Dec 03, 2023

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Biological Sciences BA

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What could be more fascinating than studying living things, how they evolve, and how they interact with the world around them? Whether you’re interested in human health, the environment and sustainability, food security, or nearly any topic that affects life on this planet, you’ll find students and faculty at UB who are just as excited as you are. This major is ideal for anyone who wants a major that covers a variety of disciplines to prepare for a career in life sciences.

Visit the Biological Sciences academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.

Visit the Biological Sciences department page for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.

Admission Criteria

Current UB students seeking admission to the Biological Sciences BA will be added to the major upon request by completing the College of Arts and Sciences Major/Minor Change Request Form.

Course Requirements

Biological Sciences Core (33 credits)

BIO 200LLB - Evolutionary Biology Credits: 5
BIO 201LEC - Cell Biology Credits: 3
BIO 211LAB - Cell Biology Lab Credits: 1
BIO 303LEC - General Physiology Credits: 3
BIO 305LEC - Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Credits: 3
BIO 319LEC - Genetics Credits: 3

Lab Courses

Choose 3 Lab Courses (6 credits minimum):

APY 346LAB - Dissections in Comparative Primate Anatomy Credits: 2
BIO 313LBR - General Physiology Laboratory Credits: 2
BIO 315LLB - Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2
BIO 329LLB - Genetics Laboratory Credits: 2
BIO 330LAB - Special Topics Credits: 1-3
BIO 332LBR - Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory Credits: 4
BIO 370LBR - Developmental Biology Laboratory Credits: 2
BIO 400LLB - Bioinformatics / Genome Analysis Credits: 4
BIO 420LAB - Cytogenetics Credits: 3
BIO 497TUT - Honors in Biology Credits: 1-12
EVS 412LAB - Field Course in Tropical Marine Ecology Credits: 2

Electives

Choose at least 9 credits or enough to fulfill the 33 credit Biological Sciences Core requirement:

