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
- Students may take a maximum of 4 credits of Independent Study/Research (BIO 498 or BIO 499, not a combination of the two courses) to be counted toward the biology electives (Experiential Learning Component).
- Students may take an additional 1–4 credits of Independent Study/Research to meet the maximum of 8 credits allowed. The additional 4 credits can be applied only to the “open/free electives.”
Honors in Biology
- An overall GPA of 3.0 or better is required. A GPA of 3.5 in biology is required.
- 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.
- Departmental honors students are required to take BIO 399H (Honors Research in Biological Sciences).
- Students are each responsible for obtaining a sponsor for their project prior to May 1 of their junior year.
- Successful completion of a senior research project is required. The project must include:
- a written proposal;
- 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;
- the presentation of the outcome of the research project in the written format approved by the department; and
- a seminar presentation of the outcome of the research project.
- Evidence of excellence in speaking and writing skills, documented by term papers, written work, oral presentations, and grades, as determined by the committee.
- 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 in the department office.
BS in Biology Curriculum
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
Biological Science Core Requirements | ||
BIO 150 & 150L | General Biology for Majors and General Biology for Majors Laboratory | 4 |
BIO 151 & 151L | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Lab | 4 |
BIO 152 & 152L | Ecological and Biological Diversity and Ecological and Biological Diversity Laboratory | 4 |
BIO 298 | Research Methods in Biology | 3 |
Physical Science Core Requirements | ||
CHE 110 & 110L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
CHE 111 & 111L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
CHE 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
CHE 211 & 211L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
PHY 110 & 110L | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | 4 |
PHY 111 & 111L | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | 4 |
Biology Electives 2 | ||
Select a minimum of one course from each of the following categories: | ||
Molecular and Cellular Electives: | ||
BIO 240 | Cellular Communication | 3 |
BIO 282 & 282L | Genetics and Genetics Lab | 4 |
BIO 317 & 317L | Developmental Biology and Developmental Biology Lab | 4 |
BIO 346 & 346L | Cell Physiology and Cell Physiology Lab | 4 |
BIO 365 | Cancer Biology | 3 |
BIO 382 & 382L | Human Genetics and Human Genetics Lab | 4 |
BIO 471 & 471L | Molecular Genetics and Molecular Genetics Lab | 4 |
Organismal Electives: | ||
BIO 323 & 323L | Invertebrate Zoology and Invertebrate Zoology Lab | 4 |
BIO 328 & 328L | Human Clinical Parasitology and Human Clinical Parasitology Lab | 4 |
BIO 352 & 352L | Botany and Botany Lab | 4 |
BIO 356 & 356L | Aquatic Ecology and Aquatic Ecology Lab | 4 |
BIO 358 & 358L | Life on a Changing Planet and Life on a Changing Planet Lab | 4 |
BIO 375 & 375L | Physiological Models for Human Disease and Physiological Models for Human Disease Lab | 4 |
BIO 383 | Evolution | 3 |
Physiology Electives: | ||
BIO 211 & 211L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab I | 4 |
BIO 212 & 212L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 4 |
BIO 225 & 225L | Physiological Diversity and Physiological Diversity Lab | 4 |
BIO 329 | Neurobiology | 3 |
BIO 350 | Cardiovascular Physiology | 3 |
Experiential Learning (Biological Component): | ||
BIO 385 | Experiential Inquiry in Biology | 1-4 |
BIO 498 | Independent Study in Biology | 1-4 |
BIO 499 | Independent Study in Biology | 1-4 |
1 | All students must complete University Curriculum requirements. |
2 | Co-requisite courses must be taken simultaneously. |
Students choose courses and follow a curriculum determined in consultation with their adviser. The minimum number of credits required for graduation is 120. Students take open electives to fulfill the minimum number of credits for graduation. The recommended curriculum for the completion of the requirements for the BS in biology follows.
Recommended Curriculum
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
First Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
BIO 150 & 150L | General Biology for Majors and General Biology for Majors Laboratory | 4 |
CHE 110 & 110L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
MA 140 | Pre-Calculus | 3 |
Spring Semester | ||
BIO 151 & 151L | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Lab | 4 |
CHE 111 & 111L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
MA 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable | 3 |
Second Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
BIO 152 & 152L | Ecological and Biological Diversity and Ecological and Biological Diversity Laboratory | 4 |
BIO 298 | Research Methods in Biology | 3 |
CHE 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
UC University Curriculum | 3 | |
Open Elective | 1 | |
Spring Semester | ||
BIO Biology Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
CHE 211 & 211L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
UC University Curriculum | 3 | |
UC University Curriculum | 3 | |
Open Electives | 1-2 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
BIO Biology Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
PHY 110 & 110L | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | 4 |
UC University Curriculum | 3 | |
Foreign Language I | 3 | |
Open Electives | 1-2 | |
Spring Semester | ||
BIO Biology Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
PHY 111 & 111L | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | 4 |
UC University Curriculum | 3 | |
Foreign Language II | 3 | |
Open Electives | 1-2 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
BIO Biology Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
Open Elective | 3 | |
Open Elective | 3 | |
Open Elective | 3 | |
Open Electives | 2-3 | |
Spring Semester | ||
UC Integrative Capstone | 3 | |
Open Elective | 3 | |
Open Elective | 3 | |
Open Electives | 5 |
1 | Some biology courses have no laboratory component and are 3-credit rather than 4-credit courses. |
Initial placement in the English and mathematics courses is determined by examination and an evaluation of high school units presented. Students intending to pursue graduate or professional studies (medicine, dentistry, osteopathy or veterinary medicine) are advised to complete at least one semester of calculus. A minimum of MA 141 is required for graduation. BIO 150/BIO 150L, BIO 151, BIO 151L and BIO 152/BIO 152L are required for graduation. Students intending to pursue studies in professional health care fields are advised to complete additional courses chosen in consultation with their adviser.
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 freshmen 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.