Biology B.A. or B.S.

Biology B.A. Major

The B.A. Biology major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours. 

This major provides a broad training in biology but allows different specializations through choice of electives. Students who select this major to prepare themselves for graduate study in the biological sciences should consult with their advisor for elective courses. Field courses offered during the summer program at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory may be accepted for biology elective credit.

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Students must take at last seven (7) hours of 4000-level biology coursework pertinent to their major, with four (4) of those hours being taken at UNI.

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BIOL 3000-level or above, excluding BIOL 3101 Human Anatomy and Physiology I. CHEM 2220 or CHEM 4510/5510 will also count as an elective.

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No more than 4 credits from BIOL 3185 Readings in Biology, BIOL 3190 Undergraduate Research in Biology, and BIOL 4198 Independent Study will be counted toward biology degree requirements.

Honors Research

Students invited to do Honors Research will complete 4 credit hours of BIOL 3190 Undergraduate Research in Biology and 1 credit hour of BIOL 3191 Senior Thesis. The following BA degrees are eligible for Honors Research: Biology BA, Biology: Biomedical BA, and Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology BA. 

Biology 3+1 Joint Major

Students interested in one of the following professional programs may complete the basic work on the University of Northern Iowa campus and transfer back to UNI a year's credit from the professional school to complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology at UNI:

• Chiropractic
• Medical Laboratory Sciences
• Nursing 3+1
• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

A student shall complete the core and cognate requirements for the B.A. (Joint Program Option) in Biology, an additional 10 credits at the BIOL 3000/4000 level, and have a total of 90 semester hours recognized by UNI, at least 32 of which were completed at UNI. The professional courses transferred must bring the total hours to at least 120 semester hours. Credit is accepted only from professional schools which are fully accredited. Details of the B.A. (Joint Program Option) are available from the Biology Department.

The student must know the requirements for entrance to the professional school so as to be able to take at the University of Northern Iowa the work required for admission while at the same time meeting UNI degree requirements. The student will work with the Biology Department advisor who will help in the selection of proper courses.

A student who meets the above requirements may use professional credit from one of the approved professional programs with which the Department of Biology has an articulation agreement to satisfy the remaining hours required for the baccalaureate degree at the University of Northern Iowa. The student shall have completed all of the specific requirements for the B.A. (Joint Program Option).

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No more than 4 credits from BIOL 3185 Readings in Biology, BIOL 3190 Undergraduate Research in Biology, and BIOL 4198 Independent Study will be counted toward biology degree requirements.

Biology B.S. Major

The B.S. Biology major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours. 

The Bachelor of Science Biology major is designed to prepare students for careers in areas which require a higher degree of concentration in subject matter and cognate areas, particularly advanced-level courses. This degree is especially appropriate for students planning graduate study. In order to ensure graduation within eight semesters, students should work with advisors early in their programs, as advanced planning for sequenced courses is very important. Field courses offered during the summer program at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory may be accepted for biology elective credit.

Course List

*

Students must take at last seven (7) hours of 4000-level biology coursework pertinent to their major, with four (4) of those hours being taken at UNI.

†

BIOL 3000-level or above, excluding BIOL 3101 Human Anatomy and Physiology I. CHEM 4510/5510 or MATH 1421 will also count as an elective.

^

No more than 4 credits from BIOL 3185 Readings in Biology, BIOL 3190 Undergraduate Research in Biology, and BIOL 4198 Independent Study will be counted toward biology degree requirements. 

@

This course meets the Bachelor of Science undergraduate research course requirement.

Honors Research

Students invited to do Honors Research will complete 4 credit hours of BIOL 3190 Undergraduate Research in Biology and 1 credit hour of BIOL 3191 Senior Thesis. The Biology BS degree is eligible for Honors Research.

Four-Year Plan

Biology, B.A.

This is a sample plan of study with a suggested sequencing of classes for the major.  University electives may be applied to earn additional academic majors, minors, or certificates.  Students should regularly meet with their academic advisor to plan their specific semester schedule to include UNIFI/General Education program and/or university elective hours required

*

To graduate from UNI with a biology major, students must have both a cumulative and a major UNI GPA of 2.0 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the major.

**

Students must take at last seven (7) hours of 4000-level biology coursework pertinent to their major, with four (4) of those hours being taken at UNI.

Biology, B.S.

This is a sample plan of study with a suggested sequencing of classes for the major.  University electives may be applied to earn additional academic majors, minors, or certificates.  Students should regularly meet with their academic advisor to plan their specific semester schedule to include UNIFI/General Education program and/or university elective hours required.

*

To graduate from UNI with a biology major, students must have both a cumulative and a major UNI GPA of 2.0 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the major.

