Biological Sciences
The major in Biological Sciences is designed to provide students with a broad background in biology and exposure to related fields such as chemistry, physics and mathematics. The program offers a strong science foundation balanced with a well rounded liberal arts education required for successful entrance into research graduate schools, schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and other advanced degree programs in the Biological Sciences.
Students may earn a B.A., a B.A. with Pre-Health Profession Emphasis, a B.S. degree or a B.S. degree with an Environmental Science Emphasis. All students seeking any degree in Biology must achieve a cumulative science/math GPA of 2.0 within their first four semesters in the program that includes the following courses: BIO 1/BIO 1L, BIO 2/BIO 2L, CHE 1A/CHE 1AL, CHE 1B/CHE 1BL, and MTH 1. Students who do not take MTH 1 due to placement in MTH 5A (Calculus) are exempt from the MTH 1 requirement. All students not meeting this cumulative 2.0 GPA requirement will not be allowed to advance further in the major and must switch majors.
It is both the Biology department and University policy that all lower division major and minor courses must be completed with a grade of C- or above, and all upper division major and minor courses must be completed with a grade of C or above.