Program Requirements

The Biology Department offers two degrees, a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. An Honors-in-Biology option is available for the Bachelor of Science degree. Two optional Emphases in Biology , Molecular Biology & Genetics and Ecology & Evolution, are available for combination with any Biology Major.

The Bachelor of Science in Biology is designed to provide a broad knowledge of science including a strong background in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. This degree is designed for those interested in pursuing advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or certain graduate programs in the natural sciences, as well as for those interested in biotechnology or various other biology-based careers.

The Honors-in-Biology option is designed to add a rigorous independent research component to the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology to better prepare students for graduate and professional schools or for research-oriented laboratory work.

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology is designed to allow flexibility while ensuring a strong background in Biology. The importance of biology in the modern world has made the combination of a strong background in biology with other fields of study a valuable endeavor. This degree is designed for those interested in pursing advanced degrees in law, business, certain health science fields, or graduate programs outside of the natural sciences, as well for those generally interested in combining an understanding of biology with a study of fields outside of the natural sciences such as education or business. This program is particularly amenable to combination with another major or minor.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY MAJOR (63 SH)

Lower and Upper Division Requirements (63 SH)

BL 260--Principles of Biology: Molecular and Cellular* 3 SH
BL 261--Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory 1 SH
BL 262--Principles of Biology: Organismic* 3 SH
BL 263--Organismic Biology Laboratory 1 SH
CH 210--Principles of Chemistry I 4 SH
CH 211--Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I 1 SH
CH 230--Principles of Chemistry II 4 SH
CH 231--Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II 1 SH
CH 250--Organic Chemistry I 4 SH
CH 251--Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 SH
CH 420--Organic Chemistry II 3 SH
CH 421--Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 2 SH
MT 272--Statistics for the Life Sciences 3 SH

* May be taken in any sequence. One of the following options of physics:

PH 202A--General Physics with Trigonometry I 3 SH
PH 205A--General Physics Laboratory I 1 SH
PH 202B--General Physics with Trigonometry II 3 SH
PH 205B--General Physics Laboratory II 1 SH

PH 304A--General Physics with Calculus I 3 SH
PH 305A--General Physics Laboratory I 1 SH
PH 304B--General Physics with Calculus II 3 SH
PH 305B--General Physics Laboratory II 1 SH

A minimum of 24 upper division semester hours of biology which must include:

BL 402--Principles of Ecology 3 SH
BL 403--Ecology Laboratory 1 SH
BL 414--Principles of Genetics 3 SH
BL 415--Genetics Laboratory 1 SH
BL 494--Seminar in Biology, Society and Ethics 1 SH
BL 495--Seminar in Biological Research 1 SH
Upper Division Biology Electives or Completion of an Emphasis* 14 SH

* The upper division electives or Emphasis must include a minimum of one upper division laboratory course.

NOTE: Students interested in medical school, dental school, veterinary school or other graduate programs should consult those schools for additional requirements.

HONORS-IN-BIOLOGY MAJOR (65 SH)

Students completing the Honors-in-Biology option are required to complete the requirements listed for the Bachelor of Science in Biology major and the following courses; however, BL 491E-W also fulfills three semester hours of the upper division biology elective requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Biology major.

BL 491E-W--Undergraduate Research in Biology 3 SH
BL 499A--Senior Thesis I* 1 SH
BL 499B--Senior Thesis II* 1 SH

* Senior Thesis is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Candidacy must be approved by the Chairperson of the Department of Biology. The candidate must:

1. Select a thesis advisor and submit a preliminary thesis proposal.

2. Complete a long-term research project for Undergraduate Research in Biology credit over at least three semesters.

3. Complete Thesis I requirements which will include:

Submitting a detailed thesis outline to the thesis advisor and Senior Thesis I instructor before the mid-semester break.
Submitting a partial thesis draft including the literature review components and the Materials and Methods section(s) to the thesis advisor and Senior Thesis I instructor before the course withdrawal deadline.

