Biology, B.A.

The program course outline and graduation requirements for this catalog year are listed below. To graduate, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be achieved, and a total of 120 credits is required. This total includes both the required courses for the program and any free electives selected. The department website provides an overview of the program, admission requirements for the major (when applicable), faculty biographies, learning outcomes, and careers: https://www.southernct.edu/academics/biology/programs 

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (46 Credits)

All bachelor’s degree programs include liberal education (LEP) and writing (W) course requirements. To review more detailed information, please visit General Education (LEP) Degree Requirements.   

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (37 Credits)

Up to three courses in the major/cognate may also satisfy LEP requirements and will be indicated below; no more than two courses in the same subject may be used towards LEP Explorations.

Major GPA 2.3 required.

BIO 102 – Biology I (‘C’ or better)
BIO 103 – Biology II ('C' or better) (T2LE)
BIO 105 – Biology Seminar Series
BIO 220 – Genetics (‘C’ or better)

Select one:
BIO 450 – Undergraduate Research Methods in Biology (T2LE) 
BIO 499 – Independent Study and Research

Select three additional courses in BIO at the 200 or 300 - level
Select three additional courses in BIO at the 300 or 400 - level
(Only one course from BIO 497, BIO 499 or HON 495 can be used)

COGNATE REQUIREMENTS (15 Credits)

Up to 3 credits will be waived based on Math Placement*

CHE 120 – General Chemistry I (T2PR)
CHE 121 – General Chemistry II (T2LE)

Select one from:
MAT 111 – Extended Algebra for Business and Science* 
MAT 112 – Algebra for Business and the Sciences*

Select one from:
MAT 122 – Precalculus
MAT 150 – Calculus I (T1QR)

ACCELERATED PATHWAY OPTION (12 Credits)

Students with a 3.0 GPA and at least 90 credits may be eligible to complete an accelerated pathway during their senior year to earn dual credit towards both their current undergraduate program and future graduate program of interest. Approval to start graduate coursework does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Students will meet with their faculty advisor to prepare a Graduate Course Plan (500-level courses or higher), with a maximum of 6 credits per semester, based on their graduate program of interest. Approval from both the Program Department Chairperson and the Graduate Coordinator is required. Programs may have higher requirements, and seat availability in certain graduate programs may be limited.    

Courses completed with a grade of 'C' or higher will earn dual credit for both undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Graduate programs may have higher grade requirements in place for certain courses which may require the student to retake the course for a higher grade letter.