APY 345LEC - Comparative Primate Anatomy Credits: 3
APY 346LAB - Dissections in Comparative Primate Anatomy Credits: 2
APY 347LEC - Understanding Human Variation Credits: 3
APY 348LEC - Forensic Anthropological Osteology Credits: 3
APY 358LEC - Evolutionary Medicine Credits: 3 **
APY 461LEC - Human Paleontology Credits: 3
BIO 301LEC - Intermediate Cell Biology Credits: 3
BIO 302LEC - Introduction to Molecular Biology Credits: 3
BIO 309LEC - Ecology Credits: 3
BIO 313LBR - General Physiology Laboratory Credits: 2
BIO 315LLB - Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2
BIO 317LEC - Medical Entomology/Parasitology Credits: 3
BIO 318LEC - Plant Biology Credits: 3
BIO 320LEC - Cytogenetics Credits: 3
BIO 325LEC - The Biochemical Basis of Disease(s) Credits: 3
BIO 329LLB - Genetics Laboratory Credits: 2
BIO 330LAB - Special Topics Credits: 1-3
BIO 330LEC - Special Topics Credits: 1-3
BIO 332LBR - Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory Credits: 4
BIO 344LEC - Neuroethology Credits: 3
BIO 367LEC - Developmental Biology Credits: 3
BIO 369LEC - Biology of the Microbes Credits: 3
BIO 370LBR - Developmental Biology Laboratory Credits: 2
BIO 400LLB - Bioinformatics / Genome Analysis Credits: 4
BIO 401LEC - Advanced Biological Chemistry Credits: 4
BIO 402LEC - Advanced Cell and Developmental Biology 1 Credits: 4
BIO 404LEC - Advanced Molecular Genetics Credits: 4
BIO 406LEC - Signal Transduction Credits: 3
BIO 407LEC - Advanced Ecology Credits: 3
BIO 411LEC - Tropical Marine Ecology Credits: 3
BIO 412LEC - Field Course in Tropical Marine Ecology Credits: 1
BIO 412LAB - Field Course in Tropical Marine Ecology Credits: 2
BIO 417LEC - Neurobiology Credits: 3
BIO 418LEC - Integrative Neuroscience Credits: 3
BIO 420LAB - Cytogenetics Credits: 3
BIO 425LEC - Special Topics Credits: 1-3
BIO 426LEC - Special Topics Credits: 1-3
BIO 432LEC - Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics Credits: 3
BIO 433LEC - Human Genetic Diseases Credits: 3
BIO 436SEM - Genes and Cancer Credits: 1-3
BIO 437LEC - Pattern & Process Credits: 3
BIO 438LEC - Evolutionary Ecology Credits: 3
BIO 440LEC - Experimental Endocrinology Credits: 2
BIO 448LEC - Endocrinology Credits: 3
BIO 449SEM - Comparative Genomics Credits: 3
BIO 450LEC - Human Evolutionary Genomics Credits: 3
BIO 456LEC - Evolutionary Genetics Credits: 3
BIO 461LLB - Basic Radiation Science Credits: 4
BIO 487LEC - Honors Research Methods Credits: 3
BIO 494SEM - Biological Sciences Senior Capstone Credits: 3
BIO 495TUT - Undergraduate Supervised Teaching Credits: 1-6 *
BIO 496TUT - Biological Sciences Internship Credits: 2-3 *
BIO 497TUT - Honors in Biology Credits: 1-12
BIO 498TUT - Undergraduate Research Credits: 1-6 *
CHE 349LEC - Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences Credits: 3 OR
CHE 350LAB - Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences Laboratory Credits: 1
EVS 309LEC - Ecology Credits: 3
EVS 411LEC - Marine Ecology Credits: 3
EVS 412LAB - Field Course in Tropical Marine Ecology Credits: 2
EVS 413LEC - Ecology of Invasive Species Credits: 3
EVS 445LEC - Restoration Ecology Credits: 3
GEO 356LEC - Forest Ecology Credits: 3
GEO 435LEC - Conservation Biogeography Credits: 3
GLY 458LEC - Macroevolution Credits: 3
MIC 401LLB - Biomedical Microbiology Credits: 4
PAS 313LLB - Human Anatomy Credits: 4 **
PGY 451LEC - Human Physiology I Credits: 3
PGY 452LEC - Human Physiology II Credits: 3
PMY 311LEC - Chemistry of Drug Action Credits: 3
PSY 351LEC - Biopsychology Credits: 3 OR
NRS 301LEC - The Brain Credits: 3
PSY 402LEC - Psychopharmacology Credits: 3
PSY 443LEC - The Neurobiology of Communication in Animals Credits: 3
PSY 451LEC - Drug Addiction Credits: 3
PUB 340LEC - Introduction to Epidemiology Credits: 3

Other Science and Math Core (37-38 credits)

CHE 101LR - General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHE 113LAB - General Chemistry Credits: 1
CHE 102LR - General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHE 114LAB - General Chemistry Credits: 1
Select one of the following Organic Chemistry sequences:
Sequence 1:
CHE 201LLR - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 5
CHE 202LLR - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 5
Sequence 2:
CHE 203LEC - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHE 205LBR - Organic Chemistry 1 LAB Credits: 2
CHE 204LEC - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHE 206LBR - Organic Chemistry 2 LAB Credits: 2
Select one of the following:
MTH 121LR - Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I Credits: 4 OR
MTH 141LR - College Calculus I Credits: 4
Select one of the following:
MTH 122LR - Survey of Calculus and Its Applications II Credits: 4 OR
MTH 142LR - College Calculus 2 Credits: 4 OR
PSY 207LLB - Psychological Statistics Credits: 4 OR
STA 119LEC - Statistical Methods Credits: 3 AND
STA 119REC - Statistical Methods Credits: 1
Select one of the following Physics sequences:
Sequence 1:
PHY 101LR - College Physics Credits: 4
PHY 151LAB - College Physics I Lab Credits: 1
PHY 102LR - College Physics II Credits: 4
PHY 152LAB - College Physics II Lab Credits: 1
Sequence 2:
PHY 107LR - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHY 108LR - General Physics II Credits: 4
PHY 158LAB - General Physics II Lab Credits: 1

Notes

*Up to three credits of the tutorial courses BIO 495 , BIO 496 , BIO 498 can count towards the BA/BS.

