Biology, B.A.

General Requirements (Core A - E): 42 Credit Hours

• Area A2 – Must take MATH 1112 , MATH 1113 , or MATH 1441  

Additional Requirements: 4 Credit Hours

Area F - Courses Appropriate to Major: 18 Credit Hours

• BIOL 1107 - Principles of Biology I (3 Credit Hours)
• BIOL 1108 - Principles of Biology II (3 Credit Hours)
• CHEM 1211K - Principles of Chemistry I (4 Credit Hours)

• or CHEM 1211K /CHEM 1211 /CHEM 1211L 

• CHEM 1212K - Principles of Chemistry II (4 Credit Hours)

• or CHEM 1212K /CHEM 1212 /CHEM 1212L 

• Students should complete a 1 year sequence in either Geology or Physics (second course will be counted under Major Specific Requirements), or an alternate course approved by advisor:

• GEOL 1121 - Introduction to the Earth (4 Credit Hours)
• or  PHYS 1111K - Introductory Physics I (4 Credit Hours)
• or  PHYS 2211K - Principles of Physics I (4 Credit Hours)
• Additional Biology, Computer Science, Foreign Language, Math, Science Course (if needed)

Major Specific Requirements: 6 Credit Hours

• BIOL 1107L - Principles of Biology I Laboratory (1 Credit Hour) (may count in Area F, if needed)
• BIOL 1108L - Principles of Biology II Laboratory (1 Credit Hour) (may count in Area F, if needed)

• Completion of Geology, Physics, or Advisor alternate course (may count if Area F, if needed)

• GEOL 1122 - General Historical Geology (4 Credit Hours)
• or  PHYS 1112K - Introductory Physics II (4 Credit Hours)
• or  PHYS 2212K - Principles of Physics II (4 Credit Hours)

Major Requirements: 9 Credit Hours

• BIOL - Prerequisite Courses (required prior to any BIOL courses at the 4000 and 5000-level)
• BIOL 3131 - Physiology (3 Credit Hours)
• BIOL 3133 - Evolution and Ecology (3 Credit Hours)
• BIOL 3134 - Cell and Molecular Biology (3 Credit Hours)

BIOL - Required Courses: 3 Credit Hours

• BIOL 4130 - Genetics (3 Credit Hours)

BIOL Electives: 16 Credit Hours

• BIOL - Elective Courses (Level 3000 and above)
• BCHM 3200 - Principles of Biochemistry (3 Credit Hours)
• or   BCHM 5201 - Biochemistry I (4 Credit Hours) may substitute for a BIOL Elective with Advisor approval.

• Three of the biology elective courses above must have a laboratory requirement (BIOL 4-credit hour courses or other dedicated laboratory courses). However, a minimum of 3 credit hours of undergraduate research (a combination of BIOL 3890 , BIOL 4890 , or BIOL 4895 ) may count as one of the three laboratory requirements.

• Department recommends that one of the above courses qualify as a “capstone” experience; see Dept. website for list of qualifying courses. A maximum of 5 credit hours of capstone courses can be applied to the B.A. with a Major in Biology degree

Minor (Required): 15 Credit Hours

• Select 15 credit hours towards a minor.

Foreign Language Requirements: 0-9 Credit Hours

• Completion through 2002-level Foreign Language ¹

General Electives: 2-11 Credit Hours

• Must include at least 2 hours of upper-division (3000-level and above) coursework

Total Credit Hours: 124

¹ May be satisfied by a secondary school background showing four (4) years or more of preparation in a single language

Other Program Requirements

• Students must have a combined average of “C” or better for all biology courses.
• Students must earn a “C” or better for the pre-requisite biology courses BIOL 1107 , BIOL 1107L , BIOL 1108 , BIOL 1108L , BIOL 3131 , BIOL 3133 , BIOL 3134 
• Students must successfully complete the Major Field Test as a departmental exit exam.
• Students who wish to change their major to Biology must have a total institution GPA of 2.0 or better in all coursework completed at Georgia Southern
• Transfer students from other institutions who wish to major in Biology must have a GPA of 2.0 or better on all credit hours attempted at other institutions as well as those hours attempted at Georgia Southern.
• All transfer credits must be evaluated by the Undergraduate Office of Admissions and posted on the Georgia Southern transcript upon official acceptance to the University.

Advisement

Undergraduate Academic Advisement at Georgia Southern is provided to all degree-seeking undergraduate students by professional advisors. Academic Advisors are located on all three Georgia Southern University campuses. Students are required to meet with their assigned Academic Advisor at least once a semester. For more information visit Academic Advisement .