Oct 14, 2024  
2024-2025 Course Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Course Catalog

Biology BS


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B.S. Biology

The B.S. Biology degree is intended to provide a fundamental base in biology while allowing the latitude for students to pursue a wide range of biology topics in which they have interest. Recent recipients of this degree are employed as health care professionals, laboratory technicians, environmental consultants, naturalists, and in other positions in business, industry, and government.

Students with more specific interests in biology, may choose one of the two following tracks.

  • The Biomedical Sciences Track is designed for students seeking to continue their education in a medical, optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, dental, or other medically related professional school. Students in this track, may also aspire to pursue graduate programs in any biomedical science, including microbiology, immunology, anatomy, physiology, biotechnology, molecular biology, forensic science, and other areas. 
  • The Organismal Track prepares students seeking a broad intellectual foundation in the life sciences. Students completing this degree track are prepared to enter graduate school or careers in biological disciplines including zoology (invertebrate or vertebrate), botany, conservation and/or environmental science, ecology, and evolutionary biology.

Learning outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate a foundational knowledge of core concepts and processes applicable across the biological sciences. 
  2. Students will apply principles of the scientific method towards questions and authentic experiential learning opportunities in biology.
  3. Students will be able to access and peruse scientific literature, identify relevancy and legitimacy of published materials, and effectively articulate biological research orally and in written form. 
  4. Students will demonstrate an ability to use scientific instrumentation to conduct biological investigations across a number of subdisciplines. 

Degree Requirements

General Education Program and FYE                                                                             31 hours

The Quantitative Reasoning and Natural Science components of the GEP are satisfied by the requirements of the bachelor of science in biology. See the General Education Program Requirements by Content Category for further information about the GEP. 

Biology Curriculum                                                                                                    28-53 hours

Math and Support Sciences                                                                                       25-34 hours

General Electives                                                                                                        9-32 hours

Minimum total hours                                                                                                  120 hours

Biology Curriculum (28-30 hours)


Physics or Geology (8 hours)


Select a total of 8 hours of PHYS or 8 hours of GEOL prefixed courses.

General Electives (29-32 hours)


Once all other requirements have been met (GEP, Biology Curriculum, and Math and Support Science) you must take enough General Electives to meet the 120 hour requirement for the degree.  See special notes.

Biomedical Sciences Track


Students in the Biomedical Sciences Track within the BS Biology degree will be required to take the following series of courses. A C- or better is required in all BIOL, CHEM, and PHYS prefixed courses within the courses below.

Biology Curriculum (44-46 hours)


Biology Foundation (14 hours)


Same as listed in the BS Biology degree.

Biology Electives (14-16 hours)


Select a minimum of 7 hours in the Anatomy/Physiology electives category and a minimum of 7 hours in the Microbiology electives category listed in the BS Biology degree.

Mathematics and Support Courses (33-34 hours)


Same as listed in the BS Biology degree with the following additions and exception.

Communications (0 hours)


No specific Communications requirement for the biomedical sciences track.

General Electives (9-12 Hours)


Once all other requirements have been met (GEP, Capstone, Biology Curriculum, and Math and Support Science) you must take enough General Electives to meet the 120 hour requirement for the degree.  See special notes.

Organismal Track


Students in the Organismal Track within the BS Biology degree will be required to take the following series of courses. A C- or better is required in all BIOL, CHEM, and PHYS prefixed courses within the courses below.

Biology Curriculum (53 hours)


Biology Foundation (14 hours)


Same as listed in the BS Biology degree.

Biology Electives (16 Hours)


Select a minimum of 8 hours in the Zoology electives category and a minimum of 8 hours in the Botany electives category listed in the BS Biology degree.

Organismal Track Biology Courses (7 hours)


Organismal Track Electives (16 hours)


Choose 16 credit hours of amy BIOL prefixed course not already credited under the other cores of the degree.  All hours must be 2000-level or above, with 4 hours at 4000-level.  Only 4 hours of BIOL 4495 may be counted.

Mathematics and Support Courses (22-23 hours)


Same as listed in the BS Biology degree with the following exception.

Communications (3 hours)


Same as for the BS Biology degree.

General Electives (10-11 hours)


Once all other requirements have been met (GEP, Biology Curriculum, and Math and Support Science) you must take enough General Electives to meet the 120 hour requirement for the degree. See special notes.

Special Notes


  • Students must complete—at Shawnee State— at least 12 credit hours in their majors. The 12 hours must be taken at the 3000 or 4000 level. In the case of the BS natural science, at least 8 of the 12 upper division hours must be in the first concentration.
  • General Electives:  Elective hours are not limited to any particular area of study and can be earned in science to enhance the major or to complete requirements for a minor. Courses from all departments of the University can be used to satisfy the electives requirements. Electives should include courses in the arts and humanities. Coherent groups of courses are encouraged and should be chosen with the student’s career objectives and personal interests in mind. Consultation with your faculty advisor is highly recommended so that electives can be an important component of your educational experience.

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