The university awards the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology to a student who, in addition to satisfying the minimum requirements for graduation from the College of Arts and Sciences, fulfills the following requirements:
Complete a minimum of 48 semester hours of biological science to include 28 semester hours of the Biology core curriculum courses BIOL 155, 156, 203-204, 320, 326 or 327, 370, 401, and 440-441, and a minimum of 20 semester hours of selected biology concentration electives (see below).
Earn a grade of C or better in all science (BIOL, CHEM, PHYS) courses and mathematics (MATH) 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, and one of the following: 326, 327, 440-441. 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 the specific concentration area with a minimum grade of C.
Concentrations:
Students majoring in biology select from one of eleven areas of concentration based on elective biology courses taken in addition to Biology core curriculum courses.
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)
- Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration (BIOJ)
- Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration (BIOT)
- Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry Concentration (BIOD)
- Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration (BIOO)
- Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration (BIOP)
- Pre-Physician Assistant Concentration (BIOA)
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration (BIOV)
- CLR – Computer Literacy Requirement
- GER – General Education Requirement
- OCR – Oral Communication Requirement
- UUR – University Requirement
Suggested Course Sequence:
| YEAR* | COURSE NAME | COURSE NUMBER | REQUIREMENT | CREDIT HRS |
| 1 | BIOL | 155 | GER | 4 |
| 1 | BIOL | 156 | GER | 4 |
| 1 | CHEM | 105 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | CHEM | 106 | 3 | |
| 1 | CHEM | 110 | 2 | |
| 1 | CMPS orOIS | 108-109 or 200 200 |
CLR | 2 |
| 1 | ENGL | 101 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | ENGL | 102 | GER | 3 |
| 1 | Freshman Seminar Course | UR | 1 | |
| 1 | MATH | 165** | GER | 5 |
| 2 | BIOL | 203 | 3 | |
| 2 | BIOL | 204 | 1 | |
| 2 | CHEM | 221 | 3 | |
| 2 | CHEM | 222 | 3 | |
| 2 | CHEM | 226 | 2 | |
| 2 | HIST Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | HIST Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | MATH | 301 | 3 | |
| 2 | PHYS | 101 | 3 | |
| 2 | PHYS | 103 | 1 | |
| 2 | PHYS | 102 | 3 | |
| 2 | PHYS | 104 | 1 | |
| 2 | Concentration Elective | See below | 4 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 320 | 4 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 326 or 327 | 4 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 370 | 3 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 440 | 3 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 441 | 1 | |
| 3 | CHEM Elective | 300-level or above*** | 4 | |
| 3 | Literature Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 3 | ENGL | 368 or 468 | GER | 3 |
| 3 | Concentration Elective | See below | 4 | |
| 4 | Fine Arts Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 4 | BIOL | 401 | 1 | |
| 4 | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective | 3 | ||
| 4 | Social Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 4 | Social Sciences Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 4 | SPCH | 101 | OCR | 3 |
| 4 | Concentration Elective | See below | 3 | |
| 4 | Concentration Elective | See below | 3 | |
| 4 | Concentration Elective | See below | 3 | |
| 4 | Concentration Elective | See below | 3 | |
| TOTAL HOURS | 120 |
*Recommend complete as Freshman (1), Sophomore (2), Junior (3), Senior (4)
**MATH 165 is the entry-level course for this major. All prerequisites for MATH 165 must be met prior to enrollment in the MATH 165 course.
***CHEM electives to include any lecture/laboratory series or CHEM 435-436. To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must also complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
NOTES:
(1) BIOL 475 (Research Problems) is strongly recommended for Biology majors. BIOL 475 may be taken only twice for degree credit.
(2) BIOL 471 through 478 are specialized courses in which students may enroll with permission of the department head. No more than a total of 6 hours from this series will apply as concentration electives.
