Degree

General Education Requirements
Students must satisfy the university and college general education requirements. Some Biology courses may be used to meet the science and mathematics requirement of the university.

Candidates for the B.A. degree must fulfill the foreign language requirement of the College of Arts and Sciences. There is no foreign language requirement for the B.S. degree.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option
Up to 18 credit hours may be taken on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (s/u) basis. Excluded from this option are required courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Non-major biology courses
The following 1000 level biology courses do not count toward the biology credit hours required for a major in biology. Moreover, if biology majors take these courses, they are treated as biology courses when computing the 70 credit hours outside of biology needed to be included in the 120 total credit hours required for graduation.

1102, Human Biology
1131, Human Physiology and Anatomy I
1141, Human Physiology and Anatomy II
1162, General Microbiology
1202, Environmental Biology

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Biology
The B.A. degree provides maximum flexibility for biology majors to pursue an undergraduate liberal arts course of study that can lead to professional careers in medicine, allied health, public and environmental health, law, and graduate studies in the life sciences. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in biology courses.

All B.A. degree majors must take at least 39 credit hours but not more than 50 hours in appropriate biology course work. Transfer student must satisfactorily complete at least 18 credit hours of UM-St. Louis biology course work (including one laboratory) at the 2000 level or above before receiving a B.A. degree from the College of Arts and Sciences with a major in biology.

Lecture and Seminar Course Requirements

1)Core Courses. The following biology courses or their equivalents are required:

1821, Introductory Biology: Organisms and the Environment
1831, Introductory Biology: From Molecules to Organisms 
2012, Genetics
3302, Introduction to Evolution
3622, Cell Biology
4889, Senior Seminar, or 4985 and 4986 for those seeking teacher certification.

One of the following diversity courses: 
BIOL 2102, General Ecology or
BIOL 2402, Vertebrate Biology or 
BIOL 2442, Invertebrate Biology or
BIOL 2482, Microbiology or
BIOL 2501, Biology of Plants or
BIOL 4402, Ornithology or
BIOL 4422, Entomology or  
BIOL 4501, Flowering Plant Families: Phylogeny and Diversification

2)Elective Courses. Three additional biology lecture courses, at the 2000 level or higher are required. They may be selected from any of the lecture or lecture-laboratory courses offered. Selection of these courses should reflect the career interest of the student. Biology courses taken to fulfill basic skill requirements (e.g., statistics requirement or biochemistry option) can be used to satisfy this requirement.

At least two biology lecture courses taken as part of the core or as electives must be at the 4000 level or higher

No more than one of these higher level courses can be used to fulfill other requirements (e.g., diversity or statistics requirements, or biochemistry option).

Laboratory Course Requirements
Three biology laboratory courses at the 2000 level or higher are required. They may be taken from any of the lecture-laboratory or laboratory courses offered. Two credit hours of Biol 4905 can be used to fulfill one laboratory requirement. Students may take Chem 4733 to satisfy one of these laboratory course requirements, but students may not use both Biol 4713 and Chem 4733 to fulfill this requirement.

Basic Skills Requirement
A well-rounded biologist needs certain skills outside the biology subject matter. The basic skills requirement is designed to provide the student with a background in communication skills and knowledge in associated science areas.

1)Communication Skills. Courses in foreign languages and in writing are required for development of the basic communication skills needed to transmit scientific information. The following satisfy this requirement:

Foreign Language
The foreign language requirement of the College of Arts & Sciences fulfills the departmental requirement.

Writing
Eng 3100, Advanced Expository Writing or
Eng 3160, Writing in the Sciences (strongly preferred)

2) Associated Science Area. The following courses or their equivalents must be successfully completed in science areas related to biology:

Phys 1011, Basic Physics
Phys 1012, Basic Physics

Chem 1111, Introductory Chemistry I or [Chem 1082 and Chem 1091]
Chem 1121, Introductory Chemistry II
Chem 2612, Organic Chemistry I

One of the following:
Chem 2223, Quantitative Analysis or
Chem 2622, Organic Chemistry II or
Chem 2633, Organic Chemistry Laboratory or
Biol/Chem 4712, Biochemistry

Math 1310, College Algebra
Math 1035, Trigonometry
Math 1100, Basic Calculus or
Math 1800, Analytical Geometry and Calculus

One of the following:
Biol 4122, Biometry or
Math 1310, Elementary Statistical Methods or
Math 1320, Applied Statistics I or
Ed Rem 5730, Educational Statistics or
Psych 2201, Psychological Statistics

Bachelor of Science in Biology
The B.S. degree in biology is designed to prepare students for basic technical positions and graduate studies in the life sciences. Candidates for the degree have the same core courses and general education requirements as those seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as addition requirements in depth of study, laboratory experience, communication skills, and background in associated science areas. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in biology courses.

There is no foreign language requirement for the B.S. degree. However, students should realize that the literature for biological studies is in many different languages and the ability to extract information from this literature is an important skill.

To fulfill the requirements for the B.S. degree a minimum of 44 hours but not more than 50 hours must be completed in appropriate biology course work. Transfer students must satisfactorily complete at least 22 credit hours of UM-St. Louis biology course work (including two laboratory courses) at the 2000 level or higher before receiving a B.S. degree in biology.

Lecture and Seminar Course Requirements

1) Core Courses. The following biology courses or their equivalents are required:

1821, Introductory Biology: Organisms and the Environment
1831, Introductory Biology: From Molecules to Organisms 
2012, Genetics
3302, Introduction to Evolution
3622, Cell Biology
4889, Senior Seminar or 4985 and 4986 for those seeking teacher certification.

