Program Requirements

BA in biology and BS in biology without an emphasis area

When you pursue either a BA or BS in biology without an emphasis area, the curriculum is non-comprehensive, meaning that you are required to choose a minor. Customize your curriculum by studying a minor that supports your interests and career goals. 

Biology (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Bachelor of Arts
  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. Major Requirements
    1. BIO 121(4), 122(4), 235(4), 310(5) or 320(4), 369(4), 494(1), 550(3) 
    2. Select elective courses in biology to total a minimum of 32 hours and include at least 12 hours of 300 level or higher courses. Electives may be selected from one of the following emphases. Advisors can assist students to select electives to emphasize areas that best meet their interest and career goals. Popular areas of emphasis include pre-health studies (pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-physical therapy, etc.), microbiology, cell/molecular biology, environmental/conservation biology, and zoology, but other areas of emphasis are also possible.
    3. Related Requirements: CHM 201(3) and 202(2), or CHM 342(5) and 343(5) or 344(3); PHY 123(4) and 124(4) or PHY 203(5) and 204(5); MTH 261(5) or 287(3)

    4. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of BIO 369(4) and 494(1) and one additional course from the following: BIO 300(1), 355(4), 370(4), 373(3), 398(1), 399(1-3), 485(1-3), 498(3), 499(1-3), 501(2), 505(3), 508(3), 509(4), 511(4), 512(3), 520(3), 527(1-4), 539(3), 547(3), 561(2), 573(3), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3), 578(4), 579(4), 584(3), 589(3). Course may also be used to satisfy the elective courses in biology.

  3. Minor Required (or second major)
  4. Specific Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
  5. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Biology (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Bachelor of Science
  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. Major Requirements
    1. BIO 121(4), 122(4), 235(4), 310(5) or 320(4), 369(4), 494(1), 550(3)
    2. Select elective courses in biology to total a minimum of 36 hours and include at least 12 hours of 300-level or higher courses.  Advisors can assist students to select electives to emphasize areas that best meet their interest and career goals. Popular areas of emphasis include pre-health studies (pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-physical therapy, etc.), microbiology, cell/molecular biology, environmental/conservation biology, and zoology, but other areas of emphasis are also possible.
    3. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of BIO 369(4) and 494(1) and one additional course from the following: BIO 300(1), 355(4), 370(4), 373(3), 398(1), 399(1-3), 485(1-3), 498(3), 499(1-3), 501(2), 505(3), 508(3), 509(4), 511(4), 512(3), 520(3), 527(1-4), 539(3), 547(3), 561(2), 573(3), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3), 578(4), 579(4), 584(3), 589(3). Course may also be used to satisfy the elective courses in biology.
    4. Related Requirements: CHM 201(3) and 202(2), or CHM 342(5) and 343(5) or 344(3); PHY 123(4) and 124(4) or PHY 203(5) and 204(5); MTH 261(5) or 287(3)
  3. Minor Required (or second major)
  4. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

BS in Biology with an emphasis area

When you pursue the BS in biology with an emphasis area, the curriculum is comprehensive, meaning that you are not required to choose a minor.

Customize your curriculum by choosing from the following emphasis areas:

  • Environmental Biology and Evolution
  • Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Wildlife Biology

Biology (Comprehensive) (BS)

Bachelor of Science

  1. General Education Program and Requirements

  2. Major Requirements

    1. BIO 121(4), 122(4), 235(4), 494(1), 550(3)

    2. PHY 123(4) and 124(4) or PHY 203(5) and 204(5)

    3. MTH 138(5) or 181(3), or eligibility for MTH 261 on mathematics placement test

    4. BIO 310(5) or 320(4) or 361(4) or 544(4); consult options below before selecting course

    5. CHM 116(4) and 117(1), or CHM 160(4) and 161(1); consult options below before selecting course

    6. CHM 201(3) and 202(2), or CHM 302(5) or 342(5); consult options below before selecting course

    7. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of BIO 494(1) and two additional courses from the following: BIO 300(1), 355(4), 369(4), 370(4), 373(3), 398(1), 399(1-3), 485(1-3), 498(3), 499(1-3), 501(2), 505(3), 508(3), 509(4), 511(4), 512(3), 520(3), 527(1-4), 539(3), 547(3), 561(2), 573(3), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3), 578(4), 579(4), 584(3), 589(3). Courses may also be used to satisfy option requirements.

