Biological Sciences BA/MS

Undergraduate Course Requirements

Graduate Course Requirements

Notes

* These two course options are effective spring 2022.

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

Total Credits Required for Undergraduate Major: 60-62

Additional Degree Requirements Include:

• Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
• At least 2 undergraduate elective credits.

Total Graduate Credits Required for Degree: 32

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 122

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 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 conferral of the BA degree.

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.

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. In addition, students will learn research skills including laboratory procedures, experimental design, and data analysis and interpretation.

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:

• Demonstrate broad proficiency in evolutionary biology, cell biology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics.
• Demonstrate proficiency in basic laboratory skills, including lab safety, necessary for active participation as a laboratory or field biologist.
• Demonstrate quantitative reasoning skills and correctly interpret quantitative data.
• Retrieve information from various sources (literature or actual experiments), analyze this information, and communicate it precisely in written and oral forms.
• Formulate and test biological hypotheses. Engage both independently and collaboratively in the scientific process and learn to interpret the results of experiments.
• Demonstrate appreciation and understanding of ethics in conduct of science.
  • Understand and appreciate ethical context of biology.
  • Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
• Demonstrate advanced understanding in an area of their choice to obtain a deeper coverage of at least one of the five broad areas in Biology through advanced coursework, research, or both.
   

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