Biology (BA)

9_biology_banner

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission to the BA in Biology requires completion of BIOL 240, BIOL 241, BIOL 242, and BIOL 243 with a grade of C or better; completion of MATH 111 with a grade of C or better OR placement into a mathematics course above the level of MATH 111 on the basis of either the University of Louisville mathematics placement examination or ACT/SAT score; and a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0. 

The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements 131
The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement:
Unity of Life - S
Diversity of Life - S
Unity of Life Lab - SL
Diversity of Life Lab - SL
General Chemistry I - S
General Chemistry II - S
Elements of Calculus - QR
Calculus I - QR

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Arts & Sciences Requirements
GEN 100Student Success Center First Year Experience1
or GEN 101 Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
Foreign Language 212
Electives in Humanities or Social Sciences 39
WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 4
Minimum Total Hours22

Program/Major Requirements

Department of Biology
BIOL 240Unity of Life - S3
BIOL 241Unity of Life Lab - SL1
BIOL 242Diversity of Life - S3
BIOL 243Diversity of Life Lab - SL1
BIOL 329Cellular and Molecular Biology3
BIOL 330
BIOL 331
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Genetics and Molecular Biology: Laboratory
5
BIOL 363Principles of Ecology3
BIOL 409Evolutionary Biology 3
Biology Electives 515
Minimum Total Hours37
Supporting Courses
CHEM 201General Chemistry I - S3
CHEM 202General Chemistry II - S3
CHEM 207Introduction to Chemical Analysis I - SL1
CHEM 208Introduction to Chemical Analysis II - SL1
CHEM 209Introduction to Chemical Analysis III1
CHEM 341Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 343Organic Chemistry Laboratory I2
CHEM 344Organic Chemistry Laboratory II2
MATH 180Elements of Calculus - QR3-4
or MATH 205 Calculus I - QR
BIOL 350Biostatistics3
Minimum Electives 65-6
Minimum Total Hours31

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above. 

Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement)
Requirement fulfilled by completing one of the following:
Undergraduate Research - CUE
Undergraduate Research (WR) - CUE, WR
Evolutionary Biology
Biology of the Cell - CUE, WR
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant - CUE
Developmental Biology - CUE
Microbial Physiology - WR, CUE
Biology Internship - WR, CUE
Behavioral Endocrinology - WR, CUE
Medicinal Plant Biochemistry - WR, CUE
Experimental Design and Analysis - CUE, WR
1

Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. 

2

Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language

3

In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above

4

May be incorporated into other degree requirements

5

BIOL 102, BIOL 104, BIOL 257, BIOL 258, BIOL 260, BIOL 261, BIOL 262 and BIOL 263 may not count toward electives in the major. A maximum of 6 hours of undergraduate research or independent study may count toward the major. Students should take all BIOL electives at the 300 level or above. 

6

At least 5 hours should be at the 300-level or higher. Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree. 

Flight Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
GEN 100
Student Success Center First Year Experience
or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
1
BIOL 240 Unity of Life - S 3
BIOL 241 Unity of Life Lab - SL 1
MATH 180
Elements of Calculus - QR
or Calculus I - QR
3-4
Foreign Language 1 4
ENGL 101 Introduction to College Writing - WC 3
 Hours15-16
Spring
BIOL 242 Diversity of Life - S 3
BIOL 243 Diversity of Life Lab - SL 1
CHEM 201 General Chemistry I - S 3
CHEM 207 Introduction to Chemical Analysis I - SL 1
CHEM 208 Introduction to Chemical Analysis II - SL 1
ENGL 102 Intermediate College Writing - WC 3
Foreign Language 2 4
 Hours16
Year 2
Fall
BIOL 329 Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Foreign Language 3 4
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Diversity - SBD1 3
 Hours16
Spring
BIOL 330 Genetics and Molecular Biology 3
BIOL 331 Genetics and Molecular Biology: Laboratory 2
CHEM 202 General Chemistry II - S 3
CHEM 209 Introduction to Chemical Analysis III 1
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Hours15
Year 3
Fall
BIOL 363 Principles of Ecology 3
Biology Elective (300 level or above) 3-4
CHEM 341 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH 3
 Hours14-15
Spring
BIOL 350 Biostatistics 3
BIOL 409 Evolutionary Biology 3
Biology Elective (300 level or above) 3-4
CHEM 342 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 2
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 3
 Hours17-18
Year 4
Fall
Biology Elective - CUE 3-4
Biology Elective (300 level or above) 3-4
Humanities or Social Science WR course (300 level or above) 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Hours15-17
Spring
Biology Elective (300 level or above) 3-4
Humanities or Social Science WR Course (300 level or above) 3
Humanities or Social Science Course (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 1-3
 Hours13-16
 Minimum Total Hours121-129

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

  1. Log into your ULink account.
  2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
  3. Select the appropriate report.
    1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
    2. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
    3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.