General Biology Concentration (BIOL) Electives – 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) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| *BIOL 465 (4) | |
| *BIOL 480 (4) | |
| *BIOL 490 (4) |
Environmental Biology Concentration (BIOE) Electives – 20 hours required
| BIOL 283 (3) | BIOL 425 (2) |
| BIOL 301 (required) (3) | BIOL 465 (4) |
| BIOL 354 (4) | *BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 361 (4) | *BIOL 480 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | *BIOL 490 (4) |
| BIOL 404 (required)(4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | CHEM 436 (3) |
Marine Biology Concentration (BIOM) Electives – 20 hours required
| BIOL 283 (required) (3) | BIOL 472 (2)* |
| BIOL 284 (required) (1) | BIOL 473 (3)* |
| BIOL 332 (4) | BIOL 474 (4)* |
| BIOL 348 (required) (4) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 354 (required) (4) | BIOL 480 (4) |
| BIOL 361 (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 404 (4) | GEOL 300 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | *LUMCON Marine Biology courses – require departmental approval |
| BIOL 465 (4) |
Marine Biology students must take a course at LUMCON during intersession or summer session.
Microbiology Concentration (BIOC) Electives – 20 hours required
| BIOL 315 (required) (4) | BIOL 460 (required) (3) |
| BIOL 328 (required) (3) | BIOL 471 (1) |
| BIOL 329 (required) (2) | BIOL 475 (recommended) (2) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | BIOL 480 (4) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 421 (3) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 425 (4) |
Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration (BIOJ) Electives – 20 hours required:
| BIOL 304 (required) (5) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 471 (1) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | BIOL 476 (2) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | BIOL 490 (4) |
| BIOL 372 (4) | CHEM 435 (required) (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 408 (3) | Approved CMPS or OIS (required) (3) |
| BIOL 421 (required) (3) |
PRE-PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
The Department of Biological Sciences offers several preparatory curricula to students seeking admission to professional healthcare schools, such as Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Physical Therapy,Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Laboratory Science, and Veterinary Medicine. These concentration areas are designed to earn for the student the Bachelor of Science in Biology from Nicholls in anticipation of entering such a professional school. Because some requirements (application deadlines, specific elective courses, completion of standardized tests, letters of recommendation) vary between schools, students remain responsible for determining and completing all such requirements for the particular professional school(s) to which they intend to apply.
Students majoring in pre-professional curricula who leave Nicholls before completing requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Biology may have completed all requirements for the Associate of General Studies degree and would be entitled to receive that degree. Such students should contact the Department of Biological Sciences for an assessment of eligibility.
In addition, some coursework completed at professional schools may be applicable toward the Bachelor of Science in Biology. Therefore, students who leave Nicholls before completing requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree and who attend professional school may have completed acceptable coursework toward the Bachelor of Science in Biology and would be entitled to receive that degree. Such students should contact the Department of Biological Sciences for an assessment of eligibility.
Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration (BIOT) (Formerly Pre-Medical Technology)
– 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (5) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (required) (4) | BIOL 421 (3) |
| BIOL 328 (required) (3) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (required) (2) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) |
NOTE: A baccalaureate degree in Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration is offered only by academic health centers, schools of allied health and some universities with pre-clinical laboratory science degrees. This biology concentration area at this university provides a B.S. degree in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science that includes all prerequisites necessary to apply to those programs that offer a baccalaureate in Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science. A student may alternately elect to pursue a three-year, non-degree track that provides all prerequisites for pre-clinical laboratory science baccalaureate programs. Students should consult with an advisor.
Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry Concentration (BIOD) Electives – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (required) (5) | BIOL 406 (1) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | BIOL 421 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 436 (3) |
Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration (BIOO) Electives – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (5) | BIOL 406 (1) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | BIOL 477 (required) (2) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| HPED 375 (3) | |
| NURS 311 (1) |
Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration (BIOP) Electives – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (5) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 421 (3) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | BIOL 477 (required) (2) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 435 (required) (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | HPED 375 (3) |
| NURS 311 (1) |
Pre-Physician Assistant Concentration (BIOA) Electives – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (required) (5) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| (BIOL 332 (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | NURS 311 (1) |
| BIOL 406 (1) |
Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration (BIOV) Electives – 20 hours required
| BIOL 304 (required)(5) | BIOL 372 (2) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 406 (2) |
| BIOL 328 (3) | BIOL 408 (3) |
| BIOL 329 (2) | BIOL 421 (3) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 371 (required) (4) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 477 (required) (2) | |
| CHEM 435 (required) (3) | |
| CHEM 436 (3) |
Note: Electives listed above as “required” are prerequisites for admission to most schools of veterinary medicine.