**

Students must take at last seven (7) hours of 4000-level biology coursework pertinent to their major, with four (4) of those hours being taken at UNI.

Learning Outcomes

Biology, B.A.

Goals: Students will gain an understanding of major themes in biology (organization of life, diversity and its causes, genetics, and cellular biology) along with deeper exposure to and advanced competency in biological topics of the student’s interest in areas including anatomy, physiology, genetics, organismal development, ecology, evolution, and/or organismal biology. Students will be able to think critically and communicate effectively on these discipline-specific topics.

Outcomes:

• Students will show proficiency in advanced content from their areas of interest in the fields of anatomy, physiology, development, cellular biology, immunology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and/or evolutionary biology.
• Students will communicate effectively using discipline-specific vocabulary and standard scientific communication skills such as graphical representation of data.
• Students will think critically about discipline-specific content as evidenced by an ability to interpret data, to effectively critique arguments, and/or to solve problems relating to living organisms.

Biology, B.S.

Goals: Students will gain an understanding of major themes in biology (organization of life, diversity and its causes, genetics, and cellular biology) along with deeper exposure to and advanced competency in biological topics of the student’s interest in areas including anatomy, physiology, genetics, organismal development, ecology, evolution, and/or organismal biology. Students will be able to think critically and communicate effectively on these discipline-specific topics.  Students in the BS program will gain deeper exposure to the process of science through Undergraduate Research (BIOL 3190) and through Biostatistics (BIOL 4157).

Outcomes:

• Students will show proficiency in advanced content from their areas of interest in the fields of anatomy, physiology, development, cellular biology, immunology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and/or organismal biology.  
• Students will communicate effectively using discipline-specific vocabulary and standard scientific communication skills such as graphical representation of data.
• Students will think critically about discipline-specific content as evidenced by an ability to interpret data, to effectively critique arguments, and/or to solve problems relating to living organisms.
• Students will gain first-hand experience with the process of scientific inquiry by participating in a specific line of research.
• Students will become proficient in common statistical methods used in biology.

Policies

Majors

1. Students should indicate their interest in majoring in biology by filling out a Declaration of Curriculum form any time after their admission to UNI.
2. A student's freshman year shall be devoted primarily to completing the required course work in general biology (BIOL 2051 General Biology: Organismal Diversity and BIOL 2052 General Biology: Cell Structure and Function) and chemistry (CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I and CHEM 1120 General Chemistry II, or CHEM 1130 General Chemistry I-II). UNIFI/General Education and/or math classes should be taken by students to complete their schedules.
3. For the BS Biology, the BS Environmental Science, the BA Biology, the BA Biology Biomedical Emphasis, the BA Biology-Teaching, and the BA Biology Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology emphasis, students must receive a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in courses that are applied to their major. Prior to enrollment in a course, all prerequisites must be completed with a C- (1.67) or higher.
4. ALEKS is a mathematics placement exam used at the University of Northern Iowa. Your academic advisor will use your score on the ALEKS assessment to determine your placement in UNI mathematics, chemistry, and physics courses.
5. A student enrolled in a biology class during fall or spring semester, or who drops a biology course after the first seven days of classes, should contact the department if they want to take the class again in an immediately subsequent semester. The student will only be allowed to register if space remains after all advanced registrations are completed.
6. To graduate from UNI with a BS Biology, a BA Biology, a BA Biology Biomedical Emphasis, or a BA Biology Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology emphasis, students must have both a cumulative and a major UNI GPA of 2.00 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the major.  To graduate from UNI with a BA Biology-Teaching, students must have both a cumulative and a major UNI GPA of 2.50 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the major.
7. With the exception of the Biology 3+1 Joint program, to graduate from UNI with a biology major, students must take at least seven (7) hours of 4000-level biology coursework pertinent to their major, with four (4) of those hours being taken at UNI.
8. Transfer students entering UNI shall be subject to the acceptance requirements listed in #3.

Minors

To graduate from UNI with a biology minor, students must have both a cumulative and a minor UNI GPA of 2.00 or higher, with a grade of C- (1.67) or higher in all courses that are applied to the minor.

Notes:

1. A student can declare only one major within the Department of Biology with the exception of the BA Biology Teaching major, which can be paired with another degree in biology.
2. A student with a major within the Department of Biology cannot declare a Biology minor or a Biology-Teaching minor.
3. A student with a major in the interdisciplinary B.A. Environmental Resource Management: Ecosystems Track may not also declare a major or minor in biology.
4. A student with a major in the interdisciplinary B.S. Environmental Science: Environmental Life Science Track may not also declare a major or minor in biology.

Related Programs

• Biology M.S.
• Chemistry B.A. or B.S.