value the importance of living systems, Natural Science in general, and specifically biological science, basic research, and scientific thinking to society;
  • Communicate scientific information and reasoning in writing, orally, and in other presentation formats;
  • Apply and extrapolate biological science knowledge and skills to address local/global needs and problems.

BG Perspective (BGP) Requirements

Must complete at least 1 course in each of the following:

   English Composition and Oral Communication
   _____________________________    ________

   Quantitative Literacy
   _____________________________    ________

Must Complete at least 2 courses in each of the following:

   Humanities and the Arts
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________    

   Natural Sciences - at least one Lab Science required
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                      

   Social and Behavioral Sciences
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                        

Complete total required BGP credit hours by selecting courses from any of the above categories:

   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                    

University Requirements

Designated courses in Humanities and the Arts and the Social and Behavioral Sciences domains may be used to fulfill both the BGP requirement and one of the following university requirements:

Cultural Diversity in the US    ____________
International Perspective       ____________

Composition Requirement:
WRIT 1120                             

Total BGP Credits: Must be at least 36                      

Arts & Sciences Requirements (WLC)

World Languages and Cultures (_____ yrs of HS_______) 

Consult the Undergraduate Catalog or the Arts and Sciences Student Handbook regarding approved course options in the different language and culture areas. 
​   ________1010_________________    ________ 
​   ________1020_________________    ________ 
​   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 

Lab Science  

   _____________________________    ________ 

Multidisciplinary Component

Select from approved offerings, in consultation with an advisor and a faculty mentor. Four courses total, each with a different subject prefix. At least two courses at 3000/4000 level. Courses applied to the Arts & Sciences MDC may not be used to fulfill other Arts and Sciences degree requirements, nor may they be used to fulfill major, minor, BGP or other program requirements.   
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________  

Major Requirements

(32 Hrs of Biology courses)
Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
BIOL 2000 - Biology Today
BIOL 2040 - Concepts in Biology I
BIOL 2050 - Concepts in Biology II
BIOL 3500 - General Genetics
BIOL 3510 - Evolution
  • 16 hours of BIOL electives including 10 hours at the 4000 level; at least 1 course in each of the following groups:
  • Group I: Biology of Organisms

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    BIOL 3130 - Microbiology
    BIOL 3310 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
    BIOL 3320 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
    BIOL 3430 - General Botany
    BIOL 3740 - Marine Biology
    BIOL 4050 - General Parasitology
    BIOL 4060 - Medical Entomology
    BIOL 4140 - Plant Diversity
    BIOL 4260 - Pathogenic Microbiology
    BIOL 4270 - Invertebrate Diversity
    BIOL 4300 - Wildlife Biology
    BIOL 4350 - Entomology
    BIOL 4720 - Ichthyology
    BIOL 4730 - Mammalogy
    BIOL 4760 - Herpetology
    BIOL 4770 - Ornithology

    Group II: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    BIOL 3540 - Population and Community Ecology
    BIOL 4090 - Conservation Biology
    BIOL 4100 - Conservation Biology in Practice
    BIOL 4160 - Landscape Ecology
    BIOL 4200 - Animal Behavior
    BIOL 4220 - Restoration Ecology
    BIOL 4250 - Limnology
    BIOL 4280 - Neuroethology
    BIOL 4290 - Evolutionary Ecology
    BIOL 4450 - Environmental Microbiology
    BIOL 4490 - Epidemiology
    BIOL 4620 - Principles of Biometry
    BIOL 4710 - Sensory Ecology
    ENVS 4120 - Great Lakes Ecosystems

    Group III: Cell, Molecular, & Regulatory Biology

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    BIOL 4070 - Cell Biology
    BIOL 4080 - Molecular Biology
    BIOL 4110 - Animal Physiology
    BIOL 4180 - Neurophysiology
    BIOL 4210 - Molecular Biotechnology
    BIOL 4310 - Developmental Biology
    BIOL 4370 - Light Microscopes and 3D Imaging
    BIOL 4380 - Endocrinology
    BIOL 4390 - Immunobiology
    BIOL 4400 - Molecular Neurobiology
    BIOL 4420 - Virus and Plasmid Biology
    BIOL 4430 - Microbial Physiology
    BIOL 4460 - Scanning Electron Microscopy
    BIOL 4470 - Microbial Genetics
    BIOL 4480 - Molecular Evolution
    BIOL 4660 - Genomics

    Total Hours: 32

    *Note: BIOL 4620 may not count in both the Groups or in Additional Required Courses.

