Overview

Biology spans a continuum of organization from molecules and cells to individuals and ecosystems. The Department of Biology offers programs designed to give students a broad base, while allowing a measure of sub-field specialization. All Biology majors are required to take a two-semester series of "Introduction to Biology" classes, plus a course in Genetics. In addition, students have the choice of Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology, and Ecology or Evolution as part of their core program requirements, followed by upper-level electives.

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology, which also provides the essential background for professional schools, is appropriate for those who are planning for careers in fields where a science background with additional breadth is advantageous.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: ST-BIOL-BA

Distinction in Major

To graduate with distinction in this major, a student must satisfy the following criteria:

• achieve a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA;
• achieve a minimum 3.2 major GPA;
• successfully complete BIOL 4391 Accelerated Research in Biology or BIOL 4291 Extradepartmental Research or BIOL 4396 Advanced Study in Biology for a total of 6 credits over two semesters;
• write a final research paper; and/or
• present their research at a departmental research poster session.

Accelerated Programs

Accelerated programs provide a pathway for students to pursue both an undergraduate degree and an advanced degree in a shorter amount of time. Below is a list of available accelerated programs for students in the BA in Biology.

• BA in Biology / MEd in Middle Grades Education with a Concentration in Science
• BA in Biology / MEd in Middle Grades Education with a Concentration in Science and Language Arts
• BA or BS in Biology / PSM in Bioinformatics and Biological Data Science
• BA or BS in Biology / PSM in Bioinnovation
• BA or BS in Biology / PSM in Biotechnology
• BA or BS in Biology / PSM in Scientific Writing
• Dental 3+4 Program
• Medical 3+4 Program
• Pharmacy 3+4 Program
• Physical Therapy 3+3 Program
• Podiatry 3+4 Program

Undergraduate Contact Information

Robert Sanders, Chair
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 255
215-204-8851

Erik Cordes, Vice Chair
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 447
215-204-4067
erik.cordes@temple.edu

Angela Bricker, Faculty Advisor for Biology Majors - junior and senior
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248C
215-204-8578
abricker@temple.edu

Jay Lunden, Faculty Advisor for Biology Majors - first and second year
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248M
215-204-8524
jlunden@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Biology.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

1. University Requirements
   • Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
   • All undergraduate students must complete at least two writing-intensive courses for a total of at least six credits at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:

     Course List

     Code	Title	Credit Hours
     BIOL 2297	Research Techniques in Genetics	3
     BIOL 3396	Scientific Writing for Biology: The Art of Communicating	3
     BIOL 4396	Advanced Study in Biology	3
     BIOL 4596	Introduction to Scientific and Regulatory Writing	3

   • Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
     • See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
     • Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
   • Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
2. College Requirements
   • A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
     • A minimum of 45 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above).
     • A minimum of 6 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above) CLA credits.
   • Successful completion or waiver from the second level of a foreign language.
   • Complete a one-credit first-year or transfer seminar.
     • SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar for every entering first-year CST student.
     • SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar for every entering transfer CST student.
3. Major Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (64-68 s.h.)
   At least 7 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 4 Biology courses must be completed at Temple.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   Biology
   BIOL 1111	Introduction to Organismal Biology	4
   or BIOL 1911	Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology
   BIOL 1112	Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes	4
   or BIOL 1912	Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
   BIOL 2207	Genetics	3
   BIOL 2297	Research Techniques in Genetics 1	3
   Select one of the following:		3
   BIOL 2227	Principles of Ecology
   BIOL 3101	Evolution (F)
   Select one of the following: 2		3-4
   BIOL 3204	Cell Structure and Function (F)
   BIOL 3324	Molecular Biology
   BIOL 4375	General Biochemistry I
   Select 3 Biology Electives numbered 2200 and above 3, 4		9-12
   Chemistry
   Select one of the following:		4
   CHEM 1031 & CHEM 1033	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I
   CHEM 1951 & CHEM 1953	Honors General Chemical Science I and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)
   Select one of the following:		4
   CHEM 1032 & CHEM 1034	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II
   CHEM 1952 & CHEM 1954	Honors General Chemical Science II and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S)
   Select one of the following:		4
   CHEM 2201 & CHEM 2203	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
   CHEM 2921 & CHEM 2923	Organic Chemistry for Honors I and Organic Honors Laboratory I (F)
   Select one of the following:		4
   CHEM 2202 & CHEM 2204	Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
   CHEM 2922 & CHEM 2924	Organic Chemistry for Honors II and Organic Honors Laboratory II (S)
   College of Science and Technology
   SCTC 1013	Elements of Data Science for the Physical and Life Sciences	3
   Mathematics
   MATH 1041	Calculus I	4
   or MATH 1941	Honors Calculus I
   Select one of the following:		4
   MATH 1042	Calculus II
   or MATH 1942	Honors Calculus II
   MATH 1044	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences
   Physics
   Select one of the following:		4
   PHYS 1021	Introduction to General Physics I
   PHYS 1061	Elementary Classical Physics I
   or PHYS 1961	Honors Elementary Classical Physics I
   PHYS 2021	General Physics I
   or PHYS 2921	Honors General Physics I
   Select one of the following:		4
   PHYS 1022	Introduction to General Physics II
   PHYS 1062	Elementary Classical Physics II
   or PHYS 1962	Honors Elementary Classical Physics II
   PHYS 2022	General Physics II
   or PHYS 2922	Honors General Physics II
   Total Credit Hours		64-68

