Biology (B.S.)
Study in the biological sciences responds to the increasing demand for scientific expertise in a variety of professional settings, including industry and law.
The program permits students to build on a common foundation of introductory courses in biology and chemistry. It provides preparation for advanced studies in biology and health-related professional fields, or for entry into a variety of areas within the biotechnology industries.
Upon successful completion of the biology program, students will be able to
- independently conduct and evaluate scientific research;
- demonstrate effective oral and written scientific communication skills;
- understand the moral and ethical impact of science on their communities, both local and global; and
- integrate a range of scientific concepts and ideas.
Students in the pre-med track have additional specific requirements, which follow. These students will be assisted with MCAT preparation in their junior and/or senior year, if they choose. These students will also have a pre-med primary advisor to ensure that all medical school questions are answered and that proper progress is being made toward completion of the pre-med designated curriculum. The pre-med advisor will also assist students in choosing medical schools and advocating on behalf of students for a selection of medical schools.
Students who wish to prepare for admission to Marymount’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program should supplement the biology program requirements with four additional courses, as noted under that track. See also the sample degree plan.
Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C- is required in any course within the major courses (biology, chemistry, and physics) that serve as a prerequisite for a higher-numbered course. Courses in which the minimum grade is not achieved may not be repeated more than once without permission of the biology and physical sciences department chair.
Pre-Med Admission Requirements: The pre-med track is reserved for students who have and will maintain a high academic standard. The pre-med designation will be available to entering first-year students who have a minimum high school GPA of 3.6. Students who are accepted into Marymount University, but do not initially meet the requirements for entry into the pre-med track can apply for entry any time after completing one semester at Marymount University with a minimum GPA of 3.5.
Pre-Med Degree Planning: See the sample degree plan. Students intending to seek admission to medical school immediately following graduation should work closely with an advisor to develop their course schedules, with chemistry, physics, and most biology coursework completed by the senior year. If such a plan is not followed, the student in this track will be advised to take the MCAT after graduation and delay his/her application to medical school for one year.
Pre-Med Minimum Grade Requirements: Students will earn the pre-med designation if they maintain a cumulative Marymount University GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Degree Requirements — Biology (B.S.)
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Biology majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: BIO 300 Writing for Science and BIO 368 Advanced Research Methods, and one additional WI course.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.
Ten (10) credits, choosing from the following (a minimum of 3 credits must be at the 300 level or higher):
Pre-Med Track
Pre-Physical Therapy Courses
Students intending to seek admission to Marymount’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program should add the following courses:
| BIO 161 | Anatomy and Physiology I * | 3 |
| BIO 161L | Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 1 |
| BIO 162 | Anatomy and Physiology II * | 3 |
| BIO 162L | Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 1 |
| MA 132 | Statistical Analysis * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
Sample Degree Plan — Biology (B.S.)
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections. This plan will differ for students who wish to pursue the pre-med track or follow a pre-physical therapy course of study.
Year One — Fall
Year One — Spring
| BIO 152 | General Biology II * | 3 |
| BIO 152L | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
HI
| Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Two — Fall
| BIO 260 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 260L | Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| BIO 300 | Writing for Science * | 3 |
| CHM 151 | Principles of Chemistry I * | 3 |
| CHM 151L | Principles of Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
EN
| Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
| BIO 262 | Genetics for Majors * | 3 |
| BIO 262L | Genetics for Majors Lab | 1 |
| CHM 152 | Principles of Chemistry II * | 3 |
| CHM 152L | Principles of Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
Year Three — Fall
| BIO 363 | Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 368 | Advanced Research Methods * | 3 |
| CHM 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 221L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
PH
| Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | |
Year Three — Spring
| CHM 222 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 222L | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| Two (2) biology elective courses | |
| Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Biology Elective Course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
Year Four — Fall
Biology Elective Course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
Year Four — Spring
| PHYS 272 | General Physics II * | 3 |
| PHYS 272L | General Physics II Lab | 1 |
| One (1) biology elective course | |
| Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Biology Elective Course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
Sample Degree Plan — Biology (Pre-Med Track)
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
Year One — Spring
Year Two — Fall
| BIO 260 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 260L | Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| BIO 300 | Writing for Science * | 3 |
| CHM 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 221L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
EN
| Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
Year Three — Fall
| BIO 363 | Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 368 | Advanced Research Methods * | 3 |
| PHYS 271 | General Physics I * | 3 |
| PHYS 271L | General Physics I Lab | 1 |
HI
| Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
PH
| Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
Year Three — Spring
| PHYS 272 | General Physics II * | 3 |
| PHYS 272L | General Physics II Lab | 1 |
| One (1) biology elective course | |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
Biology Elective Course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
Year Four — Fall
| BIO 410 | Seminar * | 2 |
| BIO 441 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIO 441L | Biochemistry Lab | 1 |
| One (1) biology elective course | |
| Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | |
Biology Elective Course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
Year Four — Spring
| BIO 400 | Internship * | 1 |
| Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| Two (2) electives | |
Sample Degree Plan — Biology with Pre-PT coursework
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
Year One — Spring
| BIO 152 | General Biology II * | 3 |
| BIO 152L | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
HI
| Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Two — Fall
Year Two — Spring
| BIO 162 | Anatomy and Physiology II * | 3 |
| BIO 162L | Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 1 |
| BIO 262 | Genetics for Majors * | 3 |
| BIO 262L | Genetics for Majors Lab | 1 |
| CHM 152 | Principles of Chemistry II * | 3 |
| CHM 152L | Principles of Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
EN
| Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Three — Fall
| BIO 363 | Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIO 368 | Advanced Research Methods * | 3 |
| CHM 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 221L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Three — Spring
| CHM 222 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 222L | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| Two (2) biology elective courses | |
| Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
Biology Elective Course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
Year Four — Fall
| BIO 410 | Seminar * | 2 |
| PHYS 271 | General Physics I * | 3 |
| PHYS 271L | General Physics I Lab | 1 |
| One (1) biology elective course | |
PH
| Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | |
Biology Elective Course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
Year Four — Spring
| BIO 400 | Internship * | 1 |
| PHYS 272 | General Physics II * | 3 |
| PHYS 272L | General Physics II Lab | 1 |
| One (1) biology elective course | |
| Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
Biology Elective Course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.