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Department of Biology

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements BIOLBS

The Bachelor of Science in Biology is designed to provide students with a rigorous general background in the sciences and prepares them for graduate or professional school or for science-related jobs. More extensive requirements in chemistry, mathematics, and physics have been selected to optimize students' future opportunities.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours (60 with the Addenda Requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Foundations.
    1. Foundations of Biology: Diversity, Evolution, and Ecology. One (1) course:
      • BIOL-E 111 Basic Biology by Examination I
      • BIOL-L 111 Foundations of Biology: Diversity, Evolution, and Ecology
    2. Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms. One (1) course:
      • BIOL-E 112 Basic Biology by Examination II
      • BIOL-H 111 Integrated Freshman Learning Experience I
      • BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms
    3. Biology Laboratory. One (1) course:
      • BIOL-H 112 Integrated Freshman Learning Experience II
      • BIOL-L 113 Biology Laboratory
      • BIOL-X 150 ASURE Biology Research Lab 1
      • BIOT-X 150 ASURE Biotechnology Research Lab 1
  2. Molecular Biology. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology
    • BIOL-S 211 Molecular Biology, Honors
  3. Genetics. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-L 311 Genetics
    • BIOL-S 311 Genetics, Honors
  4. Evolution. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-L 318 Evolution
    • BIOL-S 318 Evolution, Honors
  5. Concentration or Electives. One (1) of the following options:
    1. Concentration Option. Complete one (1) of the Concentrations below.
    2. Electives Option.
      1. Advanced Lecture. Three (3) courses:
        • Departmental courses
          • BIOL-B 300 Vascular Plants
          • BIOL-B 351 Fungi
          • BIOL-B 364 Summer Flowering Plants
          • BIOL-B 368 Ethnobotany
          • BIOL-B 371 Ecological Plant Physiology
          • BIOL-B 373 Mechanisms of Plant Development
          • BIOL-L 307
          • BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology
          • BIOL-L 321 Human Immunology
          • BIOL-L 326 Biodiverse-City. The Art and Science of Green Infrastructure
          • BIOL-L 328 Disease Ecology and Evolution
          • BIOL-L 331 Introduction to Human Genetics
          • BIOL-L 376 Biology of Birds
          • BIOL-L 388 Digital Biology: A Survey of Topics in Bioinformatics and Genomics
          • BIOL-L 402 Ecosystem Ecology and Global Change
          • BIOL-L 410 Topical Issues in Biology
          • BIOL-L 411 Advanced Gene Regulation: Transcription, Epigenetics, and Human Disease
          • BIOL-L 412 Analysis of Cancer Research
          • BIOL-L 413 Translational Medicine: From Bench to Bedside
          • BIOL-L 417
          • BIOL-L 423 Brain, Behavior and Evolution
          • BIOL-L 453 Sensory Ecology
          • BIOL-L 472 Microbiomes: Host and Environmental Health
          • BIOL-L 473 Ecology
          • BIOL-L 479 Evolution and Ecology
          • BIOL-L 485 Genetics, Models of Human Disease, and Critical Analysis of Biological Research
          • BIOL-L 486 Advanced Cell Biology
          • BIOL-L 487 Molecular Mechanism of Development and Disease
          • BIOL-M 350 Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry
          • BIOL-M 375 Human Parasitology
          • BIOL-M 380 Microbiology of Infectious Disease
          • BIOL-M 416 Biology of AIDS
          • BIOL-M 430 Virology Lecture
          • BIOL-M 440 Medical Microbiology: Lecture
          • BIOL-M 460 Microbial Evolution
          • BIOL-M 480 Microbial and Molecular Genetics
          • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology
          • BIOL-Z 373 Entomology
          • BIOL-Z 374
          • BIOL-Z 406 Vertebrate Zoology
          • BIOL-Z 460 Animal Behavior
          • BIOL-Z 462 Genetics of Behavior
          • BIOL-Z 463 Comparative Neurobiology of Animal Behavior
          • BIOL-Z 466 Endocrinology
          • BIOL-Z 476 Biology of Fishes
          • Courses from other College of Arts and Sciences departments
            • ABEH-A 401 Topical Issues in Animal Behavior
            • BIOT-T 310 Biotechnology Lecture
            • BIOT-T 440 Structure, Function, and Regulation of Biomolecules
            • CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry
            • CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry
            • CHEM-C 484 Biomolecules and Catabolism
            • EAS-E 341
            • EAS-X 377 Field Geology and Paleoanthropology at Olduvai Gorge
            • MLS-M 410 Protein Metabolism
            • MLS-M 420 Genome Duplication and Maintenance
            • MLS-M 430 Advanced Gene Regulation: Transcription, Epigenetics, and Human Disease
            • MLS-M 440 Membranes and Signal Transduction
            • MLS-M 450 Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer
            • PSY-P 466 Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology
            • PSY-P 467 Diseases of the Nervous System
            • Courses from outside the College
              • ANAT-A 487
              • ANAT-A 464 HUMAN TISSUE BIOLOGY
              • MSCI-M 375 PARASITOLOGY
              • MSCI-M 470 MECHANISM OF HUMAN DISEASE
              • MSCI-M 480 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF CANCER: CELL SIGNALING AND FATE
              • MSCI-M 485 PHYSIOLOGY OF HUMAN DISEASE
              • PHSL-P 416 COMPARATIVE ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
              • PHSL-P 421 PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
              • SPEA-E 455 LIMNOLOGY
              • SPEA-E 457 INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
      2. Advanced Laboratory. Three (3) courses:
        • Departmental courses
          • BIOL-B 300 Vascular Plants
          • BIOL-B 352 Fungi: Laboratory
          • BIOL-B 364 Summer Flowering Plants
          • BIOL-B 373 Mechanisms of Plant Development
          • BIOL-L 307
          • BIOL-L 313 Cell Biology Laboratory
          • BIOL-L 319 Genetics Laboratory
          • BIOL-L 323 Molecular Biology Laboratory
