Biology Major
Department: Biology
The Department of Biology offers a biology major leading to a baccalaureate degree with the possibility of receiving a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biology High School Education 9-12, or Medical Technology. The major is designed for students interested in cell and molecular biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, environmental biology, biology education, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or medical technology. Separate specific majors for students interested in Biomedical Science, Environmental Science (Concentration in Biology or Chemistry) and Medical Laboratory Science (Clinical or General Concentration). The Department of Biology offers an accelerated 4+1 program (B.S./M.S.), Master of Science degree in Biology, and a minor in Biology. They are also collaborating partners on the Neuroscience minor.
Undergraduate Course Requirements
All students majoring in biology, and those students desiring additional focus in one of the department's concentrations, must earn a grade of C or better in all required biology courses. All biology students must take the following core courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| BIO 150 | Introduction to Biology | 2.0 |
| BIO 151 | Molecules to Cells | 3.0 |
| BIO 152 | Molecules to Cells Laboratory | 1.0 |
| BIO 250 | Organismal Biology | 4.0 |
| BIO 251 | Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity | 3.0 |
| BIO 252 | Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | 1.0 |
| BIO 260 | Biological Statistics I | 1.0 |
| BIO 261 | Biological Statistics II | 2.0 |
| BIO 310 | Genetics | 3.0 |
| BIO 311 | Genetics laboratory | 1.0 |
| BIO 490 | Biology Capstone | 1.0 |
| CHM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3.0 |
| CHM 111 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1.0 |
| CHM 116 | General Chemistry II | 3.0 |
| CHM 117 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1.0 |
| CHM 252 | Organic Chemistry I | 3.0 |
| CHM 253 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2.0 |
| CHM 256 | Organic Chemistry II 1 | 3.0 |
| CHM 257 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1 | 1.0 |
| MTH 115 | Brief Calculus With Applications I 2 | 4.0 |
| PHY 107 | General Physics I | 4.0 |
| PHY 108 | General Physics II | 4.0 |
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CHM 256 Organic Chemistry II and CHM 257 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II are required for students in the cell and molecular biology concentration and recommended for others.
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MTH 116 Brief Calculus With Applications II highly recommended.
At the completion of 90 semester hours, the student must have credit for:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 150 | Introduction to Biology | 2.0 |
| BIO 151 | Molecules to Cells | 3.0 |
| BIO 152 | Molecules to Cells Laboratory | 1.0 |
| BIO 250 | Organismal Biology | 4.0 |
| BIO 251 | Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity | 3.0 |
| BIO 252 | Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | 1.0 |
| BIO 260 | Biological Statistics I | 1.0 |
| BIO 261 | Biological Statistics II | 2.0 |
| CHM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3.0 |
| CHM 111 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1.0 |
| CHM 116 | General Chemistry II | 3.0 |
| CHM 117 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1.0 |
| CHM 252 | Organic Chemistry I | 3.0 |
| CHM 253 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2.0 |
| One semester of calculus | 4.0 | |
Students not meeting these requirements will not be allowed to enroll in other biology courses until requirements are met. Students with more than 30 semester hours transferring into biology programs from other Bradley majors must have a GPA of 2.25 or greater and must have completed at least one semester each of introductory biology, introductory chemistry, and calculus. Students with 30 or fewer hours will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
In addition to the above requirements, each student must complete the requirements below with a grade of C or better in each biology course taken to graduate with a baccalaureate degree in Biology.
Students will choose a minimum of one course (with required laboratory) from each of the following categories.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-Organismal | ||
| BIO 312 | Developmental Biology | 4.0 |
| BIO 314 | Plant Development | 4.0 |
| BIO 381 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 464 | Cell Biology | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 468 | Immunology of Host Defense | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 484 | Neurophysiology | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 503 | Molecular Genetics | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 564 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 568 | Cellular and Molecular Immunology | 3.0 |
| Organismal | ||
| BIO 323 | Comparative Anatomy | 4.0 |
| BIO 324 | Plant Diversity | 4.0 |
| BIO 334 | Reproduction and Identification of Flowering Plants | 4.0 |
| BIO 361 | Microanatomy | 4.0 |
| BIO 371 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4.0 |
| BIO 406 | General Microbiology | 4.0 |
| BIO 408 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 417 | Environmental Physiology | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 419 | Ethology | 4.0 |
| BIO 506 | Advanced Microbiology | 3.0 |
| BIO 508 | Advanced Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3.0 |
| BIO 517 | Environmental Physiology | 3.0 |
| BIO 519 | Comparative Animal Behavior | 3.0 |
| BIO 530 | Plant Systematics | 3.0 |
| Supra-Organismal | ||
| BIO 420 | Ecosystem Ecology | 4.0 |
| BIO 423 | Freshwater Ecology | 4.0 |
| BIO 450 | Conservation Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 460 | Ecology | 4.0 |
| BIO 463 | Plant Ecology | 4.0 |
| BIO 520 | Advanced Ecosystems Ecology | 3.0 |
| BIO 550 | Conservation Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 563 | Advanced Plant Ecology | 3.0 |
| In addition, students must also take two additional courses (3-4 credit hours; lab is optional) from any course in the following list: 1 | ||
| BIO 312 | Developmental Biology | 4.0 |
| BIO 314 | Plant Development | 4.0 |
| BIO 323 | Comparative Anatomy | 4.0 |
| BIO 324 | Plant Diversity | 4.0 |
| BIO 334 | Reproduction and Identification of Flowering Plants | 4.0 |
| BIO 361 | Microanatomy | 4.0 |
| BIO 371 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4.0 |
| BIO 381 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 406 | General Microbiology | 4.0 |
| BIO 408 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 417 | Environmental Physiology | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 419 | Ethology | 4.0 |
| BIO 420 | Ecosystem Ecology | 4.0 |
| BIO 423 | Freshwater Ecology | 4.0 |
| BIO 440 | Evolution | 3.0 |
| BIO 450 | Conservation Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 460 | Ecology | 4.0 |
| BIO 463 | Plant Ecology | 4.0 |
| BIO 464 | Cell Biology | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 468 | Immunology of Host Defense | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 475 | Special Topics Biol | 2.0-4.0 |
| BIO 482 | Endocrinology | 3.0 |
| BIO 484 | Neurophysiology | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 502 | Biometry | 3.0 |
| BIO 503 | Molecular Genetics | 3.0-4.0 |
| BIO 505 | Topics in Bioethics | 3.0 |
| BIO 506 | Advanced Microbiology | 3.0 |
| BIO 508 | Advanced Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3.0 |
| BIO 509 | Human Genetics | 3.0 |
| BIO 517 | Environmental Physiology | 3.0 |
| BIO 519 | Comparative Animal Behavior | 3.0 |
| BIO 520 | Advanced Ecosystems Ecology | 3.0 |
| BIO 525 | Advanced Physiology | 3.0 |
| BIO 526 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3.0 |
| BIO 527 | Physiology of Anesthesia | 3.0 |
| BIO 530 | Plant Systematics | 3.0 |
| BIO 540 | Evolution | 3.0 |
| BIO 550 | Conservation Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 563 | Advanced Plant Ecology | 3.0 |
| BIO 564 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 568 | Cellular and Molecular Immunology | 3.0 |
| BIO 575 | Special Graduate Topics in Biology | 2.0-3.0 |
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Students may take 3 hours of BIO 485 Research in lieu of one of these required courses.
The Biology Department offers the opportunity for a student to receive one of several concentrations that will allow students to concentrate or specialize in various areas that will better prepare them for their post-graduate careers. Specifically, the department offers concentrations in cell and molecular biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, secondary teaching, and medical technology.