Program Type: 
Major
Minor

Biology encompasses the basic life sciences of zoology, botany, microbiology, and biochemistry, as well as many applied life sciences related to medical and veterinary sciences, such as anatomy and pharmacology. Due to the diversity of disciplines within the field and the wide variety of work available in each discipline, biology offers a wide range of career opportunities.

  • Students may pursue a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts curriculum. The Bachelor of Science curriculum emphasizes biology electives, with courses in mathematics and supporting sequences, while the Bachelor of Arts curriculum has more elective courses outside the sciences.
  • Concentrations include exercise biology, ecology, microbiology and immunology, and bioinformatics. A dual degree with chemistry is also available.
  • The biological sciences education concentration is designed for students who wish to teach biology or chemistry in Ohio public schools. Students may complete a Bachelor of Arts in life sciences or a Bachelor of Science in life sciences/chemistry or life sciences. Upon completion of the bachelor's degree and prerequisite education courses and school placements, students need to complete the graduate-level program in the College of Education and Human Services to be eligible for licensure by the state in life sciences or life sciences/chemistry (depending on the content of the undergraduate curriculum).
Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences—Suggested Curriculum
Freshman
English Comp I & II
Calculus I & II or Business Calculus & Elem Stats I
Animal Form & Function
Cell Biology & Genetics
Biology Diversity & Ecology
Submicroscopic Chemistry
Macroscopic Chemistry
Reaction Dynamics
GE History
GE Non-Western Course
Sophomore
Calculus III or Elem Stats II
Molecular Biology
Molecular Genetics
Cell Biology
Organic Chemistry I, II, III & Labs
Principles of Physics I & Lab or Gen Physics I & Lab
College Component
General Elective
GE Human Behavior
GE Human Expression
Junior
Principles of Physics II, III, & Labs or Gen Physics II, III, & Labs
Molecular & Cell Lab Tech
Organismal Physiology
Ecology
Life Science Electives
General Elective
GE Human Behavior
GE Additional Course
Senior
Senior Seminar
Life Science Electives
General Elective
GE Additional Course

 

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Bioinformatics Concentration—Suggested Curriculum
Freshman
English Comp I & II
Calculus I & II
Human Biology
Cell Biology & Genetics
Biology Diversity & Ecology
Submicroscopic Chemistry
Macroscopic Chemistry
Reaction Dynamics
GE History
GE Non-Western Course
Sophomore
Calculus III
Computer Science I & II
Molecular Biology
Molecular Genetics
Cell Biology
Organic Chemistry I, II, & Labs
Principles of Physics I & Lab or Gen Physics I & Lab
College Component
GE Human Behavior
GE Human Expression
Junior
Organic Chemistry III & Lab
Principles of Physics II, III, & Labs or Gen Physics II, III, & Labs
Molecular & Cell Lab Tech
Organismal Physiology
Intro to Ecology
Bioinformatics
Computer Science III
Life Science Electives
GE Human Behavior
GE Additional Course
Senior
Senior Seminar
Life Science Electives
Data Structures & Software Design
Intro to Data Base Mgmt Systems
GE Additional Course

 

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Ecology Concentration—Suggested Curriculum
Freshman
English Comp I & II
Business Calc or Calc I
Careers in Biology
Animal Form & Function
Cell Biology & Genetics
Biology Diversity & Ecology
Submicroscopic Chemistry
Macroscopic Chemistry
Reaction Dynamics
Sophomore
Elem Stats I, II
Organic Chemistry I, II,III, & Labs
Physiology
Ecology
GE Human Expression
GE Human Behavior
GE College Component
GE Additional Course
Junior
Molecular Biology
Molecular Genetics
Cell Biology
Principles of Physics I, II, III, & Labs
Education Practicums I & II
Schooling in Diverse Society
Learning Differences
Human Development & Learning
Senior
Life Science Electives
Advanced Ecology courses
Senior Seminar
GE Human Behavior
GE Additional Course
GE History
GE Non-Western

 

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Exercise Biology Concentration—Suggested Curriculum
Freshman
English Comp I & II
Pre-Calculus
Elem Stats I
Careers in Biology
Cell Biology & Genetics
Biology Diversity & Ecology
Submicroscopic Chemistry
Macroscopic Chemistry
Animal Form & Function
Reaction Dynamics
GE History
GE Non-Western Course
Sophomore
Elem Stats II
Organic Chemistry I, II, & Labs
Principles of Physics I, II, & Labs
EKG Interpretation
Human Nutrition
GE Human Expression
GE Human Behavior
GE College Component
GE Additional Course
Junior
Exercise Bio Core Courses
Organic Chemistry III or Biochemistry II
Life Science Electives
Anatomy & Physiology I, II, & III
Human Biomechanics
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
GE Human Behavior
GE Additional Course
Senior
Clinical Ex Physiology I & II
Exercise Biology Internship
Biology Seminar
Life Science Elective
Exercise Pharmacology
Bioethics

 

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology Concentration—Suggested Curriculum
Freshman
English Comp I & II
Business Calc or Calc I
Elem Stats I
Careers in Biology
Animal Form & Function
Cell Biology & Genetics
Biology Diversity & Ecology
Submicroscopic Chemistry
Macroscopic Chemistry
Reaction Dynamics
Sophomore
Molecular Biology
Molecular Genetics
Cell Biology
Elem Stats II
Organic Chemistry I, II, III, & Labs
GE Human Expression
GE Human Behavior
GE College Component
Junior
Physiology
Ecology
Microbiology
Principles of Physics I, II, III, & Labs
Science Electives
GE Human Behavior
GE Additional Course
Senior
Virology
Immunology
Senior Seminar
Science Electives
GE History
GE Non-Western Course
GE Additional Course

 

Fast Facts:
Average starting salaries for professionals with a bachelor's degree in a science- or mathematics-related field: biological sciences $30,842; chemistry $30,667; geology $38,250; and mathematics $46,877. (Source: Salary Survey Spring 2010, The National Association of Colleges and Employers)

Discover what some of Wright State's alumni are doing with a degree in:

Biological Sciences—environmental products sales, medical student, research biologist

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