Biology with Molecular Biology Emphasis (BS)
The recent rapid advances in the areas of genetics, molecular biology and related biotechnologies have created a strong demand for college graduates with specialized training in these areas. Hands-on experience in the use of the latest techniques is particularly important to this training.
The BS in Biology with Molecular Biology emphasis program is designed for students seeking a rigorous, laboratory-intensive curriculum to prepare them for health-related professions, research jobs, or graduate programs in a number of areas related to molecular biology. The curriculum includes the same foundational lecture and laboratory courses in the areas of cell biology, genetics, and ecology taken by general Biology majors. Additional coursework focuses specifically on topics related to molecular biology.
Curriculum
This specialized Biology major requires 37 credit hours including 11 required Biology courses (26–29 credit hours) and Biology elective courses (7-11 credit hours) plus cognate courses in Calculus, Chemistry and Physics. This track allows students to receive the strong background in fundamental biology required of all majors, while also specializing in the area of molecular biology. Students will follow the program outlined below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Courses: Required | ||
| BIOL 101 | General Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 111 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 102 | General Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 112 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 251 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 265 | Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 282 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 283 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 366 | Cell Physiology & Biochemistry | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Genomics | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1-5 | |
| Cell Physiology & Biochemistry Lab | ||
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Forensic Molecular Biology Lecture and Lab | ||
| Research 1 | ||
| Internship in Biology | ||
| *Topics must be approved by Biology Department | ||
| Biology Courses: Electives | ||
| Select 8-11 credit hours of the following: | 8-11 | |
| Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| General Microbiology Lec/Lab | ||
| Introductory Immunology Lec/Lab | ||
| Models of Human Disease (Provisional) | ||
| General Virology | ||
| Evolution | ||
| Cell Physiology & Biochemistry Lab 2 | ||
| Molecular Pathogenesis | ||
| Molecular Genetics 2 | ||
| Genomics 2 | ||
| Bioinformatics 2 | ||
| Molecular Biology Laboratory 2 | ||
| Forensic Molecular Biology Lecture and Lab 2 | ||
| Research 2 | ||
| Internship in Biology (Capstone Course) 2 | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 160 | Chemical Structure and Properties | 3 |
| or CHEM 101 | General Chemistry A Lecture/Discussion | |
| or CHEM 105 | Chemical Principles | |
| CHEM 161 | Chemical Structure and Properties Laboratory | 1 |
| or CHEM 105 | Chemical Principles | |
| or CHEM 111 | General Chemistry Lab A | |
| CHEM 180 | Chemical Reactivity I | 3 |
| or CHEM 221 | Organic Chemistry I Lec/Disc | |
| or CHEM 223 | Organic Chemistry A Lec/Disc | |
| CHEM 181 | Chemical Reactivity I Lab | 1 |
| or CHEM 221 | Organic Chemistry I Lec/Disc | |
| or CHEM 225 | Organic Chemistry Lab A | |
| CHEM 240 | Chemical Reactivity II | 3 |
| or CHEM 222 | Organic Chemistry II Lec/Disc | |
| or CHEM 224 | Organic Chemistry B Lec/Disc | |
| CHEM 241 | Chemical Reactivity II Laboratory | 1 |
| or CHEM 222 | Organic Chemistry II Lec/Disc | |
| or CHEM 226 | Organic Chemistry Lab B | |
| CHEM 260 | Quantitative Methods in Chemistry | 3 |
| or CHEM 102 | General Chemistry B Lecture/Discussion | |
| or CHEM 106 | Basic Inorganic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 261 | Quantitative Methods in Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| or CHEM 106 | Basic Inorganic Chemistry | |
| or CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Lab B | |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 131 | Applied Calculus I | 3-4 |
| or MATH 161 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 132 | Applied Calculus II | 3-4 |
| or MATH 162 | Calculus II | |
| Physics | ||
| PHYS 111 | College Physics I Lec / Dis | 3 |
| or PHYS 121 | College Physics I Lec/Dis | |
| or PHYS 125 | General Physics I Lec/Dis | |
| PHYS 111L | College Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| PHYS 112 | College Physics II Lec/Disc | 3 |
| or PHYS 122 | College Physics II Lec/Dis | |
| or PHYS 126 | General Physics II Lec/Dis | |
| PHYS 112L | College Physics Lab II | 1 |
| Total Hours | 67 | |
- 1
Topics must be molecular and approved by Biology Department
- 2
If not taken as a requirement
Suggested Course Sequence
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
The biology department recommends that students pursuing the BS in Biology with Molecular Biology Emphasis complete their required classes in the following sequence. Requirements include courses in Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Mathematics (MATH) and Physics (PHYS):
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101 | General Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 111 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 160 | Chemical Structure and Properties | 3 |
| CHEM 161 | Chemical Structure and Properties Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 131 | Applied Calculus I | 3 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOL 102 | General Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 112 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 180 | Chemical Reactivity I | 3 |
| CHEM 181 | Chemical Reactivity I Lab | 1 |
| MATH 132 | Applied Calculus II | 3 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| BIOL 251 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 265 | Ecology | 3 |
| CHEM 240 | Chemical Reactivity II | 3 |
| CHEM 241 | Chemical Reactivity II Laboratory | 1 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| BIOL 282 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 283 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 260 | Quantitative Methods in Chemistry | 3 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| BIOL Elective (Molecular) | 2-5 | |
| BIOL Elective (Molecular) | 2-5 | |
| PHYS 111 | College Physics I Lec / Dis | 3 |
| PHYS 111L | College Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| Hours | 8-14 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| BIOL 366 | Cell Physiology & Biochemistry | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Genomics | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| PHYS 112 | College Physics II Lec/Disc | 3 |
| PHYS 112L | College Physics Lab II | 1 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: | 2-5 | |
| Cell Physiology & Biochemistry Lab | ||
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Forensic Molecular Biology Lecture and Lab | ||
| Research | ||
| Internship in Biology | ||
| Hours | 2-5 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| BIOL Elective Molecular | 2-5 | |
| BIOL Elective Molecular | 2-5 | |
| Hours | 4-10 | |
| Total Hours | 63-78 | |
College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to take two Writing Intensive courses (6 credit hours) as well as complete a foreign language requirement at 102-level or higher (3 credit hours) or a language competency test. More information can be found here.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101. SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101. Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101. You can find more information in the University Requirements area.
At the completion of the Undergraduate Biology with Molecular Biology Emphasis Major:
- Students will demonstrate developing mastery of the following Vision and Change core concepts and their related principals as they relate to the central dogma of molecular biology and how it impacts cellular and organismal processes: evolution (the diversity of life-forms that have evolved over time through mutations, selection and genetic change; structure and function (the basic units of biological structures that define the functions of all living things); information flow, exchange and storage (the influence of genetics on the control of the growth and behavior of organisms); pathways and transformations of energy and matter (the ways in which chemical transformation pathways and the laws of thermodynamics govern the growth and change of biological systems); and systems (the ways in which living things are interconnected and interact with one another).
- Students will be able to retrieve, synthesize, and critically evaluate scientific literature.
- Students will be able to communicate (orally and in writing) results and interpretation of scientific research.
- Students will be able to design and implement experiments that test predictive hypotheses, analyze data, report results, and interpret the significance of these experiments to enhance their understanding of molecular biology.