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, 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, and 12 hours of additional Biology courses approved by the Department Head.
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.
- Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration (BIOJ)
- Environmental Biology Concentration (BIOE)
- General Biology Concentration (BIOL)
- Marine Biology Concentration (BIOM)
- Microbiology Concentration (BIOC)
- Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry Concentration (BIOD)
- Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration (BIOO)
- Pre-Pharmacy Concentration (BIOR)
- 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 or OIS |
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 | Humanities Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | Humanities Elective | GER | 3 | |
| 2 | MATH | 301 | 3 | |
| 2 | PHYS | 101 or 201 | 3 | |
| 2 | PHYS | 203 | 1 | |
| 2 | PHYS | 102 or 202 | 3 | |
| 2 | PHYS | 204 | 1 | |
| 2 | Concentration Elective | See below | 4 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 320 | 4 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 326 | 4 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 370 | 3 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 440 | 3 | |
| 3 | BIOL | 441 | 1 | |
| 3 | Concentration Elective | See Below | 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 | 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 | |
| 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.
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.
Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration (BIOJ) Electives – 33 hours required:
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 429 (1) |
| BIOL 275 (2) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 304 (required) (4) | BIOL 471 (1) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | BIOL 476 (2) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | BIOL 490 (4) |
| BIOL 372 (4) | CHEM 435/CHEM 437 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 373 (4) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 408 (3) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
| BIOL 421 (required) (3) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
| BIOL 428 (3) | Approved CMPS or OIS (required (3) |
Note: To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
Environmental Biology Concentration (BIOE) Electives – 33 hours required
| BIOL 241 (2) | *BIOL 430 (3) |
| BIOL 275 (2) | BIOL 450 (3) |
| BIOL 283 (3) | BIOL 465 (4) |
| BIOL 301 (required) (3) | *BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | *BIOL 480 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 354 (4) | *BIOL 490 (4) |
| BIOL 361 (4) | **CHEM Elective (300-level or above) (required) (4) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 373 (4) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 404 (required) (4) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
| BIOL 425 (2) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
**CHEM electives to include any lecture/laboratory series or CHEM 435-436. Note: To earn a minor in chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
General Biology Concentration (BIOL) Electives – 33 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 373 (4) | |
| BIOL 404 (4) | |
| BIOL 450 (3) | |
| Group III – Environmental: | Group IV – Other: |
| BIOL 283 (3) | BIOL 241 (2) |
| BIOL 284 (1) | BIOL courses 300 or above (with approval of department head) |
| BIOL 301 (3) | **CHEM Elective (300-level or above) (required)(3) |
| *BIOL 430 (3) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| *BIOL 465 (4) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| *BIOL 480 (4) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| *BIOL 490 (4) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
| Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
**CHEM electives to include any lecture/laboratory series or CHEM 435-436. Note: To earn a minor in chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
Marine Biology Concentration (BIOM) Electives – 33 hours required
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 450 (3) |
| BIOL 283 (required) (3) | BIOL 465 (4) |
| BIOL 284 (required) (1) | *BIOL 472 (2) |
| BIOL 301 (3) | *BIOL 473 (3) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | *BIOL 474 (4) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | *BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 348 (required) (4) | BIOL 480 (4) |
| BIOL 354 (required) (4) | **CHEM Elective (300-level or above)(required)(4) |
| BIOL 361 (4) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 373 (4) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 404 (4) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
| *BIOL 430 (3) |
Marine Biology students must take a course at LUMCON during intersession or summer session.