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   (F) - Fall only course
   (S) - Spring only course

   ¹

   This course has a co-requisite of BIOL 2207.

   ²

   Only one of these courses need be selected to meet the requirement of the major. If additional courses from this group are taken they may be used to fulfill the requirement for upper-level electives.

   ³

   See course descriptions for exceptions.

   ⁴

   At least one upper-level biology elective must be writing-intensive.

   The research and independent study courses shown below do not count as Biology electives, but they may count as free elective credits toward graduation. Most research courses can only be taken ONCE for a letter grade. Check individual course descriptions for details and/or exceptions.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   BIOL 2082	Independent Research I	1 to 4
   BIOL 3082	Independent Research II	1 to 4
   BIOL 3181	Cooperative Research in Biochemistry	3
   BIOL 3681	Cooperative Studies	2 to 4
   BIOL 3685	Externship Studies	3
   BIOL 4291	Extradepartmental Research	1 to 4
   BIOL 4391	Accelerated Research in Biology	1 to 4
   BIOL 4483	Accelerated Research in Biochemistry	3
   BIOL 4491	Research in Biochemistry	3
   BIOL 4591	Research in Neuroscience	1 to 4

Note: Grades of C- or higher are required unless otherwise specified in all courses for the major, including course prerequisites. The College of Science and Technology requires that students have a GPA of at least 2.00 overall and at least 2.00 in the courses applicable to their major and/or minor GPA to graduate.

A total of one semester of Biology research courses numbered lower than 4000 (to include: BIOL 2082, BIOL 3082, BIOL 3181, and BIOL 3681) may be taken for a letter grade. Any additional semesters in research courses in this category can be taken only on a CR/NC basis.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Biology

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

This program requires only one of the following courses: BIOL 3204, BIOL 3324 or BIOL 4375. Note that due to prerequisite requirements BIOL 3324 and BIOL 4375 are shown in the next term of the suggested academic plan. If BIOL 3204 is completed it is not necessary to take BIOL 3324 or BIOL 4375 as the program only requires one of these three courses. If taken in addition to BIOL 3204 these courses can be used to fulfill the upper-level biology electives (numbered 2200 and above) required by the program.

²

See course descriptions for exceptions. If the student has taken the necessary prerequisite courses, some of the Biology elective courses may be taken before the Spring semester of Year 3.

³

Select an upper-level biology elective (numbered 2200 and above). At least one of the electives must be a writing-intensive (WI) course.

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated programs may be of interest to students in the Biology BA:

College of Science and Technology

• Bioinformatics and Biological Data Science PSM
• Bioinnovation PSM
• Biotechnology PSM
• Information Science and Technology MS
• Scientific Writing PSM

College of Education and Human Development

• Middle Grades Education MEd with Science concentration
• Middle Grades Education MEd with Science and Language Arts concentration
• Secondary Education MEd with Science Education concentration

Accelerated Health Programs

• Dental 3+4 Program
• Medical 3+4 Program
• Pharmacy 3+4 Program
• Physical Therapy 3+3 Program
• Podiatry 3+4 Program