Biology

Arts and Sciences Degree/A.A.

This major prepares students for professional careers in the life sciences by providing the first two years of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. It is also recommended for students planning professional study in health-related sciences.

If pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, six credit-hours of a foreign language at the intermediate level are required. If pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree, foreign language is not required.

Career Opportunities: Currently, biology is the most popular major for students desiring to enter medical school. However, medicine is not the only career path open to students with a biology degree. A degree in biology opens the door to a wide array of career paths. As biotechnology and concern for the environment enter all facets of everyday life, individuals with a background in biology are in demand well beyond the traditional areas of medicine, public health, research, and related fields. Students of biology are now finding opportunities in law, business, the media, and other areas.

Requirements for Graduation

In order to earn an Associate of Arts Degree in Arts and Sciences with a major in Biology, a student must complete a minimum of 62 hours of required and elective course work.

Recommended Two-Year Sequence toward a B.S. Degree

FIRST YEAR

First Semester

 

Hrs.

ENGL

101

Composition and Rhetoric

3

BIOL

115

Principles of Biology

4

CHEM

115

Fundamentals of Chemistry

4

MATH

155

Calculus 1

4

WVUe

191*

First-Year Seminar

(1)

Total

 

 

15

 

Second Semester

 

Hrs.

ENGL

102

Composition and Rhetoric

3

BIOL

117

Introductory Physiology

4

CHEM

116

Fundamentals of Chemistry

4

STAT

211

Elementary Statistical Inference

3

ORIN

270

Introduction to Health Careers (Optional)

1

Total

 

 

14-15

 

SECOND YEAR

First Semester

 

Hrs.

BIOL

219

The Living Cell

4

CHEM

233

Organic Chemistry

3

CHEM

235

Organic Chemistry Lab

1

PHYS

101

Introductory Physics

4

GEC Elective

 

3

Total

 

 

15

 

Second Semester

 

Hrs.

BIOL

221

Ecology and Evolution

3

CHEM

234

Organic Chemistry

3

CHEM

236

Organic Chemistry Lab

1

PHYS

102

Introductory Physics

4

GEC Electives

 

6

Total

 

 

17

Total Hours: 61

*Required of first-time, first-semester students; not required for graduation.

Recommended Two-Year Sequence toward a B.A. Degree

FIRST YEAR

First Semester

 

Hrs.

ENGL

101

Composition and Rhetoric

3

BIOL

115

Principles of Biology

4

CHEM

115

Fundamentals of Chemistry

4

MATH

155

Calculus 1

4

WVUe

191*

First-Year Seminar

(1)

Total

 

 

15

 

Second Semester

 

Hrs.

ENGL

102

Composition and Rhetoric

3

BIOL

117

Introductory Physiology

4

CHEM

116

Fundamentals of Chemistry

4

MATH

156

Calculus 2

4

ORIN

270

Introduction to Health Careers (Optional)

1

Total

 

 

15-16

 

SECOND YEAR

First Semester

 

Hrs.

BIOL

219

The Living Cell

4

CHEM

233

Organic Chemistry

3

CHEM

235

Organic Chemistry Lab

1

PHYS

101

Introductory Physics

4

Foreign Language 203** or GEC Elective

3

Total

 

 

15

 

Second Semester

 

Hrs.

BIOL

221

Ecology and Evolution

3

CHEM

234

Organic Chemistry

3

CHEM

236

Organic Chemistry Lab

1

PHYS

102

Introductory Physics

4

Foreign Language 204** or GEC Elective

3

GEC Elective

 

3

Total

 

 

17

Total Hours: 62

*Required of first-time, first-semester students; not required for graduation.

**Students who present more than two or more units of high school credit in a foreign language may satisfy this requirement by taking courses 203 and 204 in their first year and six hours of GEC elective courses in the second year. Students who do not have adequate high school credit must take four semesters of study in one language.