Program options

BIOLOGY

Goals and Options

The B.S. or B.A. Degree in Biology is designed to enable the student to pursue an in-depth study of science in the area of biology. Upon graduation the student may pursue additional studies in biological sciences, medical professions, environmental science, and other areas. The following majors are to be supplemented with general education, and electives or other coursework to total 128 or more hours.

B.A. MAJOR IN BIOLOGY

1. General Education (48 hours)

2. Biology (36 hours)

  • Bio 111 General Biology I (4)
  • Bio 112 General Biology II (4)
  • 3 hrs of biology research (Bio 399 or approved biology internship, Bio 498) (3)
  • Electives* (25)

*Biology courses chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor to include at least nine hours of upper-level (300 and 400 level) biology courses; may include Chem 345 Biochemistry.

B.S. MAJOR IN BIOLOGY

The major consists of a Biology Core (37 hours) taken by all majors plus one of six Emphasis areas: Cell and Molecular Biology, Environmental Biology, Forensic Science, Organismal Biology, Conservation Biology and General Biology.

1.  General Education (48 hours)

2.  Biology Core (37 hours)

3.  Biology Emphasis: (Chose one emphasis below) (25-27 hours)

Cellular and Molecular Biology Emphasis (26 hours)              

  • Bio 344 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
  • Bio 319 Cell and Molecular Biology (3)
  • Bio 351 General Microbiology (4)
  • Bio 489 Immunology (3)
  • Chem 345 Introductory Biochemistry (4) 
  • Additional Electives (8)

Organismal Biology Emphasis (25 hours)

  • Bio 224 Invertebrate Zoology (3)    
  • Bio 225 Vertebrate Zoology (3) 
  • Bio 345 Midwest Floral I.D. (3)
  • Bio 317 Ecology & Field Biology (3)  
  • One Biology Study Tour (Bio 362 or Bio 363) (3)
  • Biology Electives (may include Chem 345) (10) 

Forensic Science Emphasis (25 hours)

  • Bio 230 Introduction to Forensic Science (3)  
  • Bio 231 Introductory Forensic Science Lab (1) 
  • Bio 330 Advanced Forensic Science (3)
  • Chem 116 General Inorganic and Qualitative Analysis (4)
  • Chem 325 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry (4) 
  • Soc 321 Criminology (3)
  • Additional electives* (7)

*May include the following: Bio 317, 319, 345, 351; Chem 313, 331, 345; Geog 361

Environmental Biology Emphasis (26 hours)

  • Bio 317 Ecology & Field Biology (3) 
  • Bio 351 General Microbiology (4)
  • Chem 116 General Inorganic & Qualitative Analysis (4)
  • Chem 325 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry (4)
  • Chem 331 Organic Chemistry II (4)
  • Additional Electives (may include Chem 345) (7)

Conservation Biology Emphasis (27 hours)

  • Bio 317 Ecology & Field Biology (3)
  • Bio 345 Midwest Floral I.D. (3)
  • Bio 377 Honors Biology Conservation Biology (3)  
  • One Biology Study Tour (Bio 362 or 363) (3)
  • Sci 315 Environmental Science (3)
  • Supporting courses*  (12)

*CS 121 (or higher level), CTA 211, Econ 101, 102, Eng 221, Geog 202, 361, PS 111, Soc 221, Bus 300. Take a minimum of 12 hours from these courses which also may fulfill general education requirements.

General Biology Emphasis (26 hours)                                                              

CHEMISTRY

Goals and Options

The goal of the chemistry program is to educate and train chemists for work in industry, business, law, academia and the health professions. Upon graduation, the student with a baccalaureate degree in chemistry may pursue employment in a research, synthetic, or quality control chemistry laboratory in academia, industry or government. The student may also pursue graduate or professional studies in any area of chemistry, the physical sciences, or the biomedical sciences.

The curriculum leading to a bachelor of science in chemistry is designed to provide an in-depth study of the field of chemistry. This program is particularly suited for those individuals who wish to pursue graduate work in the chemical, physical or the biochemical sciences.

The curriculum leading to the bachelor of arts degree is designed to provide more electivity in the major and is particularly suited for individuals who wish to have a second major (such as biology) and/or attend medical school, law school, pharmacy school or any other professional school upon completing their chemistry degree. The following majors are to be supplemented with general education, and electives or other coursework to total 128 or more hours.

B.A. MAJOR IN CHEMISTRY

1. General Education (48 hours)

2. Chemistry Core (28 hours)

3. Electives (16 hours)

B.S. MAJOR IN CHEMISTRY

1. General Education (48 hours)

2. Chemistry Core (28 hours)

 3.  Chemistry (31-32 hours)

  • Chem 313 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3)  
  • Chem 325 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry (4) 
  • Chem 331 Organic Chemistry II (4)   
  • Chem 345 Introductory Biochemistry (4) 
  • Chem 354 Physical Chemistry II (3)
  • Chem 356 Physical Chemistry Lab II (1) 
  • Phys 112 General Physics II (4) 
  • Phys 211 Gen. Physics I Calculus Topics (1) 
  • Phys 212 Gen. Physics II Calculus Topics (1) 
  • Electives (6 or 7)*

*Electives from: Bio 208, CS 131, Chem 399, Math 122, 284, 333, 384

PHYSICS

Goals and Options

The physics major is designed to enable students to pursue careers or further study in physics or related areas such as engineering or astronomy. The program provides students with a strong foundation in the conceptual and quantitative aspects of physics, with an emphasis on the connections and relationships between physics and mathematics. Electives allow the student to gain additional background in Chemistry, Mathematics, or Computer Science. This program is particularly suited for those individuals who wish to pursue graduate work in physics or related fields. 

