Bachelor of Arts

The B.A. degree requires a minimum of 12 courses with the following specifications:

Double Major with Elementary and Early Childhood Education or Special Education

Students may choose a double major in biology and elementary and early childhood education or special education. Appropriate advising materials are available in the biology department office.

Biology Minor

A minor consists of a minimum of 18 credits in biology. Students must take BIOL 121 and BIOL 122 (General Biology I and II) or their equivalent and four additional courses in biology at or above the 200 level, planned in consultation with the Chairperson of Biological Sciences.

Honors Program

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Departmental Honors Program in Biology. This program provides an opportunity for well-qualified biology majors to conduct independent research in biology. Contact the Department of Biological Sciences for further information concerning eligibility and application.

Undergraduate Research

The Department of Biological Sciences provides the opportunity for students to participate in a true research experience, which is increasingly an advantageous component of undergraduate training.

Each semester, BIOL 497 (Undergraduate Biological Research) is offered by one faculty member who directs and supervises a small team of undergraduates in a research project. Students are intimately involved with experimental design as well as data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The course culminates with a student presentation of the semester's work in a departmental seminar, often followed by presentation at a professional scientific meeting. Research topics vary from semester to semester as different faculty members direct the research course; equally valuable training and experience in scientific methodology is obtained with all topics. The Department of Biological Sciences highly recommends this experience, which adds a valuable dimension that is not provided by ordinary course work.

In addition, BIOL 396 enables students to conduct research under the supervision of a faculty mentor.  A student interested in this opportunity should contact faculty members who have research interests similar to those of the student.

For additional information on undergraduate research, visit the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR).