9.6. Biology

Programs offered:

  • B.S. in Biology (TU)
  • Minor in Biology (TU)

The curriculum in Biology provides a foundation in contemporary biology and prepares the student for continuing intellectual growth and professional development in the life sciences. These goals are achieved through completion of a set of courses that provide a comprehensive background in basic scientific concepts through lectures, discussion, exploration of the primary literature, writings, oral presentations, research, and field and laboratory exercises. The program supplies the preparation for employment by research institutions, non-government and government institutions, and industry, and also provides preparation for graduate and professional schools of biology, dentistry, environmental studies, medicine, public health, veterinary medicine, and the like.

The Biology major and Biology minor require several introductory-level science (biology, chemistry, physics) courses that have mathematics prerequisites and/or co-requisites. These requirements and the means by which to satisfy them are described in Sec. 6.4.1. and Sec. 6.4.2.

Biology students who are interested in careers in the interdisciplinary fields of environmental studies (Sec. 9.18.), public health (Sec. 9.37.) or scientific/medical illustration (Sec. 9.42.) can earn specialized credentials in those areas. These three programs require specific advising from faculty (biology faculty for environmental studies and public health, and art faculty for scientific/medical illustration). The public health concentration has an application process — contact the director of the program for information.

Biology students who are interested in careers in biomedical sciences and allied health studies (e.g., nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, clinical laboratory science), in medicine, and in similar healthcare professions (dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine) should also seek specific advising from biology faculty.

B.S. in Biology (see Sec. 8.5.4. for a complete list of B.S. graduation requirements)

  1. Completion of all of the following courses:
    • BIO 110 Biological Inquiry
    • BIO 111 Biostatistics
    • BIO 201 Genetics
    • BIO 252 Biology Seminar
    • BIO 499 Evolution Seminar
    • CHM 101 General Chemistry I (and laboratory, CHM 101L)
    • CHM 102 General Chemistry II (and laboratory, CHM 102L)
    • CHM 201 Organic Chemistry I (and laboratory, CHM 201L)
    • PHY 101 General Physics I (and laboratory, CHM 201L)
  1. Completion of any combination of three “Category A” elective(s) or designated special topics course(s):
      • BIO 202 Microbiology
      • BIO 224 Cancer Biology
      • BIO 313 Developmental Biology
      • BIO 317 Biochemistry
      • BIO 418 Cell Biology
      • BIO 450 Genetic Counseling
      • BIO 455 Research in Epigenetics
  1. Completion of any combination of two of the following “Category B” elective(s) or designated special topics course(s):
    • BIO 215 Animal Behavior
    • BIO 301 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
    • BIO 402 Human Physiology
  1. Completion of any combination of two of the following “Category C” elective(s) or designated special topics course(s):
    • BIO 280 Conservation Biology in Hawaii
    • BIO 320 Urban Ecology
    • BIO 380 Conservation Biology
    • BIO 423 Ecology
  1. Additional requirements and things to note:
    • Of the electives taken from Categories A, B, and C, at least one elective must be at the 400 level and one additional elective must be at the 300 level or higher.
    • Students transferring to Oglethorpe with two semesters of introductory biology from another institution will not be required to complete BIO 110. The BIO 111 requirement can also be satisfied with an equivalent statistics course from another institution.
    • A cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher is required for all courses contributing to the major.

Minor in Biology (TU)

  1. Completion of all of the following courses:
    • BIO 110 Biological Inquiry
    • BIO 111 Biostatistics
    • BIO 201 Genetics
    • CHM 101 General Chemistry I (and laboratory, CHM 101L)
    • CHM 102 General Chemistry II (and laboratory, CHM 102L)
    • CHM 201 Organic Chemistry I (and laboratory, CHM 201L)
  1. Completion of one additional 5 semester hour Biology elective.
  2. Additional requirements and things to note:
    • A cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher is required for all courses contributing to the minor.