Bachelor of Science in Biology

Program Contact: Lise Thomas   203-582-8497

The BS in Biology program provides students with a biological and physical science foundation on which they can build a graduate degree in natural science or education, or use to pursue advanced degrees in the fields of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or other health care professions. Those choosing to end their formal education with the bachelor’s degree will have a sufficient level of sophistication in biological science to assume a variety of positions with research institutions, governmental agencies or industry.

Students choose courses and follow a curriculum determined in consultation with their adviser. 

Independent Study in Biology

1. Independent Study/Research can be used to satisfy the departmental requirement for Experiential Learning. 
2. Independent Study cannot be used to satisfy departmental requirements other than Experiential Learning.
3. Students may not exceed a total of 8 credits of Independent Study while completing their undergraduate work.

Honors in Biology

1. An overall GPA of 3.0 or better is required. A GPA of 3.5 in biology is required.
2. Students should announce in writing their intention to pursue honors in biology to both the department chair and academic adviser, no later than May 1 in the spring term of their junior year.
3. Departmental honors students are required to take BIO 399H (Honors Research in Biological Sciences).
4. Students are each responsible for obtaining a sponsor for their project prior to May 1 of their junior year.
5. Successful completion of a senior research project is required. The project must include:
   1. a written proposal;
   2. the actual completion of an approved research project under the supervision and sponsorship of a full-time faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences;
   3. the presentation of the outcome of the research project in the written format approved by the department; and
   4. a seminar presentation of the outcome of the research project.
6. Evidence of excellence in speaking and writing skills, documented by term papers, written work, oral presentations, and grades, as determined by the committee.
7. The actual granting of honors in biology is determined by all full-time faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences.

A list of the department faculty and their research interests is available on the CAS360 website.

BS in Biology Curriculum

Students majoring in biology must meet the following requirements for graduation:

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, students will demonstrate:

1. Knowledge and Comprehension: Successful completion of the following objectives establishes that students have achieved an appropriate understanding of foundational biological concepts.

1. Apply critical thinking and the scientific method to community/world issues and decision-making.
2. Evaluate the quality and validity of scientific evidence.
3. Create an understanding of biology as a whole by integrating and synthesizing information from multiple biological sub-disciplines.

2. Applications and Analysis: Successful completion of the following objectives demonstrates that students have the ability to apply foundational knowledge and analyze information/data to make meaning from it.

1. Demonstrate basic skills and an understanding of safety procedures in the field and/or laboratory.
2. Organize and interpret experimental data (from their own experiments and/or those in primary literature sources).
3. Design and perform well-controlled experiments.

3. Self and Society: Successful completion of the following objectives indicates that students successfully utilize biological knowledge to present and defend opinions in a variety of arenas.

1. Develop an in-depth understanding of the complexity of the natural world by understanding how a biologist thinks about complex systems.
2. Apply scientific methodology and knowledge of biological facts to real world problems.

Admission Requirements: College of Arts and Sciences

The requirements for admission into the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.

Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.

For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.

Pre-Medical Studies Program

Students majoring in Health Science Studies, Biology, Biomedical Sciences or the natural science track of Behavioral Neuroscience may fully participate in the pre-medical studies program. The curriculum in this degree program can fulfill the science prerequisites for most professional schools. Students should refer to Pre-Medical Studies for more information about the pre-medical studies program and contact the Health Professions Advisory Committee for further academic advising.