The Biology Major

Traditional Biology

Students in the Traditional Biology concentration are prepared to pursue advanced graduate study as well as obtain a secondary major in middle or secondary education.

The Biology major consists of at least 62 credits including:

• Four foundational courses: Introduction to Biology (BIOL 150), Botany (BIOL 235), Genetics (BIOL 240), and Zoology (BIOL 245)
• Ecology (BIOL 460)
• Cell Biology (BIOL 480)
• Two seminars
• Nine credits of upper level biology courses (not including courses listed above)
• Either Introduction to Statistics, Pre-Calculus or Calculus
  
• Introduction to Chemistry I and II (CHEM 150 and 152)
• Organic Chemistry I and II (CHEM 201 and 202)
• General Physics I and II (PHYS 131 and 132)

Students planning on majoring in biology should enroll in BIOL 150 and 235, and CHEM 150 and 152 during their freshman year at MCLA. BIOL 240 and 245, along with CHEM 201 and 202 should be taken their sophomore year. The remainder of the Biology courses and PHYS 131 and 132 are taken during the junior and senior years. Pre-Calculus (MATH 150), Calculus (MATH 220) or Statistics (MATH 232) are required and should be taken before the junior year.

The Biology Minor

The Biology minor consists of at least 20 credits including:

• BIOL 100 Concepts in Biology or BIOL 150 Introduction To Biology (4 credits)
• One of the following:BIOL 235 Botany (4 credits), BIOL 240 Genetics (4 credits), BIOL 245 Zoology (4 credits)
• 12 Credits at the 200 level or above with at least one course being at the 300 level or above.