Students wishing to major in biology should have completed high school biology, chemistry and advanced mathematics courses. Students who declare biology as a major and have a science ACT score of less than 21 and demonstrate a weakness in math will be placed into BIOL 110: Fundamentals of Biology as preparation for the General Biology sequence (BIOL 111/112).
Biology majors must achieve a grade-point average of 2.0 in all biology courses (BIOL and BIOLB) applied to the major. A grade of C or better must be earned in BIOL 111 and 112. In addition, no more than two grades of D may be applied to the biology major. The 2.0 grade-point average in the biology major does not include support courses (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics) required for the major.
College-level science courses taken at another institution will be evaluated on an individual basis in consultation with the student.
Transfer students must complete a minimum of one-third of the requirements for the biology major at Saint Xavier.
Biology majors, in consultation with their advisors, may choose courses of study within the pre-health professions major that will prepare them for health care careers. Required coursework for admission into optometry, physical therapy, pharmacy, medical, dental and veterinary schools are taken as part of the pre-health profession track. Students should investigate the specific program requirements of the schools to which they will be applying. It is recommended that you speak with an advisor to be sure to complete all courses required for admission.
Requirements
Introductory Level (8 credit hours)
- BIOL 111: General Biology I (4)
- BIOL 112: General Biology II (4)
Genetic Level (4 credit hours)
- BIOL 300: Genetics (4) OR BIOL 301: Genome Biology (4)
Cellular Level (4 credit hours)
- BIOL 305: Cell Biology (4) OR BIOL 306: General Microbiology (4)
System Level (4 credit hours)
- BIOL 203: Human Physiology (4) OR BIOL 320: Human and Comparative Physiology (4)
Organism Level (4 credit hours)
- BIOL 202: Human Anatomy (4) OR BIOL 220: Human and Comparative Anatomy (4)
Population/Community Level (4 credit hours)
Choose one of the following:
- BIOL 208: Natural History of the Great Lakes (with lab) (4)
- BIOL 213: Interactions in the Environment (with lab) (4)
- BIOL 318: Ecology (4)
- BIOL 333: Evolution: Process and Pattern (4)
Support Courses (28/30 credit hours)
- CHEM 111: General Chemistry I (4) AND CHEM 112: General Chemistry II (4)
- CHEM 251: Organic Chemistry I (4) AND CHEM 252: Organic Chemistry II (4)
- PHYS 201: Physics I (4) AND PHYS 202: Physics II (4)
- MATH 201: Calculus (4) OR MATH 112: College Algebra (3) AND MATH 113: Trigonometry (3)
Electives (at least eight credit hours)
- BIOL 202: Human Anatomy (4)
- BIOL 203: Human Physiology (4)
- BIOL 208: Natural History of the Great Lakes (with lab) (4)
- BIOL 212: Histotechniques (3)
- BIOL 213: Interactions in the Environment (with lab) (4)
- BIOL 214: Natural History of Vertebrates (3)
- BIOLB 214: Natural History of Vertebrates: Field Experience (1)
- BIOL 215: Wildlife Conservation (3)
- BIOL 220: Human and Comparative Anatomy (4)
- BIOL 230: Invertebrate Biology (4)
- BIOL 240: Developmental Biology (4)
- BIOL 250: Special Topics (1-3)
- BIOL 300: Genetics (4)
- BIOL 301: Genome Biology (4)
- BIOL 302: Molecular Biology Techniques (3)
- BIOL 303: Biostatistics (3)
- BIOL 304: Immunology (3)
- BIOL 305: Cell Biology (4)
- BIOL 306: General Microbiology (4)
- BIOL 308: Histology (4)
- BIOL 310: Animal Behavior (4)
- BIOL 312: Plant Adaptation and Diversity (4)
- BIOL 318: Ecology (4)
- BIOL 320: Human and Comparative Physiology (4)
- BIOL 329: Hormones and Behavior (3)
- BIOL 330: Cadaver Dissection (1)
- BIOL 333: Evolution: Process and Pattern (4)
- BIOL 341: Neuroscience (4)
- BIOL 350: Special Topics (1-3)
- BIOL 353: Independent Study (1-3)
Senior Capstone (at least one credit hour)
- BIOL 355: Senior Seminar (1) OR BIOL 351 and 352: Laboratory and Field Research (1-3)