          • BIOL-L 324 Human Molecular Biology Laboratory
          • BIOL-L 376 Biology of Birds
          • BIOL-L 433 Tropical Biology
          • BIOL-L 465 Advanced Field Biology
          • BIOL-L 474 Field and Laboratory Ecology
          • BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory
          • BIOL-M 316 Molecular Microbiology Laboratory
          • BIOL-M 360 Microbial Physiology Laboratory
          • BIOL-M 375 Human Parasitology
          • BIOL-M 435 Viral Tissue Culture Laboratory
          • BIOL-M 445 Medical Microbiology: Laboratory
          • BIOL-M 465 Environmental Microbiology Laboratory
          • BIOL-M 485 Microbial and Molecular Genetics Laboratory
          • BIOL-P 451 Integrative Human Physiology
          • BIOL-S 211 Molecular Biology, Honors
          • BIOL-S 318 Evolution, Honors
          • BIOL-X 325 ASURE Biology Research Lab 2
          • BIOL-Z 318 Developmental Biology Laboratory
          • BIOL-Z 373 Entomology
          • BIOL-Z 375 Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory
          • BIOL-Z 406 Vertebrate Zoology
          • BIOL-Z 469 Endocrinology Laboratory
          • Courses from other College of Arts and Sciences departments
            • ABEH-A 350 Animal Behavior Laboratory
            • BIOT-T 315 Biotechnology Laboratory
            • BIOT-T 415 Theory and Applications of Biotechnology Laboratory I
            • BIOT-T 425 Laboratory in Macromolecular Production, Purification, and Characterization
            • BIOT-X 325 ASURE Biotechnology Research Lab 2
            • CHEM-X 325 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab II
            • EAS-X 377 Field Geology and Paleoanthropology at Olduvai Gorge
            • PSY-P 473 Laboratory in Molecular Neuroscience
            • Courses from outside the College
              • ANAT-A 464 HUMAN TISSUE BIOLOGY
              • ANAT-A 487
              • MSCI-M 375 PARASITOLOGY
              • SPEA-E 455 LIMNOLOGY
      3. Two (2) of the above Advanced Lectures courses and two (2) of the above Advanced Laboratories courses (300–499 level) must be taken on the Bloomington campus.
  6. Addenda Requirements*.
    1. Chemistry.
      1. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I
        • CHEM-H 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I, Honors
        • CHEM-J 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry for Science Majors
      2. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory
        • CHEM-H 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory, Honors
        • CHEM-X 150 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab I
      3. Organic Chemistry I Lectures. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures
        • CHEM-J 341 Principles of Organic Chemistry I when taken Summer 2024 or later
        • CHEM-S 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures, Honors
      4. Organic Chemistry II Lectures. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II Lectures
        • CHEM-J 342 Principles of Organic Chemistry II when taken Summer 2024 or later
        • CHEM-S 342 Organic Chemistry II Lectures, Honors
      5. Organic Chemistry I Laboratory. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
        • CHEM-J 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Majors
        • CHEM-X 325 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab II
    2. Physics.
      1. Physics I. One (1) course:
        • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
        • PHYS-P 221 Physics I
        • PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
      2. Physics II. One (1) course:
        • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
        • PHYS-P 222 Physics II
        • PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
    3. Statistics. One (1) course:
      • EAS-E 314 Data Analysis for Earth Science
      • LAMP-L 316 Junior Seminar: Analytical Problem Solving
      • MATH-M 365 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
      • PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques
      • PSY-K 310 Statistical Techniques
      • SOC-S 371 Statistics in Sociology
      • STAT-S 300 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
      • STAT-S 303 Applied Statistical Methods for the Life Sciences
      • SPEA-K 300 STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES (fulfills the statistics requirement, it does not count toward the College of Arts and Sciences credit hour requirement)
      • SPH-Q 381 INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS
    4. Mathematics. One (1) of the following options:
      • Calculus I. One (1) course:
        • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
        • MATH-S 211 Honors Calculus I
      • Brief Survey of Calculus. Both of the following:
        1. Survey I. One (1) course:
          • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I
          • MATH-V 119 Applied Brief Calculus I
        2. Survey II. One (1) course:
          • MATH-M 120 Brief Survey of Calculus II
  7. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the BIOL prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
  • Any course, consistent with the policies herein, that is part of a concentration, track, and/or specialization being pursued as part of this academic program
Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements:

  • BIOL-B 101
  • BIOL-L 100 Humans and the Biological World
  • BIOL-L 104 Introductory Biology Lectures
  • BIOL-L 203
  • BIOL-L 212
  • BIOL-L 222 The City as Ecosystem
  • BIOL-L 300
  • BIOL-L 360
  • BIOL-L 350 Environmental Biology
  • BIOL-L 340 Biology of Sexual Diversity
  • BIOL-L 330 Biology of the Cell
  • BIOL-L 302
  • BIOL-L 369 Heredity, Evolution, and Society
  • BIOL-L 370
  • BIOL-M 200 Microorganisms in Nature and Disease
  • BIOL-M 215 Microorganism Laboratory
  • BIOL-M 300
  • BIOL-Z 103

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Biology (BIOLBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Biology - TSAP version (BIOLTSBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology (MICRBA)
  • Bachelor of Science in Biology - TSAP version (BIOLTSBS)
  • Bachelor of Science in Microbiology (MICRBS)
  • Minor in Biology (BIOLMIN)
  • [Name unavailable] (MICRMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.