Welcome to the

Department of

Biological Sciences

Main Office: Conant Science 301

Mrs. Tracie Fagan Admin. Assistant

Phone: 508-531-1358

Small Classes

Excellent “New” Science Complex and Instrumentation

Student-Faculty and Student-Student Interaction

• Courses and Laboratories held with Faculty

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities

• Internship Opportunities

• Tri-Beta Honor Society and Biology Club

• “FISH”: Friday Informal Seminar Hour 12:20 Fridays

• Presentations at Regional and National Conferences

Success of Our Graduates

• Tufts Veterinary School

• Cal Tech

• Dartmouth College

• University of Pittsburgh……

The Department of Biological Sciences…

General Information

Diverse & Challenging Curriculum

Almost all courses have an attached 3 hour laboratory section

Minimum BIOL GPA is 2.3 to graduate (2.0 for BA Degree)

Only one “D” grade permitted (outside of Biology Core Sequence)

In addition to the broad array of biology courses, students have opportunities to join biology faculty in research projects, and to participate in internships, whether local, regional or out of state.

Biology GPA requirement = 2.3.

The following courses may not be applied toward the Biology major

and thus cannot be computed as part of the major GPA:

BIOL 110, BIOL 111, BIOL 112, BIOL 115, BIOL 117, BIOL 119, and BIOL 128.

Students must receive a grade of “C-” or higher for the Biology Core Sequence: BIOL 121-122, BIOL 200, BIOL 225, BIOL 321.

Only one “D” grade allowed--earned in a Bio course taught at BSU and course must be outside of the biology core sequence

Programs and ConcentrationsBS in Biology

Program is designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary for employment in the biotechnology, environmental, health-related and teaching areas, as well as providing a sound foundation for graduate or professional school.

BA in BiologyProgram is designed for the biology major who wishes to use biological knowledge in pursuit of a career outside of biology. Examples of such careers are teaching elementary education, science writing, scientific illustration, technical sales or publishing.

Secondary Education ConcentrationProgram is designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary for initial certification to teach in middle and high school. In Massachusetts, there is a state requirement for continuing your education to the Masters level, typically within five years of initial licensure and employment in the teaching profession.

How advising works in the Biology

Academic AdvisorBiology majors are assigned to a faculty member to serve as their academic advisor.

Students meet one-on-one with their advisor to develop course schedules, resolve issues, and seek advice.

Advisors are assigned by Dept Secretary, Tracie Fagan (CON301)

Overriding a Prerequisite

If you want to

enroll in an upper-

level course

without having the

exact prerequisite,

you must complete

the following form,

allowing you to

enroll in the

course.

Recommendations for

Transfer Students

Take all courses recommended by your advisor

Schedule the rest of your life around them

Dropping a course can set you back a year or more!

Come to our weekly FISH meetings

Fridays at 12:20 in CON 371

Requirements for B.S. Degree in BiologyEffective Fall 2013

Biology Core SequenceNumber Course Name Credits

BIOL 121 General I 4

BIOL 122 General II 4

BIOL 200 Cell Biology 4

BIOL 225 General Ecology 4

BIOL 321 Genetics 4

Beyond the core, 6 more BIOL courses are required:

(At least 3 of these courses must be lab courses)

Distributional Requirements

Electives Requirements

Experiential Learning Requirement

Writing-Designated in Major Requirement

Take one course from each Distribution. A course can only count towards one Distribution.

Biology Distributional Requirements

Cell & Molec.

BiologyPhysiology Organismal Biology

BIOL 350 Molecular Biology BIOL 252 Human Anatomy & Phys. II BIOL 243 Systematic Botany

BIOL 371 Histology BIOL 341 Plant Physiology BIOL 284 Invertebrate Zoology

BIOL 374 Cancer Biology BIOL 360 Biological Clocks BIOL 325 Ichthyology

BIOL 382 Comp. Chordate Anat. BIOL 373 Animal Physiology BIOL 326 Marine Biology

BIOL 395 General Microbiology BIOL 375 Immunology BIOL 327 Wetlands Ecology

BIOL 413 Medical Microbiology BIOL 376 General Endocrinology BIOL 328 Stream Ecology

BIOL 430 Embryology BIOL 395 General Microbiology BIOL 360 Biological Clocks

BIOL 434 Biol. Microscopy BIOL 413 Medical Microbiology BIOL 372 Animal Behavior

BIOL 450 Virology BIOL 436 Mammal. Reprod. Phys BIOL 382 Comp. Chordate Anatomy

BIOL 460 Toxicology Principles BIOL 482 Neurobiology BIOL 408 Biology of Marine Mammals

BIOL 472 Human Genetics BIOL 495 Topics in Physiology BIOL 420 Limnology

BIOL 475 Parasitology BIOL 422 Biological Evolution

BIOL 482 Neurobiology BIOL 423 Invasion Ecology

BIOL 493 Topics in Mol. Biology BIOL 425 Population Ecology

BIOL 494 Topics in Cellular Biol BIOL 460 Toxicology Principles

BIOL 490 Special Topics in Ecology

BIOL 491 Topics in Environmental Biol

BIOL 492 Topics in Field Biology

Cell & Molec.

