Biological Sciences B.S. – Cell and Molecular Biology Emphasis

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: Susan M. Keenan, Ph.D., School Director

Location: Ross Hall 2480

Telephone: 970.351.2921

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements. Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program. The school's transfer advisor can be reached at 970.351.2921.

The program consists of three parts:

Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
Required Major Credits
University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

This program places emphasis on a thorough understanding of the biological principles underlying all living systems through study of the basic unit of life, the cell. Undergraduates entering this program should have a strong science and mathematics background in high school or be prepared to do additional remedial work.

Students successfully completing this program will be prepared to choose from a widely varied range of careers in the basic or applied biological sciences such as public health, the pharmaceutical industry, cancer research, biodiversity research, forensic biology, animal and plant agricultural sciences, and many others.

Students will also be prepared to continue their education in graduate biological sciences programs (microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, physiology, endocrinology, immunology, developmental biology, etc.) and in most professional schools (medical, veterinary, etc.). This program encompasses a minor in chemistry.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

The State of Colorado has mandated that institutions of higher education assess student outcomes resulting from their college education. The School of Biological Sciences requires that all undergraduate students entering under this Catalog meet the following conditions in addition to meeting the graduation requirements of the University:
In the senior year of study all undergraduates will take the Educational Testing Service's nationally standardized exam in Biology.
All Biology majors are required to earn a minimum of a 2.0 grade in all BIO prefix courses taken to meet their major requirements. Students receiving a grade of less than 2.0 in BIO courses taken to meet their major requirements must repeat the courses.
NOTE: Students completing a major in Biological Sciences and a minor in Chemistry are exempt from the university policy that a maximum of 12 credit hours can be shared between a major and minor. A student must still complete a minimum of 6 upper-division UNC credits (300-400) or UNC approved Study Abroad credits in the minor.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

Degree Requirements

1. Required Specified LAC — 24 credits

LAC area 1.b. — Intermediate Composition

SCI 291

Scientific Writing

LAC area 2 — Mathematics

MATH 171	Calculus I for Life Sciences	4
STAT 150	Introduction to Statistical Analysis	3

LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences

BIO 110	Principles of Biology	4
CHEM 111	Principles of Chemistry I	4
CHEM 111L	Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory	1
PHYS 220	Introductory Physics I	5

Remaining LAC — 18 credits

NOTE: Students need to select courses from areas 7 and 8 that also count for areas 3, 4, or 5.

See “Liberal Arts Core”.

2. Required Major — 71 credits

Take all of the following courses (50 credits):

BIO 111	Survey of Organismal Biology	4
BIO 210	Cell Biology	3
BIO 220	Genetics	4
BIO 351	Microbiology	4
BIO 360	Ecology	4
BIO 425	Molecular Genetics	3
BIO 442	Molecular and Cellular Laboratory	2
BIO 450	Cell Physiology	3
BIO 465	Evolution	3
CHEM 112	Principles of Chemistry II	4
CHEM 112L	Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory	1
CHEM 331	Organic Chemistry I	4
CHEM 331L	Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	1
CHEM 332	Organic Chemistry II	4
CHEM 332L	Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	1
PHYS 221	Introductory Physics II	5

Biochemistry (3-4 credits)

Choose one of the following options:

CHEM 481	General Biochemistry I	3
	Or, complete both:
CHEM 381	Principles of Biochemistry	3
CHEM 381L	Principles of Biochemistry Lab	1

Physiology (4-6 credits)

Choose one of the following courses:

BIO 350	Human Physiology	4
BIO 354	General Plant Physiology	4
	Or, complete both:
BIO 552	Mammalian Physiology I	3
BIO 553	Mammalian Physiology II	3

Capstone Professional Experience (1 credit)

Take one credit (chosen in consultation with faculty advisor to help match career goals) from:

BIO 422	Directed Studies	1- 3
BIO 492	Internship in Biological Sciences	1- 3
BIO 493	Clinical Internship in Biological Sciences	1- 3
BIO 494	Practicum in College Biological Science Instruction	1- 2

Biological Science Advanced Study (10-13 credits)

Choose from BIO-prefix courses at the 300 level or higher to bring your Required Major Credits to 71 total.

Please see course listings in the graduate catalog for additional course options (must be a junior with a minimum 3.0 GPA to take graduate level courses). Consult with faculty advisor to match career goals.

NOTE: A maximum of 3 credits total of BIO 422, BIO 492, BIO 494, BIO 585 and BIO 592 can count towards the fulfillment of this category.

3. University-Wide Credits — 7 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 7 credits.