Biology

Biology Office
Shauna C. Anderson, Director
375 WIDB, (801) 422-4294

College of Biolgy and Agriculture Advisement Center
380 WIDB, (801) 422-3042

Admission to Degree Program

The degree program in biology has open enrollment.

The Discipline

A degree for students who desire a broad approach to biology, the major provides solid preparation for graduate schools in most fields of biology as well as for a full range of professional schools.

Career Opportunities

The biology major is designed to help students do the following: improve writing, use problem-solving skills to arrive at a possible diagnosis of a pathologic state, analyze and interpret experimental data, apply a mathematical paradigm to a biological concept, create conceptual models, learn to suspend judgment, critically read scientific literature, evaluate ability of an argument or evidence to support a conclusion, formulate questions and design experiments to answer them empirically, practice quantitative reasoning, distinguish cause from correlation, teach, judge biological concepts in a historical context, and identify similarities and differences.

The skills acquired in the biology major will be valuable to those students desiring to enter a variety of graduate programs or professional schools.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a bachelor’s degree a student must fill three groups of requirements: (1) general education requirements, (2) university requirements, and (3) major requirements.

General Education Requirements

Students should contact their college advisement center for information about general education courses that will also fill major requirements.

Languages of Learning

Liberal Arts Core

Arts and Sciences Electives

Note 1: For a complete list of courses that will fill each GE category, see the General Education section of the current class schedule.

Note 2: Additional information about general education requirements can be found in the General Education section of the current class schedule or this catalog.

Minimum University Requirements

Cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0.

Note: See the Graduation section of this catalog for more information.

Major Requirements

Complete the major requirements listed for one of the folowing undergraduate degree programs.

Undergraduate Program and Degree

Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.

BS Biology (56–60 hours*)

Major Requirements

1. Complete the following core requirements:

   Biol 120, 220, 240, 241, 340, 350, 360, 420, 421.

2. Complete one course from the following:

   InBio 380.
   MMBio 351.
   PAS 440.
   PDBio 305, 362.

3. 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, 152, 281, 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:
   
   a. Upper-division courses:
       1. Students may choose electives from any upper-division courses within the college (except Biol 339, 429, 439). Faculty advisors will be available to offer counsel on the choice of courses. In some cases preapproved upper-division courses from outside the college can be used to fill elective hours. For these prior approval must be obtained from the Biology Office.
       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 supporting course work requirements.
   
   b. Mentored experience: The mentored experience requires from three hours’ minimum to six hours’ maximum effort per week each semester for 1 hour of credit. The mentoring will ideally take place over the course of the student’s final two semesters. 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. Awritten 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.
       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.

Recommended Courses

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

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.

Biology Composite Teaching

See the Department of Integrative Biology for this degree program.

Health Professions

Health Professions Office
Don D. Bloxham, Director
380 WIDB (801) 422-3044

Students interested in chiropractic medicine, dentistry, dental hygiene, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, or in becoming a physician assistant may receive help in planning preprofessional course work and applying to the appropriate professional schools in the Health Professions Advisement Office.

Preveterinary Medicine

Beverly L. Roeder, Advisor
386 WIDB (801) 422-6873

Students interested in applying to veterinary medicine schools should take the following courses as part of the biology major:

Biology Courses (Biol)

Class Schedule					Major Academic Plan (MAP)

100. Principles of Biology. (3:3:1) F, W, Sp, Su Honors and Independent Study also.

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