Biology (B.S.)
Graduates are expected to:
- use the scientific method to formulate testable hypotheses, design appropriate experiments, analyze quantitative and qualitative data and draw appropriate conclusions in biological sciences. The scientific enterprise also includes the use of biological models and simulation to understand complex biological systems.
- report biological findings in an accurate and knowledgeable way, both in written and oral forms.
- effectively use primary scientific literature, including finding information, assessing sources, critically evaluating the work of others and contributing to scientific knowledge.
- integrate and relate information from biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and the liberal arts to make meaningful connections to society and the natural world and to apply this knowledge to new situations.
- understand and apply ethical implications of science including scientific integrity and relationship between science and society.
- have a broad knowledge in: Cellular Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Physiology
The core and required support courses provide the means to fulfill these objectives. Through consultation with a departmental advisor, the student may choose electives to design a major which emphasizes areas such as molecular biology, physiology or ecology.
The Biology major also serves as a pre-professional program for students who are interested in attending medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, athletic training, or veterinary graduate programs. See the information listed under Pre-Professional Options.
Additionally, the Biology major serves as the basis for those who are seeking to obtain a professional educator license at the secondary level. For additional information about this major see the Teacher Education section of this catalog. Students may also earn their Middle Grades General Science Endorsement as part of this program. This program is also available as a Combined 4+1 program. A Bachelor of Science in Biology is earned along with a Master of Education degree after completing the required courses and program requirements.
All biology majors are strongly encouraged to complement on-campus course work and research with internship and course work opportunities at nearby institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory, the Shedd Aquarium, the Morton Arboretum, and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
USF biology graduates have pursued careers in medicine, biological research, ecology, forensic science, physical therapy, physician assistance, pharmacy, optometry, dentistry, teaching, and many other related areas.
Major Program
Required Courses (62 – 68 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
BIOL 150 | Fundamentals of Ecology/Evolution | 3 |
BIOL 151 | Beginning Investigative Experiences in Biology | 2 |
BIOL 160 | Cell Biology | 4 |
BIOL 255 | Genetics | 4 |
BIOL 345 | Perspectives in Evolution | 3 |
BIOL 375 | Advanced Investigative Experience in Biology I | 3 |
BIOL 376 | Advanced Investigative Experience Biology II | 3 |
BIOL 410 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
CHEM 121 & CHEM 123 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 5 |
CHEM 122 & CHEM 124 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 5 |
CHEM 224 & CHEM 225 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
PSCI 111 | General Physics I | 4 |
or PSCI 211 | Physics I | |
Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
Statistics (4) | ||
Calculus/Analytic Geometry I (5) | ||
Applied Calculus (4) | ||
Required Electives | 15-20 | |
Select 15-20 credit hours of the following: | ||
Total Hours | 62-68 |
Pre-Professional Options
The University of St. Francis offers excellent undergraduate preparation for medical, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, veterinary medicine and other health related professional schools. USF does not offer a specific “pre-med, pre-dent, or pre-professional” major. Few colleges in the United States do because there is not a specific major required for admission to professional schools. USF does offer a biology degree with pre-professional concentrations for students interested in pursuing careers in athletic training, dental, medicine, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant or veterinary medicine. Therefore, USF students complete a core of courses which prepare them for entrance into professional school and still enjoy the freedom and flexibility to design a curriculum in advanced science courses which are appropriate to their interests.
Pre-Athletic Training
Graduate programs in athletic training are looking for students who have completed a core of specific work in biology, chemistry, math and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Athletic training graduate schools also require volunteer or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom (i.e. experience in an athletic training facility). In addition, coursework required in the humanities and social sciences may vary by school.
Pre-Athletic Training Concentration (33 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 221 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
BIOL 321 | Human Dissection Anatomy | 3 |
BIOL 347 | Biomechanics | 3 |
BIOL 355 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
BIOL 498 | Internship | 3 |
PSYC 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
PSYC 212 | Sport Psychology | 3 |
NURS 260 | Human Nutrition | 2 |
RADT 102 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4 |
Total Hours | 33 |
Pre-Dental
Dental Schools are looking for students who have completed a core of specific work in biology, chemistry, math and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Dental schools may also require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom. In addition, coursework required in the humanities and social sciences may vary by school.
Pre-Dental Concentration (34-36 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 211 | Microbiology | 5 |
BIOL 221 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
CHEM 226 & CHEM 227 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
CHEM 322 | Biochemistry | 3 |
PSYC 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
PSCI 112 | General Physics II | 4 |
or PSCI 212 | Physics II | |
Select at least one of the following 300-level electives: | 3-4 | |
Human Dissection Anatomy (3) | ||
Molecular Biology (4) | ||
Medical Microbiology (3) | ||
Immunology (3) | ||
Endocrinology (3) | ||
Mathematics Requirement | ||
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4-5 |
or MATH 181 | Calculus/Analytic Geometry I | |
Total Hours | 34-36 |
Pre-Medicine
Medical schools are looking for students who have completed a core of specific course work in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Medical schools may also require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom. In addition, coursework required in the humanities and social sciences may vary by school.
