Biology Program
The university awards the Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in biology, to a student who, in addition to satisfying the minimum requirements for graduation from the College of Arts and Sciences, meets the following requirements:
Complete a minimum of 49 semester hours of biological science to include 29 semester hours of the biology core curriculum courses BIOL 155, 156, 203-204, 320, 326, 370, 401, 440-441, and 499 and a minimum of 20 semester hours of selected biology concentration electives (see below).
Earn a grade of C or better in all science courses to be applied toward degree requirements.
Complete the Senior Exit exams the last semester before graduation.
Minor
A minor in biology requires the completion of 24 semester hours in the Biological Sciences with a minimum grade of C in all courses to include BIOL 155, 156, 203 204, 320, 370, 401, or 499, and 440-441 or 326. Students may alternately receive a Biology minor in one of the following concentrations: Environmental Biology, Marine Biology, or Microbiology. Students minoring in one of these concentrations must complete BIOL 155, 156, 320 and 12 additional semester hours approved by the department head from courses listed in that concentration area with a minimum grade of C.
Concentrations:
Students majoring in biology select from one of nine areas of concentration based on elective biology courses taken in addition to the core curriculum biology courses. The department will give students an exact course sequence for their concentration area.
The Department of Biological Sciences also offers a Master of Science Degree in Marine and Environmental Biology. Information can be found in the Graduate Programs section of this catalog.
- General Biology Concentration (BIOL)
- Environmental Biology Concentration (BIOE)
- Marine Biology Concentration (BIOM)
- Microbiology Concentration (BIOC)
- Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration (BIOT)
- Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry Concentration (BIOD)
- Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration (BIOO)
- Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration (BIOP)
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration (BIOV)
- CLR - Computer Literacy Requirement
- GER - General Education Requirement
- OCR - Oral Communication Requirement
- UUR - University Requirement
| FRESHMAN YEAR | Sem.Hrs. | SOPHOMORE YEAR | Sem.Hrs. |
| BIOL 155, 156 (GER) | 8 | BIOL 203-204 | 4 |
| CHEM 105 (GER) | 3 | CHEM 221, 222-226 | 8 |
| CHEM 106-110 | 5 | HIST 101-102 or 150-151 | 6 |
| CMPS 200 (CLR) | 3 | MATH 301 | 3 |
| ENGL 101, 102 (GER) | 6 | PHYS 101-103, 102-104 | 8 |
| Freshman Seminar Course(UR) | 1 | Concentration Elective (See below) |
4 |
| MATH 165* (GER) | 5 | 33 | |
| 31 | |||
| JUNIOR YEAR | Sem.Hrs. | SENIOR YEAR | Sem.Hrs. |
| BIOL 320, 326, 370, 440-441 | 15 | Arts Elective (GER) | 3 |
| CHEM Elective (300 or above)** | 4 | BIOL 401, 499 | 2 |
| ENGL Literature Elective (GER) ENGL 368 or 468 (GER) |
33 | Humanities or Fine Arts Electives |
6 |
| Concentration Elective (See below) |
4 | Social Science Electives (GER)*** | 6 |
| 29 | SPCH 101 (OCR) | 3 | |
| Concentration Electives (See below) |
12 | ||
| 32 |
Total Hours Required for Degree (all concentrations): 125
* MATH 165 is the entry-level course for this major. All prerequisites for MATH 165 must be met.
** Chemistry elective must be a lecture/lab series. To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must take CHEM 300-302 plus 3 hrs. of CHEM numbered 300 or above.
*** To be selected from two disciplines.
NOTES: BIOL 416, Research Problems, is strongly recommended for biology majors. BIOL 416 may be taken only twice for degree credit, and no more than 6 total hours of BIOL 416 and/or special topics (BIOL *471, *472, *473, and *474) may be taken for degree credit as concentration electives.
