BS     Biology (58.5–61.5 hours*)

Major Requirements

1. Complete the following core requirements:
   Biol 101, 120, 220, 240, 241, 340, 350, 360, 420, 421.

   Complete one course from the following:

   InBio 380.

   PAS 440.

   PDBio 362.

   Complete one course from the following:

   Math 112, 119.

   Stat 221.

   Complete one of the following options:

   Either Phscs 105, 106, 107, 108.

   Or Phscs 121, 123, 220.

   Complete at least 13 hours from the following:

   Chem 105, 106, 107, 223, 285, 351, 352, 353, 481.

   Complete at least 12 hours of elective courses. Electives may include upper-division courses, mentored experience, or a combination of the two:

   1. Upper-division courses:
      1. Electives must include 6 hours of approved upper-division courses from the college (any R or stand-alone lab courses are not acceptable). The remaining 6 hours may include other approved upper-division courses (chemistry courses must be 352 or above) and/or a mentored experience (Biol 399R, 489R, 494R, 499R).

      2. Students who are admitted to dental, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, naturopathic, or pharmacy schools after their junior year can transfer credits from the first year of professional school back to BYU to fulfill the biology electives.

   2. Mentored experience:
      The mentored experience requires from three hours' minimum to six hours' maximum effort per week each semester for 1 hour of credit. Three options exist for obtaining mentored experience (BYU Study Abroad programs are unacceptable substitutes):

      1. Mentored research. Students must be accepted to work under a faculty member's direction. They will frequently associate with other researchers working under the mentor's direction. A written paper and oral presentation are required as fulfillment of the mentored experience. Student research often leads to participation in a publication and/or a presentation at a professional meeting.

      2. Mentored internship. Students may obtain credit for a previously approved academic internship program in which the appropriate credit hours are assigned for the experience (limit of 6 credit hours toward biology electives). Students may also plan a semester away into their schedule. By interning in the U.S. and being a full-time student through Independent Study, they may keep scholarships and financial aid without attending class or deferring.

      3. Senior thesis. The student may obtain credit for the production of a senior thesis, derived primarily from library study that extensively explores relevant questions determined by an approved faculty mentor. The senior thesis option consists of a combination of course work and credit for the senior thesis research. A prospectus for the senior thesis must be approved by the Biology Office prior to assigning the number of credit hours that apply to the thesis. The final thesis must be submitted and approved before credit will be accepted for the mentored experience.

   Complete an exit interview.

   Pass a national biology field examination.

Recommended Courses

The following courses are recommended for students interested in graduate and professional programs:

Phscs 105, 106, 107, 108

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.

Biology Composite Teaching

See the Department of Biology (formerly Integrative Biology) for this degree program.