BiologyPhysiology Organismal Biology

Biology Electives Requirements

Complete ANY three additional biology courses (200-level or above).

Experiential Learning Requirement

BIOL 293 Service-Learning in Biology

BIOL 326 Marine Biology

BIOL 327 Wetlands Ecology

BIOL 328 Stream Ecology

BIOL 350 Molecular Biology

BIOL 355 Biology Study Tour

BIOL 371 Histology

BIOL 395 General Microbiology

BIOL 396 Research Problems in Biology

BIOL 373 Animal Physiology

BIOL 420 Limnology

BIOL 422 Biological Evolution

BIOL 425 Population Ecology

BIOL 430 Embryology

BIOL 434 Biological Microscopy

BIOL 450 Virology

BIOL 460 Toxicology Principles

BIOL 472 Human Genetics

BIOL 475 Parasitology

BIOL 482 Neurobiology

BIOL 485 Honors Thesis

BIOL 497 Undergraduate Biol. Research

Complete one of the following biology courses.

Writing-Designated in the Major Requirement

Complete one of the following biology courses.

BIOL 325 Ichthyology

BIOL 326 Marine Biology

BIOL 328 Stream Ecology

BIOL 341 Plant Physiology

BIOL 360 Biological Clocks

BIOL 373 Animal Physiology

BIOL 374 Cancer Biology

BIOL 395 General Microbiology

BIOL 408 Biology of Marine Mammals

BIOL 423 Invasion Ecology

BIOL 425 Population Ecology

BIOL 497 Undergraduate Biological Research

Cognate RequirementsRequired Courses

CHEM 141- 142 Chemical Principles I & II

CHEM 343-344 Organic Chemistry I & II

MATH 141 or MATH 161

BIOL 297 or MATH 142 or MATH 162

Two additional courses:

CHEM 381 Physical Chemistry I

CHEM 461 Biochemistry I

CHEM 462 Biochemistry II

GEOG 213 Geographic Information Systems

(GIS) I

GEOG 413 Geographic Information Systems

(GIS) II

GEOG 314 Satellite Image Processing

GEOG 322 Biogeography

GEOL 100 Physical Geology

GEOL 210 Oceanography

PHYS 181 Elements of Physics I

PHYS 182 Elements of Physics II

PHYS 243 General Physics I

PHYS 244 General Physics II

Requirements for B.S. Degree in Biology

Secondary Education Concentration

Biology Core SequenceNumber Course Name Credits

BIOL 121 General I 4

BIOL 122 General II 4

BIOL 200 Cell Biology 4

BIOL 225 General Ecology 4

BIOL 321 Genetics 4

Beyond the core, 6 more BIOL courses are required:

Subject matterRequirements

Elective Requirement

Number Course Name Credits

BIOL 251 Human Anat. & Phys. I 4

BIOL 252 Human Anat. & Phys. II 4

BIOL 341 Plant Physiology* 4

BIOL 382

or

BIOL 284

Comp. Chordate Anatomy

or

Invertebrate Zoology

4

BIOL 422 Biological Evolution 3

Biology Subject Matter Requirements

Complete the following 5 biology courses.

*BIOL 341 satisfies Writing Designated Within Major Requirement

Biology Elective Requirement

Complete ONE additional biology course (200-level or above).

Cognate Requirements

Required Courses

CHEM 141- 142 Chemical Principles I & II

CHEM 343-344 Organic Chemistry I & II

MATH 141 or MATH 161

BIOL 297 or MATH 142 or MATH 162

Two additional courses:

CHEM 381 Physical Chemistry I

CHEM 461 Biochemistry I

CHEM 462 Biochemistry II

GEOG 213 Geographic Information Systems

(GIS) I

GEOG 413 Geographic Information Systems

(GIS) II

GEOG 314 Satellite Image Processing

GEOG 322 Biogeography

GEOL 100 Physical Geology

GEOL 210 Oceanography

PHYS 181 Elements of Physics I

PHYS 182 Elements of Physics II

PHYS 243 General Physics I

PHYS 244 General Physics II

Recommended Courses for

New StudentsFall

BIOL 121 General Biology I

BIOL 150 Biology for Life

CHEM 141

MATH

SpringBIOL 122 General Biology II

CHEM 142

MATH

Four-Year Plan for BS Degree