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 447
erik.cordes@temple.edu
215-204-4067
Dr. Angela Bricker, Faculty Advisor
Biology Majors - junior and senior
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248C
215-204-8578
abricker@temple.edu
Dr. Jay Lunden, Faculty Advisor
Biology Majors - first and second year
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248M
215-204-8524
jlunden@temple.edu
Evelyn Vleck, Faculty Advisor
Biology Majors - transfer students
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248
evleck@temple.edu
Bachelor of Science
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
- University Requirements
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Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
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All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours BIOL 2296 Genetics (S) 4 BIOL 3096 Cell Structure and Function (F) 4 BIOL 3396 Scientific Writing for Biology: The Art of Communicating 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.
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- College Requirements
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45 Upper Level (2000+) credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
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90 credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- All students in the College of Science and Technology are required to take a one credit first year seminar. SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar is the appropriate course option for every entering first year CST major. Transfer students should use SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar to fulfill this requirement. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CST College Requirements page.
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- Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (71-78 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.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 Select one of the following: 3 Principles of Ecology Evolution (F) BIOL 2296 Genetics (S) 4 Select one of the following: 1 3-4 Cell Structure and Function (F) Molecular Biology General Biochemistry I Select 6 Biology electives 2200 or above 2 18-24 Chemistry Select one of the following: 4 General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory IHonors General Chemical Science I
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)Select one of the following: 4 General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory IIHonors General Chemical Science II
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S)Select one of the following: 4 Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IOrganic Chemistry for Honors I
and Organic Honors Laboratory I (F)Select one of the following: 4 Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IIOrganic 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 Calculus II or MATH 1942Honors Calculus II Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences Physics Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to General Physics I Elementary Classical Physics I or PHYS 1961Honors Elementary Classical Physics I General Physics I or PHYS 2921Honors General Physics I Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to General Physics II Elementary Classical Physics II or PHYS 1962Honors Elementary Classical Physics II General Physics II or PHYS 2922Honors General Physics II Total Credit Hours 71-78 Course List Code Title Credit Hours (F) - Fall only course (S) - Spring only course 1 Students need to take another WI course if BIOL 3096 is not selected.
2 Up to two (2) Biology Electives (6-8 s.h.) may be replaced by Cognate electives selected from the following (B.S. degree only): ANTH 2764; CHEM 3301, CHEM 3302; MATH 1042/MATH 1942; or MATH 2043/MATH 2943 (but only one of these math courses, and MATH 1042/MATH 1942 may only count if MATH 1044 is used to satisfy the second math course requirement in the major); PHYS 2511 and PHYS 3511, PHYS 4301; STAT 5002 (if substituted for BIOL 3312; students are not allowed to use both BIOL 3312 and STAT 5002 as upper-level electives).
Note: Grades of C- or higher are required unless otherwise specified in all courses for the major, including course prerequisites. Most research and independent study courses do not count as Biology electives, such as:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours BIOL 2082 Independent Research I 1 to 4 BIOL 3082 Independent Research II 1 to 4 BIOL 3091 Research Methods 3 BIOL 3681 Cooperative Studies 2 to 4 BIOL 3685 Externship Studies 3 BIOL 4291 Extradepartmental Research 1 to 4 BIOL 4483 Accelerated Research in Biochemistry 3 BIOL 4491 Research in Biochemistry 3 BIOL 4591 Research in Neuroscience 1 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 2022-2023 Academic Year
Year 1 | ||
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Fall | Credit Hours | |
BIOL 1111 or 1911 | Introduction to Organismal Biology | 4 |
MATH 1041 or 1941 | Calculus I | 4 |
SCTC 1001 | CST First Year Seminar | 1 |
SCTC 1013 | Elements of Data Science for the Physical and Life Sciences | 3 |
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
BIOL 1112 or 1912 | Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
General Chemistry I | ||
Honors General Chemical Science I | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Calculus II | ||
Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Principles of Ecology | ||
Evolution (F) | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
General Chemistry II | ||
Honors General Chemical Science II | ||
IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
Elective | 3-4 | |
Elective | 2-1 | |
Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
BIOL 2296 | Genetics [WI] (S) | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Organic Chemistry I | ||
Organic Chemistry for Honors I | ||
IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
Elective | 1 | |
Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
Select one of the following:1,2 | 3-4 | |
Cell Structure and Function [WI] (F) | ||
Upper-Level 2200+ Elective3 | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Organic Chemistry II | ||
Organic Chemistry for Honors II | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Introduction to General Physics I | ||
Elementary Classical Physics I | ||
General Physics I | ||
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
Elective | 2-1 | |
Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
Select one of the following:2 | 3-4 | |
Molecular Biology | ||
General Biochemistry I | ||
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective3 | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Introduction to General Physics II | ||
Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
General Physics II | ||
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective3 | 3-4 | |
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
Elective | 3-1 | |
Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective3 | 3-4 | |
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective3 | 3-4 | |
GenEd Breadth Course | 3-4 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3-0 | |
Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective or Cognate Elective3 | 3-4 | |
Upper-Level 2200+ Biology Elective or Cognate Elective3 | 3-4 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3-1 | |
Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 123 |
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
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(F) - Fall only course | ||
(S) - Spring only course |
1 | Students need to take another WI course if BIOL 3096 is not selected. |
2 | This program requires only one of the following courses: BIOL 3096, BIOL 3324 or BIOL 4375. If BIOL 3096 has already been 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 3096 these courses can be used to fulfill the upper-level 2200+ electives required by the program. |
3 | If the student has taken the necessary prerequisite courses, some of the Biology or Cognate elective courses may be taken before the Spring semester of Year 3. |