The following major is to be supplemented with general education and electives or other coursework to total 128 or more hours.

B.S. MAJOR IN PHYSICS

1. General Education (48 hours)

2.  Physics Core (63 hours)

  • Phys 111 General Physics I (4)
  • Phys 112 General Physics II (4)
  • Phys 211 Calc Topics in Physics I (1)
  • Phys 212 Calc Topics in Physics II (1)             
  • Phys 321 Classical Mechanics (3) 
  • Phys 353 Thermodynamics (3)
  • Phys 354 Quantum Mechanics (3)  
  • Phys 371 Electronics (3)
  • Phys 381 Modern Physics (3)
  • Phys 382 Advanced Physics Lab (1)   
  • Phys 383 Nuclear and Particle Physics (3) 
  • Phys 390 Electricity and Magnetism (3)   
  • Phys 399 Research in Physics (or substitute Phys 498) (2)   
  • Chem 115 General Chemistry I (4)                            
  • Chem 116 General Chemistry II (4)
  • Math 184 Calculus I (4)
  • Math 186 Calculus II (4)  
  • Math 284 Calculus III (4) 
  • Math 322 Foundations of Statistics (3)  
  • Math 384 Differential Equations (3)  
  • CS 131 Computer Programming I (3)

3.  Electives (6-7 hours)

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Goals and Options

The physical science majors are designed to enable students to pursue careers or further study in areas relating to physics and chemistry. These majors are particularly suited for students interested in moving into interdisciplinary scientific fields, such as astronomy or meteorology, or into science-related fields such as science writing or patent law. The program provides students with a strong foundation in the conceptual and technical aspects of the physical sciences, with an emphasis on the connections and relationships between chemistry and physics. Students in the program have the option to earn a B.A. major in physical science studies, a comprehensive B.A. in physical science, or a B.S. in physical science. The B.A. majors are excellent preparation for entry into careers in science-related fields, while the B.S. major provides the more rigorous treatment and mathematical depth appropriate for a career or graduate study in an interdisciplinary scientific discipline. Options available to the student in the B.S. program involve a choice of increased work with advanced laboratory experiments and techniques, a stronger emphasis on chemistry, or a stronger emphasis on physics.

The following majors are to be supplemented with general education and electives or other coursework to total 128 or more hours.

B.A. MAJOR IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE STUDIES

1. General Education (48 hours)

2. Physical Science Core (23 hours)

3. Physical Science Courses (10-18 hours)

  • Chem 313 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3) 
  • Phys 382 Advanced Physics Lab (1)
  • Phys 383 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics (3)
  • Sci 331 Descriptive Astronomy (3)
  • Math 184 Calculus I (prereq. for Phys 381) (4)
  • Math 186 Calculus II (recommended) (4)

B.A. MAJOR IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE (Comprehensive)

1. General Education (48 hours)

2. Physical Science Core (23 hours)

3. Physical Science Courses (36 hours)

B.S. MAJOR IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE

1.  General Education (48 hours)

2.  Physical Science Core (23 hours)

3.  Physical Science (36 hours)

B.A. in Environmental Science (67-69 hours)

Core Requirements (49 hrs): Econ 102, Bio 112, 317, Bus 261, 281, Chem 115, CTA 301, Geog/ESci 281, 315, 361, 385, Math 122, Phys 110, ESci 351, ESci 498, and Emphasis area.

B. A. in Environmental Studies (49 hours)

Econ 102, Bio 112, 317, Bus 261, 281, Chem 115, CTA 301, CS 121, Geog/ESci 281, 315, 361, Math 122, Phys 110, ESci 351, Bio/ESci 377, ESci 489.

B.A. in Natural Science (Comprehensive) (60 hours)

Bio 111, 112, and seven hours of electives from Bio 208, 317, 343, and 351; Chem 115,116, 231 and  three credit hours of  300-level chemistry; Phys 111, 112, 381, 382 and383; Sci 281 and 331; Math 184 and 186.

Minors in Natural Sciences

Biology (19 hours)

  • Bio 110 Principles of Biology (4)
  • Fifteen hours of Biology courses above 112.

OR

  • Bio 111 General Biology I (4)
  • Bio 112 General Biology II (4)
  • Eleven hours of Biology courses above 112.

Chemistry (18 hours)

  • Chem 115 General Chemistry (4)
  • Chem 116 General Inorganic and Qualitative Analysis (4)
  • Chem 231 Organic Chemistry I (4)
  • Six to eight hours of electives chosen from 300-level chemistry courses.

Environmental Studies (28 hours)

Physical Science (19 hours)

  • Eight hours of general chemistry
  • Eight hours of general physics
  • Chem 231 Organic Chemistry (4) and/or Phys 381 Modern Physics (3)

Physics (18 hours)

  • Phys 111 General Physics I (4)
  • Phys 112 General Physics II (4)
  • Phys 381 Modern Physics (3)
  • Phys 382 Advanced Physics Lab. I, II, III (1)
  • Six hours of physics courses at or above the 200-level
See also: Please check the course catalog for other information about programs in which you are interested.