Pre-Medicine Concentration (37-38 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 211 | Microbiology | 5 |
BIOL 221 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
CHEM 226 & CHEM 227 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
CHEM 322 | Biochemistry | 3 |
PSCI 112 | General Physics II | 4 |
or PSCI 212 | Physics II | |
PSYC 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
SOCI 111 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
Select at least one of the following 300-level electives: | 3-4 | |
Human Dissection Anatomy (3) | ||
Molecular Biology (4) | ||
Medical Microbiology (3) | ||
Immunology (3) | ||
Endocrinology (3) | ||
Mathematics Requirement | ||
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4 |
Total Hours | 37-38 |
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy programs are looking for students who have completed a core of specific course work in biology, chemistry, mathematics and social sciences and who have performed at a high academic level. Occupational therapy programs may also require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom. Additional coursework may be required by individual occupational therapy programs.
Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration (28 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 221 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
PSYC 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
PSYC 240 | Life-Span Development | 3 |
PSYC 250 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
SOCI 111 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
RADT 102 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4 |
Select at least one of the following 300-level electives: | 3 | |
Human Dissection Anatomy (3) | ||
Immunology (3) | ||
Biomechanics (3) | ||
Endocrinology (3) | ||
Exercise Physiology (3) | ||
Total Hours | 28 |
Pre-Optometry
Optometry programs are looking for students who have completed a core of specific course work in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Optometry programs may also require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom. In addition, coursework required in the social sciences (sociology and psychology) and statistics will likely be required by most optometry programs.
Pre-Optometry Concentration (35-36 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 211 | Microbiology | 5 |
BIOL 221 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
CHEM 322 | Biochemistry | 3 |
PSCI 112 | General Physics II | 4 |
or PSCI 212 | Physics II | |
PSYC 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
Select at least one of the following 300-level electives: | 3-4 | |
Human Dissection Anatomy (3) | ||
Molecular Biology (4) | ||
Medical Microbiology (3) | ||
Immunology (3) | ||
Endocrinology (3) | ||
Mathematics Requirement | ||
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4 |
MATH 181 | Calculus/Analytic Geometry I | 5 |
Total Hours | 35-36 |
Pre-Pharmacy
Pharmacy schools are looking for students who have completed a core of specific course work in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Pharmacy schools may also require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom. In addition, coursework required in the humanities and social sciences may vary by school.
Pre-Pharmacy Concentration (37-39 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 211 | Microbiology | 5 |
BIOL 221 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
CHEM 226 & CHEM 227 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
CHEM 322 | Biochemistry | 3 |
ECON 101 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
or ECON 102 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
PSYC 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
or SOCI 111 | Principles of Sociology | |
Select at least one of the following 300-level electives: | 3-4 | |
Molecular Biology (4) | ||
Immunology (3) | ||
Mathematics Requirement | ||
MATH 170 | Applied Calculus | 4-5 |
or MATH 181 | Calculus/Analytic Geometry I | |
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4 |
Total Hours | 37-39 |
Pre-Physical Therapy
Physical therapy programs are looking for students who have completed a core of specific course work in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Physical therapy programs may also require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom. Additional coursework may be required by individual PT programs in such areas as psychology, sociology, and statistics; it is important to check with the individual program to determine specific requirements.
Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration (28-29 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 221 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
PSCI 112 | General Physics II | 4 |
or PSCI 212 | Physics II | |
PSYC 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
PSYC 2XX | 200-level psychology course | 3 |
Select two of the following biology electives: | 6 | |
Human Dissection Anatomy (3) | ||
Biomechanics (3) | ||
Exercise Physiology (3) | ||
Mathematics Requirement | ||
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4-5 |
or MATH 181 | Calculus/Analytic Geometry I | |
Total Hours | 28-29 |
Pre-Physician Assistant
Physician assistant programs are looking for students who have completed a core of specific course work in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Almost all PA programs require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom. Additional coursework may be required by individual PA programs in such areas as psychology, sociology, medical terminology and statistics; it is important to check with the individual program to determine specific requirements.
Pre-Physician Assistant Concentration (33-34 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 211 | Microbiology | 5 |
BIOL 221 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 252 | Human Physiology | 4 |
CHEM 322 | Biochemistry | 3 |
PSYC 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
SOCI 111 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
RADT 102 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
Select at least one of the following 300-level electives: | 6-7 | |
Pathophysiology (3) | ||
Human Dissection Anatomy (3) | ||
Molecular Biology (4) | ||
Immunology (3) | ||
Biomechanics (3) | ||
Endocrinology (3) | ||
Mathematics Requirement | ||
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4 |
Total Hours | 33-34 |
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary schools are looking for students who have completed a core of specific course work in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Veterinary schools may also require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom. In addition, coursework required in the humanities and social sciences may vary by school.
Pre-Veterinary Concentration (23-25 credit hours)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 211 | Microbiology | 5 |
CHEM 226 & CHEM 227 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
CHEM 322 | Biochemistry | 3 |
PSCI 112 | General Physics II | 4 |
or PSCI 212 | Physics II | |
Select at least one of the following 300-level electives: | 3-4 | |
Molecular Biology (4) | ||
Medical Microbiology (3) | ||
Immunology (3) | ||
Endocrinology (3) | ||
Mathematics Requirement | ||
MATH 175 | Statistics | 4-5 |
or MATH 181 | Calculus/Analytic Geometry I | |
Total Hours | 23-25 |
Students work with their advisors in selecting additional elective credits to fulfill the 120 credit hours required for graduation.