Biological Sciences Undergraduate Curricular Requirements
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Biology (B.A. or B.S.)
To graduate in this program, students must earn a minimum grade of C in Biol 115 and 116 and must have a minimum gpa of 2.40 in Biol 115, 116, 210, 212, and 213.
Required course work includes the university requirements (see regulation J-3), and the following major requirements (electives to be chosen in consultation with the departmental advisor).
Perspectives in Biology (1 cr) |
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Cells and the Evolution of Life (4 cr) |
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Organisms & Environments (4 cr) |
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Genetics (4 cr) |
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Molecular and Cellular Biology (4 cr) |
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Principles of Biological Structure and Function (4 cr) |
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Ecology and Population Biology (4 cr) |
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Senior Capstone (2 cr) |
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Advanced Evolutionary Biology (3 cr) |
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Principles of Chemistry I (4 cr) |
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Principles of Chemistry II (5 cr) |
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Carbon Compounds and Lab or |
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Organic Chemistry and Lab (4 cr) |
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Survey of Calculus or |
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Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4 cr) |
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Introductory Biochemistry or |
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Survey of Biochemistry (3‑4 cr) |
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General Physics I (4 cr) |
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General Physics II (4 cr) |
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Statistical Methods (3 cr) |
NOTE: Students considering graduate school in biology are strongly encouraged to take Math 170, Chem 277/278, and MMBB 380.
9 credits of approved electives from the following list are required (categories are intended only as a guide for student and advisor use). Additional classes can be substituted with prior approval of adviser and chairperson.
Natural History
Animal Behavior (3 cr) |
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Ichthyology (4 cr) |
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Mammalogy (3 cr) |
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Herpetology (4 cr) |
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Insect Identification (4 cr) |
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Systematic Botany (3 cr) |
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Ornithology (4 cr) |
Anatomy/Physiology
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 cr) |
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Comparative Vertebrate Physiology (4 cr) |
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Comparative Vertebrate Reproduction (3 cr) |
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Insect Anatomy and Physiology (3 cr) |
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Microbial Physiology (3 cr) |
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Plant Pathology (3 cr) |
Quantitative/Integrative Biology
ST: Experimental Field Ecology (3 cr) |
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Plant-Animal Interactions (3 cr) |
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Insect Ecology (3 cr) |
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Mathematical Biology (3 cr) |
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Microbial Ecology (3 cr) |
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Conservation Biology (3 cr) |
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Fish and Wildlife Population Ecology (4 cr) |
Molecular/Cellular/Developmental (MCD) Biology
Experimental Approaches in the Biological Sciences (3 cr) |
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Genomics (3 cr) |
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Neurobiology (3 cr) |
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Principles of Developmental Biology (3 cr) |
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Immunology (3 cr) |
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Advanced Lab Techniques (4 cr) |
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Cell Biology (3 cr) |
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Genetic Engineering (3 cr) |
In addition to the above electives, Biology majors are encouraged to enroll in at least 3 credits of coursework that emphasizes social, political or philosophical aspects of biology. A list of suggested courses will be provided by the student's advisor and is available on the department's website.
Biology B.A. students must also complete:
6 credits (two courses) in the humanities in addition to the minimum university-wide core requirement of 14 credits in the humanities/social sciences*
3 credits (one course)in the social sciences in addition to the minimum university-wide core requirement of 14 credits in the humanities/social sciences*
Foreign Languages 0-16 credits (zero-four courses) competence in one foreign language equivalent to that gained by the completion of four semesters of college courses through the intermediate level. This requirement may be satisfied by the completion of either of the following options (1) 16 credits or four high-school units in one foreign language, or (2) 12 credits in one foreign language, and one three-credit course in literature translated from the same language. The 12 credits may be satisfied by three high-school units in one foreign language.
*Courses satisfying the humanities requirement are those dealing with the arts, literature, and philosophy. Courses satisfying the social science requirement are those courses dealing with a person's social condition including social relations, institutions, history, and participation in an organized community. Refer to online degree audit system through Web registration system or your academic advisor for a listing of appropriate courses.
