Bachelor of Science - Biology

The School of Science and Technology offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in Biology. The Biology Major includes concentrations in General Biology, Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Teacher Certification.

Laboratory Courses

Many courses in the School of Science and Technology include both a class and a laboratory component. The laboratory and class components complement each other as integrated elements of a course that facilitate the accomplishment of the Course Outcome Goals. As such they cannot be separated. Students must pass both the lab and class. If a student fails either the class or the laboratory component, they will receive a fail grade and must repeat both components of the class.

Curriculum

General Education Requirements (60 hours)

The primary objective of the general education requirements is to guarantee that all students seeking a degree will be exposed to a common set of learning experiences that draw from a broad spectrum of subject areas. These common learning experiences are designed so that a student who completes the general education requirements will achieve the general education program goals as well as take introductory courses in the biology major that are prerequisite to courses in the program of study curriculum.

Additional Requirements (3 hours)

The physical education requirement is comprised of one credit hour of Wellness and two credit hours of additional Physical Education courses.

Legislative Requirements

Georgia law requires that each candidate for a degree demonstrate knowledge of the history and constitution on the United States and Georgia. These requirements may be met by receiving a passing grade in certain courses, or by passing the appropriate examination. The courses and the requirement(s) each course satisfies are as follows:

1. HIST 2111  or HIST 2112  satisfies the Georgia and U.S. history requirement (if taken at a University System of Georgia institution).
2. POLS 1101 satisfies the Georgia and US Constitution requirement (if taken at a University System of Georgia institution).
3. Students with transfer credit (HIST 2111 , HIST 2112  or POLS 1101 ) from outside the University System of Georgia will need to contact the Testing Center regarding the legislative exams requirement.

Major Requirements (60 hours)

The courses in the Biology Major consist of both required and elective courses. The required courses are designed to ensure that all students receiving the BS Biology degree will share a common set of learning experiences toward achievement of the Program Outcome Goals. In addition, students will apply these learning experiences in the accomplishment of a research project or internship. Elective courses allow students to delve further into areas of specialization that provide breadth and/or depth of learning.

Program Outcome Goals

Bachelor of Science - Biology

Concentration: General Biology

Graduates who complete the Biology Major (General Biology Concentration) will be able to:

1. Communicate in oral and written form the ability to locate, critique, and utilize scholarly resources.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in basic lab skills and experimental design.
3. Apply basic chemistry and math to the study of the life sciences.
4. Describe the structures and functions of cells
5. Describe the structures and functions of biomolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates).
6. Explain the sources of genetic variation and determine patterns of inheritance.
7. Describe the role of evolutionary mechanisms in biological diversity.
8. Identify and explain the principles and mechanisms of micro and macro evolution and explain how they relate to taxonomic diversity and the modern classification system.
9. Identify and explain the interdependence and diversity of organisms in communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.
10. Design experiments and critically assess data in the fields of organismal biology and/or ecology.

General Education: (60 semester hours)

Additional Requirements (3 hours)

Program of Study (60 semester hours)