One of the following diversity courses:
2402, Vertebrate Biology or
2442, Invertebrate Biology or
2482, Microbiology or
2501, Biology of Plants or
4402, Ornithology or
4422, Entomology or
4482, Parasitology or
4501, Flowering Plants Families

2) Elective Courses. Four additional biology lecture courses at the 2000 level or higher are required. They may be selected from any of the lecture or lecture-laboratory courses offered. Selection of these courses should reflect the career interest of the student. Biology courses taken to fulfill basic skill requirements (e.g., statistics requirement or biochemistry option) can be used to satisfy this requirement.

At least three biology lecture courses taken as part of the core or as electives must be at the 4000 level or higher. No more than two of these higher level courses can be used to fulfill other requirements (e.g., diversity or statistics requirements, or biochemistry option).

Laboratory Course Requirements. Four biology laboratory courses at the 2000 level or higher are required. They may be selected from any of the lecture-laboratory or laboratory courses offered. Two credit hours of Biol 4905 can be used to fulfill one laboratory requirement. Students may take Chem 4733 to satisfy one of these laboratory course requirements, but students may not use both Biol 4713 and Chem 4733 to fulfill this requirement.

Basic Skills Requirement
A well-rounded biologist needs certain skills outside the biology subject matter. The basic skills requirement is designed to provide the student with a background in communication skills and knowledge in associated science areas.

1) Communication Skills. Courses in both formal speaking and writing are required for development of the basic communication skills needed to transmit scientific information. The following courses satisfy this requirement:
Formal Speaking
Comm 1040, Introduction to Public Speaking

Writing

Eng 3100, Advanced Expository Writing or
Eng 3160, Writing in the Sciences (strongly preferred)

2) Associated Science Area : The following courses or their equivalents must be successfully completed:

Phys 1011, Basic Physics
Phys 1012, Basic Physics

Chem 1111, Introductory Chemistry I, or [Chem 1082 and Chem 1091]
Chem 1121, Introductory Chemistry II
Chem 2612, Organic Chemistry I
Chem 2622, Organic Chemistry II or
Biol/Chem 4712, Biochemistry
Chem 2223, Quantitative Analysis or
Chem 2633, Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Math 1030, College Algebra
Math 1035, Trigonometry
Math 1100, Basic Calculus, or
Math 1800, Analytic Geometry and Calculus I

One of the following:
Biol 4122, Biometry or
Math 1310, Elementary Statistical Methods or
Math 1320, Applied Statistics I or
Ed Rem 5730, Educational Statistics or
Psych 2201, Psychological Statistics
Phil 2256, Bioethics or
Phil 3380, Philosophy of Science

Research Opportunity.
Students in the B.S. Biology degree program who are interested in gaining research experience are encouraged to take a minimum 2 credit hours of undergraduate research, Biol 4905. The privilege of doing undergraduate research provides students with a firsthand opportunity to experience the research process under the supervision of a faculty member or off-campus scientist. The project normally includes laboratory or field experience and a summary paper or presentation. Click here for more details.

Bachelor of Science in Education with Emphasis in Biology
The B.S. Ed. is a professional degree designed for individuals who wish to pursue a teaching career in biology in the secondary schools. The biology requirements parallel those for the B.A. degree with the exception that Biol 4985, Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Life Sciences, and Biol 4986, Laboratory in Teaching Life Sciences, are substituted for Biol 4889, Senior Seminar. Students must also fulfill the requirements for the B.S. Ed. degree as prescribed by the College of Education.

Bachelor of Arts in Biology with Teacher Certification
Biology majors interested in teaching biology in secondary schools may obtain teacher certification in cooperation with the College of Education by fulfilling the B.A. or B.S. with certain prescribed courses in biology, with the exception of Biology 4889, Senior Seminar, and in addition, completing the following courses:

Psych 1003, General Psychology
Ed Fnd 1111, The School in Contemporary Society
English 3160, Writing in the Sciences
History 1001, 1002, or 1003, American Civilization
PolSci 1100, Introduction to American Politics
Philosophy 3380, Philosophy of Science
Comm 1040, Introduction to Public Speaking
Theater 1210, Fundamentals of Acting
Geology 1001, General Geology
Atmospheric Science 1001, Elementary Meteorology
Ed Psy 3312, The Psychology of Teaching and Learning
Ed Tec 2248, Utilization of Computer-Based Materials in Instruction
Sec Ed 3213, Techniques of Secondary School Teaching
and Field Experience or
Tch Ed 3310, Introduction to Instructional Methods
Spec Ed 3313, The Psychology and Education
of Exceptional Individuals
Sec Ed 4391, Teaching Reading in Secondary School

Content Areas
Biology 4985, Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Life Sciences
Biology 4986, Laboratory in Teaching Life Sciences
Sec Ed 3290, Secondary School Student Teaching
Biology 4999, Science Teaching Intern Seminar

Since specific biology courses are required for teaching endorsement, contact the Department of Biology AND the College of Education for special advising regarding teacher certification.

Minor in Biology
Students may minor in biology by completing a minimum of 19 credit hours in biology, of which at least 9 hours of the biology course credits must be taken in residence at UM-St. Louis.

Requirements are:
Biol 1821, Introductory Biology: Organisms and the Environment and Biol 1831, Introductory Biology: From Molecules to Organisms 

Three additional courses at the 2000 level or above totaling no less than 9 credit hours. These may include either lecture or laboratory courses.

All students must consult with an adviser to plan an appropriate course of study. This program must be approved by the chairperson of the Department of Biology. Under certain circumstances, a student may deviate from the prescribed course of study and substitute a group of courses that exhibit a coherent area of specialization to coordinate with a career objective. Such a candidate must receive prior approval by the biology department to pursue this program.

Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in the minor, and none of the courses may be taken on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (s/u) basis.

Certificate Programs
Undergraduate students may also earn Certificates in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or Conservation Biology by taking additional prescribed courses in each of these areas.