Biology B.S. students must also complete:
3 credits (one course) in the humanities in addition to the minimum university-wide core requirement of 14 credits in the humanities/social sciences*
3 credits (one course) in the social sciences in addition to the minimum university-wide core requirement of 14 credits in the humanities/social sciences*
*Courses satisfying the requirement are those dealing with the arts, literature, and philosophy. Courses satisfying the social sciences requirement are those courses dealing with a person's social condition including social relations, institutions, history, and participation in an organized community. Refer to online degree audit system through Web registration system or your academic advisor for a listing of appropriate courses.
A student may substitute for these requirements the successful completion of an academic minor or an area of emphasis of at least 18 credits approved by the Biological Sciences Department.
Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Studies
Admission to schools of medicine or dentistry involves satisfactorily fulfilling prerequisite course work, obtaining a sufficiently high score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or Dental Admission Test (DAT), submitting completed applications, and having a successful interview. The allied health advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences advises students in all areas of the application process and maintains MCAT and DAT study materials through the Reserve Desk in the University Library. A committee of three faculty members interviews pre-medical students (and pre-dental students on request), writes a letter of evaluation, and provides guidance to students in the interview process. A video recording of the interview is reviewed by the student with the allied health advisor to better prepare the student for formal interviews elsewhere.
Students with interests in either the M.D., D.D.S., or D.M.D. degree are urged to contact Professor Ingermann, Gibb 237, as early as possible.
NOTE: Pre-medical and pre-dental students are strongly encouraged to take Chem 277/278.
Pre-Nursing Studies
Admission to a school of nursing involves meeting satisfactorily its entrance requirements, acceptable scholastic records or a satisfactory score on the nursing admission test, and possession of personal qualifications essential for effective nursing. Nursing schools differ in their prerequisites. Students should investigate the requirements of their school of choice.
The following two-year program is suggested for students who plan to transfer to a school of nursing.
Human Anatomy (4 cr) |
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Human Physiology (4 cr) |
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Introduction to Chem I or |
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Principles of Chem I (4 cr) |
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Carbon Compounds and Lab (4 cr) |
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Concepts in Human Nutrition (3 cr) |
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General Microbiology or |
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Intro Biology of Bacteria and Viruses (3 cr) |
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Introduction to Psychology (3 cr) |
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Introduction to Sociology (3 cr) |
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Statistical Methods (3 cr) |
Humanities and social sciences electives (at least 6 cr in each field) (21 cr)
Communications electives (3 cr must be in written communication) (6 cr)
Electives (2 cr)
NOTE: Pre-nursing students are strongly encouraged to take Math 143.
Pre-Physical Therapy Studies
UI does not have a professional program in physical therapy and does not offer a degree program in pre-physical therapy. Students can, however, take courses that are prerequisites for admission into master's, or doctoral degree programs in physical therapy at other institutions. Since a B.S. or B.A. degree is also required for admission into these programs, we strongly urge students to pursue a B.S. or B.A. degree in a related area (such as biology or psychology) while completing the prerequisites for admission to a physical therapy degree program. UI students designating pre-physical therapy as a major will be temporarily placed in the biology major. The pre-physical therapy advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences advises students interested in preparing to enter into a professional program at another institution.
Recommended Preparation
The doctoral program in physical therapy at Idaho State University, Idaho's only physical therapy program, is required by law to fill most of its program with Idaho residents. Consequently, Idaho residents have a competitive advantage in applying to this program. In addition to completing an undergraduate degree, the successful applicant must have completed the following list of prerequisite courses for the Idaho State University program. Students interested in the prerequisite courses for other programs should contact Professor Rolf Ingermann.
Prerequisite Courses (with a GPA of 3.0 in each category):
Biology (3 courses)
Courses 1 & 2: |
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Course 3: |
Upper-division course, 3 cr minimum (Lab-only course will NOT be accepted. Courses in plant biology or evolution will NOT be accepted) |
Chemistry (2 courses)
and Chem 112 Introductory Chemistry with laboratory |
Physics (2 courses)
and Phys 112 Introductory Physics with laboratory |
Math/Statistics (1 course)
Statistical Methods |
Psychology and Sociology or Anthropology or Health Science (2 courses)
Course 1: |
Psyc 101 Introductory Psychology |
Course 2: |
Sociology or Anthropology or Health Science or Psychology. (This course must be relevant to health care, rural societies, cultural diversity, aging, health care administration, abnormal psychology or epidemiology. Marriage/family, religion or history courses will not meet this requirement.) |