Biology, BS

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology has been designed in consultation with Georgia employers to fit present and emerging needs in the State of Georgia.

The General Biology Track contains a curriculum that will prepare students for the following professional programs:

  • medical school,
  • dental school,
  • veterinary school, and
  • physical therapy and physician assistant programs.

This curriculum is also designed to prepare students for the following graduate programs:

  • biomedical,
  • public health,
  • environmental science,
  • forensic science, and
  • ecology and evolution.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Identify and/or describe the biological core concepts: evolution; structure and function; information flow, exchange and storage; pathways and transformations of energy and matter; and systems.
  2. Formulate hypotheses and collect, evaluate and interpret scientific data to solve problems in biological science and supporting fields.
  3. Apply quantitative reasoning, modelling and simulations, and laboratory skills to answer questions in the biological sciences.
  4. Relate knowledge of the other sciences, including computer and social sciences, to biological concepts and skills.
  5. Effectively communicate scientific ideas to others inside and outside the biology discipline.
  6. Identify and describe the impact of biological science on the environment and society.
  7. Collaborate with other students inside and outside the biology discipline.

Program Requirements

Core IMPACTS42
All core curriculum recommendations are shown under the Core IMPACTS section of the Undergraduate Graduation Requirements.
Field of Study - Biology18
BIOL 1107
& 1107L		Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology Lab I		4
BIOL 1108
& 1108L		Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology Lab II		4
BIOL 2900Biological Inquiry2
CHEM 2411
& 2411L		Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I		4
PHYS 1111
& 1111L		Introductory Physics I
and Introductory Physics Lab I		4
or PHYS 2211
& 2211L		 Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Lab I
General Biology Track Requirements60
Total Credit Hours120

General Biology Track Requirements

No more than two grades of D in upper-division courses are allowed in the General Biology Track of the Biology major. Upper-division courses are all courses other than those in Core IMPACTS and Field of Study. 1000- or 2000-level courses used in the upper division are included in this restriction.
Upper Division Biology Major Core Requirements
BIOL 3201Genetics3
BIOL 3380Evolution3
BIOL 3500
& 3500L		Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory		4
Physiology Course/Lab4
BIOL 4100
& 4100L		Animal Physiology
and Animal Physiology Lab		4
or BIOL 3700
& 3700L		 Plant Physiology
and Plant Physiology Lab
Cellular Course/Lab4
BIOL 3200
& 3200L		Cell and Molecular Biology
and Cell and Molecular Biology Lab		4
or BIOL 3250
& 3250L		 Introductory Microbiology
and Introductory Microbiology Lab
Organismal Course/Lab4
BIOL 3760
& 3760L		Plant Biology
and Plant Biology Lab 2		4
or BIOL 3650
& 3650L		 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory
and Comparative Vert Anatomy Lab
or BIOL 3320
& 3320L		 Invertebrate Biology
and Invertebrate Biology Lab
Experiential Learning Course3
BIOL 3210Off-Campus Internship3
or BIOL 3211 Off-Campus Internship
or BIOL 3220 On-Campus Internship I
or BIOL 3221 On-Campus Internship II
or BIOL 3230 Introductory Research I
or BIOL 3231 Introductory Research II
or BIOL 4230 Biology Research Practicum I
or BIOL 4231 Biology Research Practicum II
BIOL 4500Biology Seminar I1
BIOL 4999ASenior Evaluation0
or BIOL 4999B Senior Evaluation
Biology and Other Science Electives (min. of 22 hours)
(Any lecture or lab course with a BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, FOSC, MATH, or PHYS prefix. These courses cannot be used for credit in any other area. At least 16 hours must be 3000-4000 level courses. Lower division courses can be used as long as student has a minimum of 42 hours of upper division (3000-4000 level) courses in their degree program. The following courses are not allowed in this area: Any MATH course that is below MATH 1501, any course that is allowed in area D for non-science majors, and BIOL 2260/L)
Free Electives (max. of 12 hours)
(Any course that is not used for credit in any other area can be used here. The total degree requirements must be 120; therefore, free elective hours can be reduced if more hours are used in other areas of the curriculum. Lower division courses can be used as long as student has a minimum of 42 hours of upper division (3000-4000 level) courses. The following courses are not allowed in this area: Any MATH course that is below MATH 1501, any course that is allowed in area D for non-science majors, and BIOL 2260/L, if student is using BIOL 3250/L for credit)
Total Credit Hours60

IMPORTANT NOTES CONCERNING COURSES:

  • If MATH 1501 is used in Core IMPACTS, one hour of credit may be applied to the free electives area.

  • If PHYS 2211/PHYS 2211L is used to satisfy Core IMPACTS, then PHYS 1111/PHYS 1111L and PHYS 1112/PHYS 1112L cannot be used to satisfy the Lower Division Major Requirements.

  • Students should select courses that will help them advance their career goals or that can be applied to a minor.

Please Note: This is a suggested course sequence and assumes a starting freshman with no prior college credit who intends to complete their degree in four years. Students should consult with their academic advisor and review the course prerequisites and minimum grade requirements as seen in the Academic Catalog. 

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
MATH 1112 Trigonometry & Analytic Geom 3
BIOL 1108
& 1108L		 Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology Lab II		 4
ENGL 1101 English Composition I 3
PSYC 1101 Intro to General Psychology 3
COMM 1001 Presentational Speaking 1
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
ENGL 1102 English Composition II 3
CHEM 1211
& 1211L		 Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Lab I		 4
ENGL 2131 American Literature I 3
MATH 1231 - Introductory Statistics 3
ART 2301 Art of the Pre-Modern World 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Year
First Semester
BIOL 1107
& 1107L		 Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology Lab I		 4
CHEM 1212
& 1212L		 Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Lab II		 4
BIOL 2900 Biological Inquiry 2
CRIT 1101 Critical Thinking 3
HIST 1111 Survey-PreModern World History 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
BIOL 3500
& 3500L		 Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory		 4
BIOL 3201 Genetics 3
CHEM 2411
& 2411L		 Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I		 4
POLS 1101 American Government 3
 Credit Hours14
Third Year
First Semester
PHYS 1111
& 1111L		 Introductory Physics I
and Introductory Physics Lab I		 4
CHEM 2412
& 2412L		 Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Lab II		 4
BIOL 3380 Evolution 3
BIOL 3650
& 3650L		 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
and Comparative Vert Anatomy Lab		 4
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
PHYS 1112
& 1112L		 Introductory Physics II
and Introductory Physics Lab II		 4
BIOL 3250
& 3250L		 Introductory Microbiology
and Introductory Microbiology Lab		 4
BIOL 4100
& 4100L		 Animal Physiology
and Animal Physiology Lab		 4
BIOL 3230 Introductory Research I 3
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
First Semester
HIST 2111 Survey of US History to 1877 3
CHEM 4202 3
BIOL 4230 Biol Research Pract I 3
BIOL 3200
& 3200L		 Cell and Molecular Biology
and Cell and Molecular Biology Lab		 4
BIOL 4500 Biology Seminar I 1
CHEM 4402L Advanced Lab II: Biochemistry 2
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
BIOL 4900 Biocomputing 3
BIOL 3320
& 3320L		 Invertebrate Biology
and Invertebrate Biology Lab		 4
CHEM 4205 Medicinal Chemistry 3
CHEM 4203
& 4203L		 Biochemistry II
and Biochemistry Laboratory II		 4
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120