4. Complete Senior Thesis II requirements by:

Submitting a draft thesis to the thesis advisor before the mid-semester break.
Submitting a final thesis (conforming to formatting guidelines provided by the Biology Department) for approval to an examination committee of three faculty (including the thesis advisor and at least two Regis Biology Department faculty) before the course withdrawal deadline.
Defending his/her thesis before the examination committee in a public forum followed by a discussion with the committee.

It is recommended that students apply for candidacy in the Honors-in-Biology program in their Sophomore year.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN BIOLOGY MAJOR (45 SH)

Lower and Upper Division Requirements (45 SH)

BL 260--Principles of Biology: Molecular and Cellular* 3 SH
BL 261--Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory 1 SH
BL 262--Principles of Biology: Organismic* 3 SH
BL 263--Organismic Biology Laboratory 1 SH
CH 210--Principles of Chemistry I 4 SH
CH 211--Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I 1 SH
CH 230--Principles of Chemistry II 4 SH
CH 231--Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II 1 SH
MT 272--Statistics for the Life Sciences 3 SH

* May be taken in any sequence.

A minimum of 24 upper division semester hours of biology which must include:

BL 402--Principles of Ecology 3 SH
BL 403--Ecology Laboratory 1 SH
BL 414--Principles of Genetics 3 SH
BL 415--Genetics Laboratory 1 SH
BL 494--Seminar in Biology, Society, and Ethics 1 SH
BL 495--Seminar in Biological Research 1 SH
Upper Division Biology Electives or Completion of an Emphasis* 14 SH

* The upper division electives or Emphasis must include a minimum of one upper division laboratory course.

NOTE: Students interested in law school, graduate programs in business, programs in health science fields, or other graduate schools should consult those schools for additional requirements.

Ecology and Evolution Emphasis (14 SH)

Students completing this Emphasis as part of a Biology Major must complete the following upper-division biology course.

BL 464--Evolution 3 SH

Students completing this Emphasis must complete at least 8 SH selected from the following upper-division biology courses, which must include at least one laboratory.

BL 406--Human & Comparative Anatomy 3 SH
BL 407--Human & Comparative Anatomy Laboratory2 SH
BL 410--Aquatic and Fisheries Ecology 3 SH
BL 428--Conservation Biology 3 SH
BL 436--Animal Physiology 3 SH
BL 435--Advanced Field Biology Laboratory 2 SH
BL 439--Wildlife Management 3 SH
BL 448--Plant Diversity and Ecology 3 SH
BL 458--Animal Behavior 3 SH
BL 472--Plant Physiological Ecology 3 SH
BL 473--Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory 3 SH
BL 476--Colorado Flora and Fauna 3 SH
BL 477--Colorado Flora and Fauna Laboratory 1 SH

Upper Division Biology General Electives 3 SH

Molecular Biology and Genetics Emphasis (14 SH)

Students completing this Emphasis as part of a Biology Major must complete the following upper-division biology course.

BL 426--Molecular Biology 3 SH

Students completing this Emphasis must complete at least 8 SH selected from the following upper-division biology courses, which must include at least one laboratory.

BL 412--Developmental Biology 3 SH
BL 413--Developmental Biology Laboratory2 SH
BL 416--Microbial Genetics 3 SH
BL 418--Microbiology 3 SH
BL 419--Microbiology Laboratory 1 SH
BL 424--Cell Biology 3 SH
BL 427--Techniques in Molecular Biology Laboratory 2 SH
BL 452A--Biochemistry I 3 SH
BL 452B--Biochemistry II 3 SH
BL 466--Immunology 3 SH

Upper Division Biology General Electives 3 SH

BIOLOGY MINOR (20 SH)

Lower Division Requirements (8 SH)

BL 260--Principles of Biology: Molecular and Cellular* 3 SH
BL 261--Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory 1 SH
BL 262--Principles of Biology: Organismic* 3 SH
BL 263--Organismic Biology Laboratory 1 SH

* May be taken in any sequence.

Upper Division Requirements (12 SH)

A minimum of 12 upper division semester hours of biology which must include one upper division laboratory course.

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