Jun 28, 2025  
2025-2026 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 
    
2025-2026 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG

Biology, Environmental Science Concentration (B.S.)


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The Environmental Sciences Concentration provides students options for advancing their knowledge of 1) the field of ecology, 2) taxa specific organismal systems, 3) interdisciplinary tools relevant to quantifying landscape processes, and 4) context from human systems/stakeholders at the intersection with the environment.  The interdisciplinary nature of the concentration will broaden the scope of the biology degree, while advanced biology electives will allow students to tailor their education towards taxonomic systems of interest.

University General Education Program (41 hours)


See Graduation from the University  for the University General Education Program requirements.

Note: Biology majors are also required to take either MATH 1830  or MATH 1910  and these courses will fulfill general education requirements.

Eight credit hours of natural science courses (two lectures with labs) are required for general education and can be fulfilled by the following courses that are required for the Biology major. 

The Major (67-68 hours)


Biology Core Courses (18 hours):


All Biology Core Courses are required and must be taken in the order listed below. 

Environmental Science Concentration Courses


Environmental Science Concentration Core (7 hours)


These 2 courses are required for the Environmental Science concentration

Environmental Science Concentration Biology Electives (9 hours)


Choose a minimum of 9 hours of courses from this area: 

Interdisciplinary Science


Choose 1 for a total of at least 3 credits

Interdisciplinary Humanities


Choose 1 for a total of at least 3 credits

Required Support Courses


Select courses from each of the following three areas for a total of 12 hours:

Upper Division Social Science (one course):


Skill Courses (two courses)


This section can be completed with either skills OR language courses. You cannot take one skill course and one language course. 

Electives


Electives must be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

Notes:


Students must earn a grade of at least “C-” in CHEM 1110 and CHEM 1111  before taking any biology courses. 

Students must earn a grade of at least “C-” in all BIOL courses applied toward the major, the minor, and in all required chemistry, physics, and mathematical courses. BIOL, CHEM, MATH, and PHYS courses applicable toward the major or minor may not be taken more than three times.

Students must earn a grade of at least “C-” in BIOL 1110 / BIOL 1111 and BIOL 1120 / BIOL 1121, before enrolling in any upper division BIOL course.

Any BIOL course applicable toward the major or minor may be repeated once to earn a minimum grade of “C-.” To repeat a course a second time, a student must apply for and receive special permission from the department Undergraduate Studies Committee. Application information is available in the Biology Advising and Resource Center.

A student may not attempt the same BIOL course more than three times, regardless of where it is taken. Courses cross-listed with BIOL (e.g., CHEM 4511CHEM 4512, and CHEM 4501) also are subject to this course repetition policy.

No more than five total credit hours of experiential learning courses (BIOL 4000, BIOL 4001, BIOL 4005, BIOL 4098 Special Topic: BIOL Learning Assistant, BIOL 4570) can be applied toward major requirements.

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120


*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

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