Required Courses
This major at Illinois State University requires the completion of 37 credit hours of Biology course work.
BSC 196
Biological Diversity - 4 Credit Hours
BSC 197
Molecular & Cellular Biology - 4 Credit Hours
BSC 201
Evolutionary Ecology - 4 Credit Hours
BSC 203
Cell Biology - 3 Credit Hours
BSC 219
Genetics - 3 Credit Hours
BSC 220
Laboratory in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology - 2 Credit Hours
BSC 297
Biological Evolution - 2 Credit Hours
BSC 304 or BSC 293
Senior Seminar in Biology or Introduction to Undergraduate Research
1 Credit Hour
BSC electives*
Must include 2 laboratory courses - 14 Credit Hours
CHE 220**
Elem. Organic Chemistry - 5 Credit Hours
PHY 105**
Fundamentals of Physics - 4 Credit Hours
MAT 120***
Finite Mathematics - 4 Credit Hours
MAT 121***
Applied Calculus - 4 Credit Hours
Total
54 Credit Hours
Major GPA
All the required and elective courses listed above are used in the calculation of the Major GPA. The Major GPA required for a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences is 2.00.
* Electives : The 14 elective credits in biology may be selected from a wide variety of offerings. This flexibility allows students to take extensive course work in one particular area of specialization or sample courses in a variety of areas. BSC 202, 307, and Biological Science courses below 195 may not be used in the major.
**Chemistry and Physics : All biology majors must take chemistry courses through a laboratory course in Organic Chemistry, either CHE 220 - Elementary Organic Chemistry or CHE 230, 231 - Organic Chemistry I, lab and lecture, and at least one semester of physics with a laboratory, either PHY 105 - Fundamentals of Physics, PHY 108 - College Physics I, or PHY 110 - Physics for Science and Engineering. Physics 110 has a calculus prerequisite; PHY 105 and l08 do not. Most Biological Science majors graduate with a minor in chemistry although a minor is not required for graduation.
***Mathematics : All biology majors must take advanced mathematics. Two options available.
- Option 1. MAT 120 - Finite Mathematics and MAT 121 - Applied Calculus.
- Option 2. MAT 145 and 146 - Calculus I and II. This option is strongly recommended for students interested in medicine, physiology, ecology, or graduate school and students in the Honors Program. ECO/GEO/POL/PSY 138 may be substituted for MAT 146.