NOTE: The UB Curriculum course BIO 387LEC - Communicating in Biological Sciences cannot be used as elective credit towards the BA.

Total Credits Required for Major: 70-71

Additional Degree Requirements Include:

Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
Elective courses as needed to complete the 120 credit hour total

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 120

Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.000 following the completion of BIO 200 , BIO 201 /BIO 211 , BIO 303 and BIO 305 is required for retention in the Biological Sciences major.

A minimum GPA of 2.000 in biology courses and a minimum GPA of 2.000 in required chemistry, physics and mathematics courses is needed for degree conferral.

Program Honors

Students with at least a 3.600 GPA may apply to the honors program fall of the third year. Accepted students take BIO 487 spring of the junior year and the senior year is devoted to laboratory research where the student completes six credits of honors-level, biological research BIO 497 in the laboratory of a UB faculty member. The research is presented at the departmental honors symposium at the end of spring semester. BIO 497 credits count for two of the required labs for the major and all the BIO 487 /BIO 497 credits will be counted toward the total required for the major.

Students must also meet the remaining criteria outlined in the Academic Honors policy. Students who successfully complete the honors program and meet the criteria will have the appropriate notation on their official transcript.

Curricular Plan

A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

First Year Fall

UB Seminar Credits: 3
BIO 200LLB - Evolutionary Biology Credits: 5
CHE 101LR - General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHE 113LAB - General Chemistry Credits: 1
MTH 121LR - Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I Credits: 4 OR
MTH 141LR - College Calculus I Credits: 4

Total Credits: 17

First Year Spring

BIO 201LEC - Cell Biology Credits: 3
BIO 211LAB - Cell Biology Lab Credits: 1
CHE 102LR - General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHE 114LAB - General Chemistry Credits: 1
ENG 105LEC - Writing and Rhetoric Credits: 4
MTH 122LR - Survey of Calculus and Its Applications II Credits: 4
OR
MTH 142LR - College Calculus 2 Credits: 4
OR
STA 119LEC - Statistical Methods Credits: 3 AND
STA 119REC - Statistical Methods Credits: 1
OR
PSY 207LLB - Psychological Statistics Credits: 4

Total Credits: 17

Second Year Fall

BIO 303LEC - General Physiology Credits: 3
BIO Lab Credits: 2
CHE 203LEC - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHE 205LBR - Organic Chemistry 1 LAB Credits: 2
Pathway Credits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16

Second Year Spring

BIO 305LEC - Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Credits: 3
BIO Lab Credits: 2
CHE 204LEC - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHE 206LBR - Organic Chemistry 2 LAB Credits: 2
Pathway Credits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16

Third Year Fall

BIO 319LEC - Genetics Credits: 3
BIO Elective Credits: 3
Communication Literacy 2 Credits: 3
PHY 101LR - College Physics Credits: 4
PHY 151LAB - College Physics I Lab Credits: 1

Total Credits: 14

Third Year Spring

BIO Elective Credits: 3
PHY 102LR - College Physics II Credits: 4
PHY 152LAB - College Physics II Lab Credits: 1
Pathway Credits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3

Total Credits: 14

Fourth Year Fall

BIO Elective Credits: 3
BIO Lab Credits: 2
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
UBC 399MNT - UB Curriculum Capstone Credits: 1

Total Credits: 12

Fourth Year Spring

Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 2

Total Credits: 14

Total Credits Required: 120

Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes

Students will develop a broad background in the biological sciences and achieve an understanding and appreciation of basic biological concepts and principles. They will become proficient in five broad areas of biology: evolutionary biology, cell biology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics.

(HEGIS: 04.01 BIOLOGY GENERAL, CIP: 26.0101 Biology/Biological Sciences, General)