Ancillary Science Requirements

Biology rests on a foundation of mathematics and physical sciences. Biology majors must complete substantial ancillary work in Math, Chemistry, and Physics.

Introductory Biology Course

BIOL 1210 - Principles of Biology  (4) is a prerequisite for the Biology core and most Biology electives.

Biology Core

• BIOL 2010 - Evolution & Diversity of Life 3 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 2020 - Principles of Cell Biology 3 Credit(s)

• or

• BIOL 2021 - Principles of Cell Science 4 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 2030 - Genetics 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3410 - Ecology and Evolution 3 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 3510 - Biological Chemistry I 3 Credit(s)

• or

• CHEM 3510 - Biological Chemistry I 3 Credit(s)

Form & Function

(Complete 1 course)

• BIOL 3310 - Comparative Vertebrate Morphology 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3320 - Comparative Physiology 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3330 - Behavioral Neurobiology 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3340 - Introduction to Plant Biology 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3350 - Physiology of Plants 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3370 - Microbial Biology 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3380 - Evolutionary and Physiological Basis of Health 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3665 - Form, Function, and Adaption in Animals 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 5365 - Form, Function, and Adaptation of Plants 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 5555 - Ecology and Evolution of Parasites and Pathogens 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 5665 - Computational Paleophysiology 3 Credit(s)

Biology Electives

Complete 18 credits of Biology Electives from the following list.

• A minimum of 2 courses must be at the 5000-level.
• No more than 6 credits of 2000-level courses may be used.
• No more than 3 credits of BIOL 4955 - Individual Research  may be used.
• Honors Biology majors may use no more than 9 credits of Individual Research. A combination of  BIOL 4955 - Individual Research  and BIOL 4995 - Biology Honors Research  may be used. 

Biology Laboratory Courses

Biology majors must complete at least 4 approved biology laboratory courses that total 5 lab units.

“Lab units” are assigned to laboratory courses by the department, and they range in value from 1 to 3 depending on the extent of laboratory experience provided.

• BIOL 2005 - Doing Science: The Biology of Variation 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 2015 - Evolution and Diversity Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 2115 - Basic Techniques Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 2325 - Human Anatomy 4 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 2355 - Field Botany 2 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 2425 - Human Physiology Laboratory 1 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3045 - Landscape Ecology 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3115 - Computer Applications: Cell Biology Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3125 - Molecular Tools for Evolutionary and Population Biology 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3205 - General Microbiology Laboratory 1 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3215 - Cell Biology Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3235 - Developmental Biology Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3246 - Basic Cellular Neurobiology Lab 2 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3247 - Advanced Cellular Neurobiology Lab 2 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3315 - Comparative Vertebrate Morphology Laboratory 1 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3325 - Comparative Physiology Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3355 - Physiology of Plants Laboratory 1 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3480 - Biography of an Urban Stream 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 3485 - Conservation Biology Field Lab 1 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

•  

• BIOL 3515 - Biological Chemistry Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

  or

• CHEM 3515 - Biological Chemistry Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

•  

• BIOL 3525 - Molecular Biology of DNA Lab 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

  or

• CHEM 3525 - Molecular Biology of DNA Lab 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

•  

• BIOL 3665 - Form, Function, and Adaption in Animals 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 4955 - Individual Research 1 - 3 Credit(s)

• 1-2 Lab Unit(s)  One occurrence will count as a lab course.

• BIOL 4995 - Biology Honors Research 1 - 4 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5221 - Human Evolutionary Genetics 4 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5255 - Prokaryotic Genetics 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5275 - Microbial Diversity, Genomics and Evolution 4 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5315 - Advanced Human Anatomy 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5325 - Tropical Field Biology 5 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5345 - Natural History of the Colorado Plateau 3 Credit(s) 1 Lab Unit(s)
• BIOL 5346 - Natural History of the Colorado Plateau - Honors 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5365 - Form, Function, and Adaptation of Plants 4 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5385 - Ornithology 4 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5395 - Advanced Field Ornithology 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5425 - Mycology 4 Credit(s)

1 Lab Unit

• BIOL 5430 - Biography of an Urban Stream 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5435 - Plant Systematics 4 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5445 - Entomology 4 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5455 - Desert Ecology Field Course 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5465 - Plant Ecology Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

• 2 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5495 - Biophysical Ecology 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5555 - Ecology and Evolution of Parasites and Pathogens 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5665 - Computational Paleophysiology 3 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

• BIOL 5700 - Tree Thinking: Phylogenetic Concepts and Practice 3 Credit(s)

•  

• CHEM 5750 - Advanced Chemical Biology Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

• 1 Lab Unit(s)

Science electives

Some students may need to complete an additional 3-6 CR of approved science courses to fulfill the requirement for 72 CR of approved science courses.

Organic Chemistry II

(Complete 1 course)

• CHEM 2320 - Organic Chemistry II 4 Credit(s)
• CHEM 2321 - Honors Organic Chemistry II 4 Credit(s)

Biochemistry

(Complete 2 courses)

• BIOL 3515 - Biological Chemistry Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

• or

• CHEM 3515 - Biological Chemistry Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 3520 - Biological Chemistry II 3 Credit(s)

• or

• CHEM 3520 - Biological Chemistry II 3 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 3525 - Molecular Biology of DNA Lab 3 Credit(s)

• or

• CHEM 3525 - Molecular Biology of DNA Lab 3 Credit(s)

•  

Biophysics

(Complete 1 course)

• BIOL 3550 - Physical Principles in Biology 3 Credit(s)

• or

• BIOL 3551 - Physical Principles in Biology - Honors 3 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 5810 - Nanoscience: Where Biology, Chemistry and Physics Intersect 3 Credit(s)

• or

• CHEM 5810 - Nanoscience: Where Biology, Chemistry and Physics Intersect 3 Credit(s)

• or

• PHYS 5810 - Nanoscience: Where Biology, Chemistry and Physics Intersect 3 Credit(s)

Molecular Genetics

(Complete 1 course)

• BIOL 5120 - Gene Expression 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 5140 - Genome Biology 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 5275 - Microbial Diversity, Genomics and Evolution 4 Credit(s)
• BLCHM 6400 - Genetic Engineering 2 Credit(s)

Biochemistry Labs

(Complete 2 courses)

• CHEM 2315 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 3515 - Biological Chemistry Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

• or

• CHEM 3515 - Biological Chemistry Laboratory 3 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 3525 - Molecular Biology of DNA Lab 3 Credit(s)

• or

• CHEM 3525 - Molecular Biology of DNA Lab 3 Credit(s)

•  

• CHEM 5750 - Advanced Chemical Biology Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

Additional Biology Labs

(Complete 2 courses)

3 credits of BIOL 4955 - Individual Research or BIOL 4995 - Biology Honors Research in an approved Biochemistry laboratory.

• BIOL 2115 - Basic Techniques Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3215 - Cell Biology Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
• BIOL 3246 - Basic Cellular Neurobiology Lab 2 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 4955 - Individual Research 1 - 3 Credit(s)

• or

• BIOL 4995 - Biology Honors Research 1 - 4 Credit(s)

•  

• BIOL 5275 - Microbial Diversity, Genomics and Evolution 4 Credit(s)