**CHEM electives to include any lecture/laboratory series or CHEM 435-436.
Note: (1) LUMCON Marine Biology Courses- require departmental approval (2) To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
Microbiology Concentration (BIOC) Electives – 33 hours required
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 460 (required) (3) |
| BIOL 275 (2) | BIOL 471 (1) |
| BIOL 315 (required) (4) | BIOL 475 (recommended) (2) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | BIOL 480 (4) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | **CHEM Elective (300-level or above)(required)(4) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | CHEM 435 (3) |
| BIOL 421 (3) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 425 (4) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 428 (required) (3) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
| BIOL 429 (required) (1) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (3) (GER) |
**CHEM electives to include any lecture/laboratory series or CHEM 435-436. Note: To earn a minor in chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
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, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, 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-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry Concentration (BIOD) Electives – 33 hours required
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 429 (1) |
| BIOL 304 (4) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 461 (5) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | CHEM 435/CHEM 437 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 408 (3) | PSYC or SOCI Elective (required) (GER) (3) |
| BIOL 421 (3) | PSYC or SOCI Elective (required) (GER) (3) |
| BIOL 428 (3) |
Notes:
(1) BIOL 304, 332, 428 and 461 are strongly recommended for those students applying for
Medical and Dental professional programs. See an advisor
(2) To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours
CHEM numbered 300 or above.
Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration (BIOO) Electives – 33 hours required
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 461 (required) (5) |
| BIOL 304 (4) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 477 (required) (2) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | CHEM 435/CHEM 437 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | PSYC 206 or H&PE 340 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | NURS 312 (3) |
| BIOL 408 (3) | PSYC 101 (required) (GER) (3) |
| BIOL 428 (3) | PSYC 212 (required) (GER) (3) |
| BIOL 429 (1) | PSYC 301 (3) |
| BIOL 460 (3) | SOCI 151 (required) (3) |
Notes:
(1) PSYC 305 is strongly recommended for those students applying for the Occupational Therapy professional program. See an advisor.
(2) To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
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Pre-Pharmacy Concentration (BIOR) Electives – 33 hours required:
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 490 (4) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | CHEM 300 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | CHEM 302 (2) |
| BIOL 421 (3) | CHEM 303 (3) |
| BIOL 428 (3) | CHEM 305 (1) |
| BIOL 429 (1) | CHEM 435/CHEM 437 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 461 (required) (5) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 460 (3) | ECON 211 or ECON 255 (required) (GER) (3) |
| BIOL 475 (2) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 480 (4) | Social Sciences Elective (required) (GER) (3) |
Notes:
(1) SOCI 387 is strongly recommended as a social science elective for those students applying for the pharmacy professional program. See an advisor.
(2) To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration (BIOP) Electives – 33 hours required
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 461 (required) (5) |
| BIOL 304 (4) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 477 (required) (2) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | CHEM 435/CHEM 437 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | HPED 375 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 408 (3) | NURS 312 (3) |
| BIOL 421 (3) | PSYC 101 (required) GER) (3) |
| BIOL 428 (3) | PSYC 212 (required) (GER) (3) |
| BIOL 429 (1) | PSYC 301 (3) |
| BIOL 460 (3) |
Note: To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
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Pre-Physician Assistant Concentration (BIOA) Electives – 33 hours required
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 461 (required) (5) |
| BIOL 304 (4) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | CHEM 435/CHEM 437 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | NURS 312 (required) (3) |
| BIOL 406 (1) | PSYC or SOCI Elective (GER) (required) (3) |
| BIOL 408 (3) | PSYC or SOCI Elective (GER) (required) (3) |
Note: To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration (BIOV) Electives – 33 hours required
| BIOL 241 (2) | BIOL 429 (1) |
| BIOL 304 (4) | BIOL 450 (3) |
| BIOL 315 (4) | BIOL 460 (3) |
| BIOL 316 (3) | BIOL 475 (2) |
| BIOL 332 (4) | BIOL 477 (2) |
| BIOL 372 (2) | CHEM 435/CHEM 437 (required) (4) |
| BIOL 373 (4) or BIOL 461 (5) | CHEM 436 (3) |
| BIOL 406 (2) | Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (required) (3) |
| BIOL 408 (3) | Social Sciences Elective (GER) (required) (3) |
| BIOL 421 (3) | Social Sciences Elective (GER) (required) (3) |
| BIOL 428 (3) |
Notes:
(1) BIOL 373 or 461, and BIOL 477 are strongly recommended for those students applying for Veterinary Medicine professional programs.
(2) To earn a minor in Chemistry, a student must complete CHEM 300-302 and 3 hours CHEM numbered 300 or above.
