Bachelor of Science in Biology
Program of Study for the UST Biology Major (B.S.)
The curriculum for a major in biology is divided into three tiers, offering increasing levels of challenge, greater emphasis on independent work, and more extensive use of literature reporting primary research. All biology majors take an introductory seris of 14 credits (BIOL 201, 202, 204, and 206) in the first of these tiers. These core courses cover the central concepts of modern biology and provide a foundation for more specialized study at higher levels. The second tier courses (BIOL 301-399) build on this foundation and offer a broad range of topics at an intermediate level, including research (BIOL 391-392). All third-tier courses (BIOL 401-498) require the completion of specific second-tier courses and involve advanced scholarship, independent research projects, and extensive use of the primary literature.
UST offers both a B.A. and a B.S. in biology. Candidates for a B.S. degree are required to take the following compared to a B.A. degree: one additonal elective BIology course and two additional allied science courses. The list below gives more details.
Course Requirements for the Biology Major (B.S.):
Core Courses: (3 1/2 courses or 14 credits)
- BIOL 201 Diversity and Adaptation
- BIOL 202 Genetics and Population Biology
- BIOL 204 Cellular and Molecular Biology
- BIOL 206 Global Ecology (2 credits)
Note: the normal expectation is that students will complete BIOL 201, 202, 204, and 206 by the end of their sophomore year.
Elective Courses: (6 1/2 courses or 26 credits; four of which are numbered 400-498)
- BIOL 210 Introduction to Laboratory Research (2 credits; offered in J-term)
- BIOL 211 Introduction to Field Research (offered in J-term; taught in Costa Rica)
- BIOL 298 Topics
- BIOL 315 Biology of Plants
- BIOL 330 Animal Behavior
- BIOL 333 Ecology
- BIOL 349 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 350 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIOL 353 Microscopic Anatomy
- BIOL 354 Neurobiology
- BIOL 356 Microbiology
- BIOL 360 Genetics
- BIOL 363 Immunology
- BIOL 365 Developmental Biology
- BIOL 371 Cell Biology
- BIOL 391, 392 Research (2 credits)
- BIOL 415 Plant Physiology and Adaptations to Stress
- BIOL 430 Behavioral Ecology
- BIOL 435 Aquatic Biology
- BIOL 462 Molecular Biology
- BIOL 471 Evolution
- BIOL 483, 484 Seminar (2 credits)
- BIOL 485, 486 Seminar
- BIOL 487, 488 Topics (2 credits)
- BIOL 489, 490 Topics
- BIOL 491, 492 Research (2 credits)
- BIOL 493, 494 Research
- BIOL 495, 496 Individual Study (2 credits)
- BIOL 497, 498 Individual Study
- CHEM 440 Biochemistry I (may be counted towards the Biology major as a 300-level elective)
Required Allied Courses: (6 courses or 24 credits; it is expected the CHEM, MATH, and QMCS courses are completed by the end of the sophomore year.)
- CHEM 111 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 112 General Chemistry II
- CHEM 115 Accelerated General Chemistry may be substituted for CHEM 111 & 112
- CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry I
- MATH 109 Calculus with Review OR MATH 113 Calculus I
- QMCS 220 Statistics I OR MATH 303 Statistics for the Applied Sciences
Note: Most Biology majors take QMCS 220 - PHYS 109 General Physics I OR PHYS 111 Introduction to Classical Physics I
Additional Electives: (2 courses or 8 credits; selected in consultation with departmental adviser)
- Any Biology courses numbered above 206
- CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 300 Quantitative Analysis
- ENGR 350 Introduction to Electronics
- GEOL 113 The Earth’s Record of Climate
- GEOL 115 Environmental Geology
- GEOL 130 Earth History
- GEOG 223 Remote Sensing
- IDSC 312 Gender and Science
- HLTH 400 Epidemiology
- MATH 114 Calculus II
- MATH 315 Applied Mathematics and Modeling I
- MATH 316 Applied Mathematics and Modeling II
- PHYS 110 General Physics II OR PHYS 112 Introduction to Classical Physics II
- PSYC 206 The Brain and Human Behavior
- PSYC 207 Alcohol, Other Drugs and Behavior
- PSYC 401 Physiological Psychology
- QMCS 230 Software Design Using the JAVA Language
- QMCS 320 Statistics II
- QMCS 342 Computer Applications in Experimental Sciences
Alternative course combinations to satisfy additional elective requirements may be proposed by majors for approval by the department chair.
