Apr 19, 2024

2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog

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2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Biological Sciences (B.S.)

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A minimum of 15 of the 47 semester hours of biology required for the major must be taken at NIU.

Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

Requirements in Department (47)

Note: There is a 50-semester-hour limit of biology courses whether or not they apply to the major.

Courses in Department

Please note corequisite information in courses below.

BIOS 205 - Organismal Diversity Credits: 3
AND BIOS 207 - Organismal Diversity Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOS 208 - Fundamentals of Biology I Credits: 3
AND BIOS 210 - Fundamentals of Biology I Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOS 209 - Fundamentals of Biology II Credits: 3
AND BIOS 211 - Fundamentals of Biology II Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOS 308 - Genetics Credits: 5
BIOS 494 - Biology Competency Credits: 1
Electives from biological sciences courses at the 300 or 400 level (29)

Course Sequencing

Students should consult with a departmental adviser for assistance in selecting the appropriate sequence of courses to constitute a track of study in one of the following subdisciplines of biology.

Animal organismal biology
Cellular and molecular biology
Ecology and evolution
General
Microbiology
Plant molecular biology
Plant organismal biology
Physiology and development
Teacher certification

Lists of courses appropriate to each of the above tracks are available in the department office and from department undergraduate advisers. Other tracks can be developed in consultation with an adviser.

Requirements outside Department (31-33)

Chemistry

CHEM 210 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3
(Available for general education credit.)
AND CHEM 212 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1
(Available for general education credit.)
CHEM 211 - General Chemistry II Credits: 3
(Available for general education credit.)
AND CHEM 213 - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: 1
(Available for general education credit.)
CHEM 330 - General Organic Chemistry I Credits: 3
OR CHEM 336 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHEM 331 - General Organic Chemistry II Credits: 3
OR CHEM 337 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 3

Math

MATH 155 - Trigonometry and Elementary Functions Credits: 3
(Available for general education credit.)
Or satisfactory performance on the Mathematics Placement Exam
MATH 229 - Calculus I Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)
AND MATH 230 - Calculus II Credits: 4
OR MATH 211 - Calculus for Business and Social Science Credits: 3
(Available for general education credit.)
AND STAT 301 - Elementary Statistics Credits: 4

Physics

PHYS 210 - General Physics I Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)
AND PHYS 211 - General Physics II Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)
OR PHYS 253 - Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)
AND PHYS 273 - Fundamentals of Physics II: Electromagnetism Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)

Total Hours for a Major in Biological Sciences: 78-80

Recommendation

Many graduate programs in the biological sciences, such as those at NIU, require the Graduate Record Examinations (including the Subject Test in biology or biochemistry) for admission. Students intending to pursue graduate study in the biological sciences should take these examinations early in their senior year.

Transfer Credit

Students will receive upper level credit for BIOS transfer courses articulated as a “BIOS EL” in the Community College Articulation Handbook.