Biology, BS
The Biology degree offers flexible career opportunities. Graduates are prepared for research or other technical employment in academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector. The Biology degree also provides excellent preparation for graduate work. The complete distance education Biology program is only available at the Uintah Basin Regional Campus.
The Uintah Basin provides advantages such as small class sizes and the opportunity to participate in internship programs and research projects with faculty members who have doctoral degrees and research experience in various biology subdisciplines.
Availability
Courses are taught in a traditional setting with the professor and students participating together in the same classroom. Students meet at a designated time and place.
Available at the following USU location(s):
Admissions
Students must be admitted to Utah State University. For admissions requirements and information, or to complete an online application, visit www.usu.edu/admissions/applyonline.
New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to the Biology Department. Transfer students from other institutions need a 2.25 transfer GPA; students transferring from other USU majors need to be in good standing with a 2.25 cumulative GPA for admission to the Biology Department.
Requirements
To graduate, a candidate for any bachelor’s degree offered by the Department of Biology must maintain a grade point average of 2.25 in all Department of Biology (BIOL or PUBH prefix) courses required for the major and a grade of C- or better in BIOL 1610 and 1620. The Pass/Fail option is not acceptable for any course required for the degree, but D grades are permitted within the restrictions of the 2.25 GPA.
Majors will complete a core of courses that provide an understanding of biological principles. Upper-division courses provide integration and indepth study. Additional coursework in chemistry, physics, statistics, and mathematics provides knowledge and analytical skills. Biology majors can add a minor area of study, such as Business or Chemistry, to enhance their employment opportunities. Students in this program should consult with their advisors regularly as they plan their course of study.
Contact Us
For specific questions regarding this program including admissions, courses, and requirements contact:
The Biology degree offers flexible career opportunities. Graduates are prepared for research or other technical employment in academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector. The Biology degree also provides excellent preparation for graduate work. The complete distance education Biology program is only available at the Uintah Basin Regional Campus.
The Uintah Basin provides advantages such as small class sizes and the opportunity to participate in internship programs and research projects with faculty members who have doctoral degrees and research experience in various biology subdisciplines.
The program also offers a biology teaching emphasis, which qualifies students for licensure to teach in secondary schools in Utah. For information about the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) and required coursework, please see the STEP– Secondary Education brochure.
Courses:
In addition to fulfilling General Education requirements, students must take the following courses:
- BIOL 1610 Biology I
- BIOL 1620 Biology II
- BIOL 2220 General Ecology
- BIOL 3060 Principles of Genetics
- BIOL 3300 General Microbiology OR
- BIOL 5210 Cell Biology
- BIOL 5250 Evolutionary Biology
- BIOL 3220 Field Ecology OR
- BIOL 5560 Ornithology
- BIOL 5600 Comparative Animal Physiology AND
- BIOL 5610 Animal Physiology Lab
- CHEM 1210/1215 Principles of Chemistry I (and Lab)
- CHEM 1220/1225 Principles of Chemistry II (and Lab)
- CHEM 2310/2315 Organic Chemistry I (and Lab)
- CHEM 3700/3710 Introductory Biochemistry (and Lab)
- PHYS 2210 General Physics—Science and Engineering I
- PHYS 2220 General Physics—Science and Engineering II
- MATH 1210 Calculus I
- STAT 3000 Statistics for Scientists
Electives
Students must also complete 10 credits from the following list of elective courses:
- BIOL 3065 Genetics Lab
- BIOL 4060 Exploring Animal Behavior
- BIOL 4250 Internship
- BIOL 4420 Plant Taxonomy
- BIOL 4710 Teaching Internship
- BIOL 5210 Cell Biology
- BIOL 5330 Virology
- BIOL 5580 Mammalogy
- BIOL 5800 Undergraduate Research
- PUBH 4030: Communicable Diseases
- PUBH 4040: Fundamentals of Epidemiology
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