Biology Major

Biology, B.S.

Biology is the scientific study of life: the diversity and organization of organisms, from single-celled bacteria to multi-cellular plants and animals, including humans. These different levels of biological organization range from the molecules and cells that compose an organism, to the interacting organisms that make up an ecosystem. Hands-on experiences, from designing and conducting lab experiments to making field observations, using many different procedures and instruments, play an important role in gaining biological knowledge. Basic research in biology provides many benefits. Faculty in the Department of Biology at Penn State are exploring ways to cure neurological diseases, studying the ecology and physiology of microbiomes, discovering more efficient uses of plants for food and bioenergy, and investigating the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases.

Program Learning Objectives

Key Literacies: Students will describe, apply, and connect key literacy areas within and across biological subdisciplines.
Process of Science: Students will apply the process of science to biological studies.
Scientific Evidence Evaluation: Students will use evidence-based reasoning to evaluate scientific information from a variety of sources.
Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis: Students will apply quantitative skills to analyze biological information.
Collaboration and Communication: Students will demonstrate the ability to concisely communicate scientific ideas as individuals and/or in teams.
Science and Society: Students will explain the role of scientific findings in society as well as the importance of ethical reasoning in doing and communicating research.

Program

The B.S. in Biology requires 124 credits and can be earned via six different areas of concentration (options), emphasizing different aspects of the field and allowing a tailored experience based on specific interests:

Entrance To Major Requirements:

To be eligible for entrance to the Biology major, a student must have:

attained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average; and
Completed (with a grade of C or better in each):
- BIOL110: Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN) or BIOL 110H: Honors Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN),
- CHEM110: Chemical Principles I (GN),
- MATH140: Calculus With Analytical Geometry I (GN),
- BIOL 220W: Biology: Populations and Communities OR BIOL 220M: Honors Biology: Populations and Communities OR BIOL 230W: Biology: Molecules and Cells OR BIOL 230M: Honors Biology: Molecules and Cells OR BIOL 240W: Biology: Function and Development of Organisms OR BIOL 240M: Honors Biology: Function and Development of Organisms

Careers

A degree in biology allows you to pursue exciting careers in diverse fields, including

health care (medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, podiatry, optometry, physical therapy, occupational therapy)
education
research
environmental science
biotechnology
pharmacology
marine science
conservation
pharmaceutical sales
law
genetic counseling
medical illustration
science writing/communication
biostatistics
. . . and more.

Biology professionals find positions in a wide range of sectors

Healthcare: Hospitals, clinics, and pharmaceutical companies.
Research Institutions: Universities, government labs, and private research organizations.
Industry: Biotech, pharmaceutical, and food companies.
Government: Environmental agencies, public health departments, and regulatory bodies.
Non-profits: Conservation organizations and community health initiatives.

Suggested Academic Plan

C-Required Courses

BIOL110: Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN) or BIOL 110H: Honors Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN),
BIOL 161: Human Anatomy and Physiology I – Lecture (GN),
BIOL 230W: Biology: Molecules and Cells or BIOL 230M: Honors Biology: Molecules and Cells,
BIOL 469: Neurobiology,
CHEM110: Chemical Principles I (GN),
CHEM 112: Chemical Principles II (GN),
MATH140: Calculus With Analytical Geometry I (GQ) or MATH 140B: Calculus and Biology I (GQ),
STAT 200: Elementary Statistics (GQ), STAT 250: Introduction to Biostatistics (GQ), or STAT 240: Introduction to Biometry (GQ)

Disallowed Courses

These courses do not count toward the major:

BMB 1: The Science of Sickness (GN),
BISC 1: Structure and Function of Organisms,
BISC 2: Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution (GN),
BISC 3: Environmental Science (GN),
BISC 4: Human Body: Form and Function (GN),
BIOL courses below 110,
CHEM courses below CHEM 110,
ENGL 4: Basic Writing Skills,
ENGL 5: Writing Tutorial,
ESL 4: ESL Composition for American Academic Communication I,
MATH courses below 21,
MICRB 106: Elementary Microbiology (GN),
MICRB 107: Elementary Microbiology Laboratory,
PHYS 1: The Science of Physics,
PHYS 150: Technical Physics I (GN),
PHYS 151: Technical Physics II (GN),
more than 9 credits of SC 295: Science Co-op Work Experience I, SC 395: Science Co-op Work Experience II, SC 495: Science Co-op Work Experience III.

Course Syllabi

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must meet all three of the following requirements:

2.0 cumulative GPA.
a grade of C or better in the following courses:
- BIOL 110: Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN) or BIOL 110H: Honors Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN),
- BIOL 220W: Biology: Populations and Communities or BIOL 220M: Honors Biology: Populations and Communities,
- BIOL 230W: Biology: Molecules and Cells or BIOL 230M: Honors Biology: Molecules and Cells,
- BIOL 240W: Biology: Function and Development of Organisms or BIOL 240M: Honors Biology: Function and Development of Organisms,
- CHEM110: Chemical Principles I (GN),
- CHEM 112: Chemical Principles II (GN),
- MATH140: Calculus With Analytical Geometry I (GQ) or MATH 140B: Calculus and Biology I (GQ), and
- STAT 200: Elementary Statistics (GQ), STAT 250: Introduction to Biostatistics (GQ), or STAT 240: Introduction to Biometry (GQ)