A minimum of 15 of the 47 semester hours of biology required for the major must be taken at NIU.
Requirements in Department (47)
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.
Note: There is a 50-semester-hour limit of biology courses whether or not they apply to the major.
In addition to the courses below majors will take:
Electives from biological sciences courses at the 300 or 400 level (29)
Courses in Department
Please note corequisite information in courses below.
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.
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