Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, B.S.


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The biology major offers the broadest exposure to the various subdisciplines of biology through an examination of life from the molecular to the community level. Besides taking foundation courses that survey the full range of biology, plus genetics, ecology, and evolution, students also take courses in three major areas of biology: organismal biology, ecology, and cellular and functional biology. Students interested in veterinary medicine should pursue this track, and students applying to professional schools also should take Organic Chemistry II and lab (CHY 253 , CHY 254 ) and Biochemistry (minimum of CHY 461 ). Students graduating in this major have the broadest opportunities to further their education either in graduate or professional schools or to pursue any of a number of careers in the biological sciences, such as lab technicians and state biologists.

Program Requirements


Minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University’s Core Curriculum) required for the major: 69. A grade of C- or higher is required for all courses listed below.

One lecture/laboratory combination from each of the following three areas:


In addition to BIO 105 , BIO 106 , BIO 107 , BIO 109 , BIO 201 , BIO 203 , BIO 217 , and one lecture/laboratory course from each of the three stipulated areas, biology majors are required to take either two additional biology lecture courses or one biology lecture/laboratory course, with prefix numbers of 200 or above.

The biology major must also satisfactorily complete all of the following:


In addition, students must fulfill the University Core Curriculum requirements, including a Capstone course in the major.

USM Core Requirements


The USM Core Curriculum is a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal education that enables our graduates to be world-minded, intentional, life-long learners and captures your general education degree requirements. 

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fufilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor.  For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.

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