    8. Complete requirements in one of the following options*: Note: With approval of advisor, up to 3 hours of the following can be substituted for one of the BIO courses listed in any option: BIO 300, 399, 499, or 597.

      1. Environmental Biology and Evolution (71-85 hours total)

        1. Required courses: BIO 369(4), 515(3)

        2. Complete courses in biodiversity and evolution totaling at least 3 hours from the following: BIO 334(3), 339(2), 370(4), 371(3), 380(5), 530(3), 571(4), 573(3), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3); the following courses taught during the summer at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi: BIO 534(2), 535(1), 555(3), 556(3), 587(3), 588(3)

        3. Complete courses in population biology totaling at least 3 hours from the following: BIO 436(4), 505(3), 532(3), 540(4), 560(3), 563(3), 567(4), 578(4), 584(3), 589(3); the following courses taught during the summer at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi: BIO 557(2), 558(2)

        4. Complete courses in community/ecosystem biology totaling at least 3 hours from the following: BIO 373(3), 485(1-3), 508(3), 509(4), 533(3), 539(3), 547(3), 562(4), 579(4); the following courses taught during the summer at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi: BIO 537(2), 538(2), 565(3), 566(2)

        5. Students must take at least one biology course with a substantial field component. A course used to satisfy this requirement also may be counted toward the biodiversity, population biology, and community/ecosystem biology concentration areas described above. Complete one of the following: BIO 334(3), 339(2), 370(4), 436(4), 509(3), 527(1-4), 562(4), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3), any biology course taught at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, any biology course taught at the Bull Shoals Field station or another field station (with the approval of your advisor)

        6. Complete 0-7 hours of elective BIO courses at the level of 300 or higher to total a minimum of 43 hours in biology

        7. Complete at least one of the following related requirements in Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer programming: MTH 261(5) or 287(3) or 546(3) or 547(3) or CSC 125(4) or CSC 130(3) or BIO 551(2) or PSY 527(3)

        8. Related requirements in Chemistry: CHM 160(4), 161(1), 170(3), 171(1)

        9. Complete one of the following related science courses: AGN 215(3), ANT 375(3); CHM 260(3) or 460(3); GLG 171(3), GRY 351(3)

        10. Complete one of the following from related fields of study: ECO 540(3), LAW 537(3), PHI 302(3), PLS 555(3), PSY 379(3) 

      2. Microbiology and Biotechnology (71-87 hours total)

        1. Required courses: BIO 310(5), 320(4)

        2. Complete 21 additional hours in BIO courses with a minimum of 18 hours from the following: BIO 355(4), 508(3), 511(4), 512(3); 505(3) or 515(3); 517(4), 518(2), 520(3), 530(3), 540(4); BMS 524(3) may be substituted for one of these courses; CHM 302(5) or 502(4) or 505(4) may be substituted for one of these courses

        3. Related requirements in Chemistry: CHM 160(4), 161(1), 170(3), 171(1); CHM 201(3) and 202(2), or CHM 342(5) and 343(5), or CHM 342(5) and 344(3); CHM 352(3), or CHM 452(3) and 552(3)

      3. Wildlife Biology (68-87 hours total)

        1. Required courses: BIO 320(4) or 361(4), 369(4)

        2. Complete two courses in plant biology from: BIO 334(3), 339(2), 530(3), 544(4)

        3. Complete three courses in animal biology from: BIO 370(4), 371(3), 380(5), 571(4), 573(3), 574(2), 575(3), 576(3), 577(3)

        4. Complete a minimum of 5 hours in management from: BIO 373(3), 485(1-3), 509(4), 532(3), 562(4), 589(3)

        5. Complete two courses in ecology and evolution from: BIO 436(4), 515(3), 539(3), 563(3), 567(4), 578(4), 579(4), 584(3)

        6. Complete one course in human dimensions from the following: AGN 335(3), BIO 547(3), BIO 561(2), CRM 210(3), ECO 540(3), GRY 108(3), GRY 351(2), PHI 302(3), PLS 555(3), LAW 537(3)

        7. Complete one course in earth/environmental science: AGN 215(3), CHM 260(3), GLG 110(4), GRY 142(4) 

  3. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements
Advisement