    Biology Electives:

    These courses do not meet the group requirements but do count toward the 16 hours of electives:

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
  • BIOL 3010
  • BIOL 3100 - Biology of Aging
    BIOL 3520 - Laboratory in Genetics
    BIOL 3700 - Introduction to Inland Marine Research
    BIOL 4010 - Introduction to Biological Research
  • BIOL 4310L
  • BIOL 4400 - Molecular Neurobiology
    BIOL 4500 - Teaching Evolution and the Nature of Science
    BIOL 4520 - Aquarium Husbandry
    BIOL 4530 - Amphibian and Reptile Husbandry
    BIOL 4540 - Biology Lab Tour
    BIOL 4700 - Readings in Biological Sciences
    BIOL 4750 - Marine Biology Field Trip
    BIOL 4890 - Biology Internship
    BIOL 4900 - Seminar

    A Maximum of 5 Credit Hrs. From the Following Courses May Be Included in the Required 10 Credit Hrs. Of 4000-level Biology Required for the Major:

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    BIOL 4010 - Introduction to Biological Research
    BIOL 4520 - Aquarium Husbandry
    BIOL 4530 - Amphibian and Reptile Husbandry
    BIOL 4540 - Biology Lab Tour
    BIOL 4700 - Readings in Biological Sciences
    BIOL 4890 - Biology Internship

    Additional Required Courses:

    Chemistry, Math & Physics

    General Chemistry I

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    CHEM 1230 - General Chemistry I

     

    CHEM 1240 - General Chemistry I Laboratory

    or

    CHEM 1350 - General Chemistry

    General Chemistry II

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    CHEM 1270 - General Chemistry II

    or

    CHEM 1370 - General Chemistry

     

    CHEM 1280 - General Chemistry II Laboratory

    or

    CHEM 1380 - General Chemistry Laboratory

    Math

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    MATH 1150 - Introduction to Statistics

    or

    SOC 2690 - Introductory Statistics

    or

    PSYC 2700 - Quantitative Methods I

    or

    STAT 2000 - Using Statistics

    or

    BA 2110 - Business Analytics III: Descriptive Analytics

    or

    BIOL 4620 - Principles of Biometry *

     

    MATH 1220 - College Algebra

    or

    MATH 1280 - Precalculus Mathematics

    or

    MATH 1310 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry

    or

    MATH 1340 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry IA and
    MATH 1350 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry IB

    Physics

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    PHYS 1010 - Basic Physics

    or

    PHYS 2010 - College Physics I

    or

    PHYS 2110 - University Physics I

    Minor Requirements:

    (Usually 21 hours)

    For Graduation You Will Need:

    1. 122 credit hours minimum.
    2. Minimum GPA 2.00.
    3. At least 30 credit hours of BGSU course work.
    4. 40 credit hours at the 3000/4000 level.
    5. Completion of all degree requirements, including the BG Perspective Core.
    6. A major, and if required, a minor, specialization or emphasis.

    Any substitution or waiver of courses required for your major or minor program must originate in the department/school offering the major or minor and must be approved by the College Office.

    To ensure a timely graduation, see a College Advisor during the semester prior to your intended graduation.

    Remember to complete an Application for Graduation by the end of the second week of classes during the fall semester or spring regular session, or by the end of the first week of the summer semester. For the specific dates, check your DARS. You may log onto MyBGSU to complete the online application. After the deadlines, you will need to complete an application in person in the College Office.

    Notes: