Biology, B.S.

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Biology.

The Bachelor of Science in Biology provides a strong preparation for those wishing to attend professional or graduate school in biology or related disciplines such as cell or molecular biology, ecology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, biophysics, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and allied health fields. It is also recommended for those who intend to enter the scientific workforce upon completion of a bachelor's degree. 

Undergraduate Contact Information:

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

Dr. Erik Cordes, Vice Chair
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 315A
erik.cordes@temple.edu
215-204-8876

Dr. Joel Sheffield, Faculty Advisor
Juniors/Seniors, Research Questions
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 311
215-204-8839
jbs@temple.edu

Dr. Angela Bricker, Faculty Advisor
First Year Students/Sophomore Year Students
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248C
215-204-8578
abricker@temple.edu

Bachelor of Science 

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

  1. University Requirements

    • MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.

    • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple as part of their major. Following is a list of courses that can be used to satisfy the writing-intensive requirement:

      BIOL 2296Genetics (S)4
      BIOL 3096Cell Structure and Function (F)4
      BIOL 3396Scientific Writing for Biology: The Art of Communicating (S)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 typically 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

    • 45 Upper Level (2000+) credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST) or the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).

    • 90 credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST) or the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).

    • First Year Seminar Requirement: All students in the College of Science & Technology (CST) are required to take a 1 credit first year seminar course, SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CST College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.

  3. Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (69-75 s.h.)
    At least 9 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 6 Biology courses must be completed at Temple.
    Biology
    BIOL 1111Introduction to Organismal Biology4
    or BIOL 1911 Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology
    BIOL 2112Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology4
    or BIOL 2912 Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
    BIOL 2227Principles of Ecology3
    BIOL 2296Genetics (S)4
    BIOL 3096Cell Structure and Function (F)4
    Select 6 Biology electives 2200 or above 118-24
    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 2211
    & CHEM 2213
    		Organic Chemistry for Majors I
    and Organic Majors Laboratory I (F)
    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 2212
    & CHEM 2214
    		Organic Chemistry for Majors II
    and Organic Majors Laboratory II (S)
    CHEM 2922
    & CHEM 2924
    		Organic Chemistry for Honors II
    and Organic Honors Laboratory II (S)
    Mathematics
    Select one of the following:4
    MATH 1041
    		Calculus I
    MATH 1941
    		Honors Calculus I
    Select one of the following:4
    MATH 1044
    		Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences
    MATH 1042
    		Calculus II
    MATH 1942
    		Honors Calculus II
    Physics
    PHYS 2021General Physics I4
    or PHYS 2921 Honors General Physics I
    PHYS 2022General Physics II4
    or PHYS 2922 Honors General Physics II
    Total Credit Hours69-75
    (F) - Fall only course
    (S) - Spring only course

    Note: Grades of C or higher in both CHEM 1031 and CHEM 1032 or their Honors alternates are required to take BIOL 2112. Grades of C or higher in BIOL 1111 and BIOL 2112 or their Honors alternates are required to take upper-level Biology courses, and a C- or higher is required unless otherwise specified in all other courses for the major, including course prerequisites. Most research and independent study courses do not count as Biology electives, such as:

    BIOL 2082Independent Research I1 to 4
    BIOL 3082Independent Research II1 to 4
    BIOL 3091Research Methods3
    BIOL 3681Cooperative Studies2 to 4
    BIOL 3685Externship Studies3
    BIOL 4291Extradepartmental Research1 to 4
    BIOL 4483Accelerated Research in Biochemistry3
    BIOL 4491Research in Biochemistry3
    BIOL 4591Research in Neuroscience1 to 4

     A GPA of 2.0 or better is required in Biology courses in order to graduate.

Distinction in the Major

To be eligible for distinction in the major, a student must retain a grade point average of 3.2 or better (overall and in the major); should register for BIOL 4391 Accelerated Research in Biology or BIOL 4291 Extradepartmental Research for a total of 6 s.h. over two semesters; and must write a final research paper and present his/her research at a departmental research poster session before graduation. A student, however, does not have to enroll in the distinction program in order to participate in departmental research. Other courses (BIOL 2082 Independent Research I and BIOL 3082 Independent Research II), provide credit toward graduation and research experience, and are available to undergraduate students from their sophomore through their senior year. A student may register for BIOL 3082 more than one semester, however only one semester may be completed for a grade. The additional semester may be taken for credit/no credit. In all cases, permission of the faculty and application to the department Honors Committee is required before registering for research credits.

Calculation of Major GPA

Courses listed under the major requirements for the degree will be included in the calculation of the major GPA. Courses that could not apply toward the major as an elective or required course would not be counted in the calculation of the major GPA. This would include BIOL 1011, for example.

A total of up to 3 s.h. of Biology research courses numbered lower than 4000 (to include:  BIOL 2082, BIOL 3082, BIOL 3181, BIOL 3281, and BIOL 3681) may be taken for a letter grade. Any additional credits in research courses in this category can be taken only on a CR/NC basis. No research courses numbered lower than 4000 may be used for Biology elective credit.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Requirements for New Students starting in the 2020-2021 Academic Year

Year 1
FallCredit Hours
Select one of the following:4
General Chemistry I 
Honors General Chemical Science I (F) 
MATH 1041 or 1941Calculus I4
SCTC 1001CST First Year Seminar1
General Education/Elective Credits6
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
BIOL 1111 or 1911Introduction to Organismal Biology4
Select one of the following:4
General Chemistry II 
Honors General Chemical Science II (S) 
Select one of the following:4
Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences 
Calculus II 
Honors Calculus II 
General Education/Elective Credits3
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 2
Fall
BIOL 2112 or 2912Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology4
Select one of the following:4
Organic Chemistry I 
Organic Chemistry for Majors I (F) 
Organic Chemistry for Honors I (F) 
General Education/Elective Credits8
 Term Credit Hours16
Spring
BIOL 2227Principles of Ecology3
BIOL 2296Genetics [WI] (S)4
Select one of the following:4
Organic Chemistry II 
Organic Chemistry for Majors II (S) 
Organic Chemistry for Honors II (S) 
General Education/Elective Credits4
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
BIOL 3096Cell Structure and Function [WI] (F)4
PHYS 2021 or 2921General Physics I4
General Education/Elective Credits8
 Term Credit Hours16
Spring
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective13-4
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective13-4
PHYS 2022 or 2922General Physics II4
General Education/Elective Credits5-3
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective13-4
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective13-4
General Education/Elective Credits9-7
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective or Cognate Elective13-4
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective or Cognate Elective13-4
General Education/Elective Credits10-8
 Term Credit Hours16
 Total Credit Hours: 123
(F) - Fall only course
(S) - Spring only course