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

Biology, B.S.

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 and QL)

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  

   _____________________________    ________ 

Quantitative Literacy

    ________    ________ EITHER MATH 1310 OR MATH 1340 & MATH 1350 

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

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:

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

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 BiologyV

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
BIOL 4070 - Cell Biology
BIOL 4080 - Molecular Biology
BIOL 4110 - Animal Physiology
  • BIOL 4170 - Plant Molecular Biology
  • 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

    Biology Electives:

    These courses do not meet the group requirements but do count toward the 16 hours of electives: BIOL 3100, BIOL 3520, BIOL 3700, 4010, BIOL 4500, BIOL 4520, BIOL 4530, BIOL 4540, BIOL 4620, 4700, BIOL 4750, BIOL 4890, BIOL 4900.

    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: BIOL 4010, BIOL 4520, BIOL 4530, BIOL 4540, 4700, BIOL 4890.

    Additional Required Courses: Chemistry & Physics

    General Chemistry I

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    CHEM 1230 - General Chemistry I and
    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

    Organic Chemistry

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    CHEM 3060 - Basic Organic Chemistry

    or

    CHEM 3410 - Organic Chemistry

    Physics

    Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
    PHYS 2010 - College Physics I

    or

    PHYS 2110 - University Physics I

    Minor Requirements:

     A “general science” minor is offered to students in place of a conventional minor. Consult your Faculty Advisor. (A conventional minor may also be chosen, usually 20 hours, no Biology courses can be used.)

    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: