Department of Biology - Valparaiso University

: Curriculum Overview

Overview of the Biology Major

Click here for a pdf file of the overview.

Four options for the major are as follows:
                    B.A. 28 cr. + minor
                    B.S. 32 cr. + specified minor or non-science major
                    B.S. 40 cr.
                    B.S. 25 cr. + another science major

Core Courses (Required)		Intermediate Level Courses (Elected)		Upper Level Courses (Elected)
Unity of Life	4 cr.	Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy	3 cr.	Ecology	4 cr.
Diversity of Life	4 cr.	Field Biology, Spring	3 cr.	Cell Biology	4 cr.
Genetics	4 cr.	Mammalian Cell Culture	3 cr.	Developmental Biology	4 cr.
		Principles of Physiology	3 cr
		Modern Microscopy	3 cr.	Molecular Biology	4 cr.
	___	Biological Topics: Human Genetics, Macroevolution	3 cr.	Plant Biology	4 cr.
total credit needed (minimum)	12 cr.		3-6 cr.		8-12 cr.
				Additionally: Seminar or Research	2 cr.

Additional notes:

B.A. in Biology requires General Chemistry, 8 cr. (also requires 8 cr. of foreign language)

B.S. in Biology requires General Chemistry, 8 cr. + Organic Chemistry, 4 cr. (also requires 4 cr. math/computer science)

All students in the College of Arts and Sciences, regardless of major, are required to complete at least 124 credit hours of coursework with a grade point average of 2.0.

Please refer to the 2012-2013 VU General Catalog for a complete description of major course requirements.