General Biology Concentration (BIOL) – 20 hours required (Choose one or more courses from each of the following groups):
| Group I - Botany: | Group II – Zoology: |
| BIOL 361 (Required) (4) | BIOL 332 (4) |
| BIOL 348 (4) | |
| BIOL 354 (4) | |
| BIOL 404 (4) | |
| Group III - Environmental: | Group IV - Other: |
| BIOL 283 (3) | BIOL courses 300 or above (with approval of department head) |
| BIOL 284 (1) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 301 (3) | |
| *BIOL 465 (4) | |
| *BIOL 480 (4) | |
| *BIOL 490 (4) |
Environmental Biology Concentration (BIOE) – 20 hours required
| BIOL 283 (3) | BIOL 425 (4) |
| BIOL 301 (required) (3) | *BIOL 465 (4) |
| BIOL 354 (4) | *BIOL 480 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 404 (required) (4) | *BIOL 490 (4) |
| BIOL 416 (2) | CHEM 435 (3) |
Marine Biology Concentration (BIOM) – 20 hours required
| BIOL 283 (required) (3) | BIOL 416 (2) |
| BIOL 284 (required) (1) | *BIOL 465 (4) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | *BIOL 472 (2) |
| BIOL 348 (required) (4) | *BIOL 473 (3) |
| BIOL 354 (required) (4) | *BIOL 474 (4) |
| BIOL 361 (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 404 (4) | GEOL 300 (3) |
| *BIOL 480 (4) | *LUMCON Marine Biology courses – require departmental approval |
Marine Biology students must take a course at LUMCON during intersession or summer session.
Microbiology Concentration (BIOC) – 20 hours required
| BIOL 315 (required) (4) | BIOL 425 (4) |
| BIOL 328 (required) (3) | BIOL 460 (required) (3) |
| BIOL 329 (required) (2) | *BIOL 471 (1) |
| BIOL 416 (recommended) (2) | *BIOL 480 (4) |
| *BIOL 421 (3) | CHEM 435 (3) |
Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration (BIOT) – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (5) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (required) (4) | BIOL 416 (2) |
| BIOL 328 (required) (3) | *BIOL 421 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (required) (2) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
NOTES: A baccalaureate degree in Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration is offered only by academic health centers, schools of allied health and some universities with pre-medical technology degrees. This biology concentration area provides a B.S. degree in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Medical Technology, and all prerequisites necessary to apply to those programs that offer a baccalaureate in Medical Technology. A student may alternately elect to pursue a two and one-half year non-degree track in Pre-Medical Technology that provides all prerequisites for Medical Technology baccalaureate programs. Students must consult with an advisor.
Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry Concentration (BIOD) – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (required) (5) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 416 (2) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | *BIOL 421 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 332 (4) |
NOTES: Students majoring in the pre-medicine concentration in biology are eligible to apply to the Tulane University School of Medicine Early Acceptance Program at the end of the sophomore year. The information for the program and the required sequence of courses for the first two years of the curriculum is found in this Catalog in section titled Tulane University School of Medicine Early Acceptance Program.
The course sequence and application information are also found at the Nicholls State University website http://www.nicholls.edu/academics/tulane/.
Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration (BIOO) – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (5) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 416 (2) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | *BIOL 472 (required) (2) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 332 (4) |
Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration (BIOP) – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (5) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 416 (2) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | *BIOL 421 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | *BIOL 472 (required) (2) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 435 (required) (3) |
Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration (BIOV) – 20 hours required
| AGSC 112 (required) (1) | BIOL 371 (required) (4) |
| AGSC 425 (required) (4) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 304 (required) (5) | BIOL 416 (2) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | *BIOL 421 (3) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | CHEM 435 (required) (3) |
| BIOL 332 (4) |
NOTES: Schools of Veterinary Medicine may require applicants to have an animal science course with laboratory and an animal feeds or nutrition course. Students applying to a School of Veterinary medicine should take AGSC 111-112 (Introduction to Animal Science and Laboratory).