Biology, BA

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Curriculum Sequence
Pathways

The BA in biology program is designed to allow students to seek training in biology and in another field. Careers and graduate programs benefiting from this cross-disciplinary approach include physical therapy, genetic counseling, law, technical writing, and management in the biomedical sciences.

Students pursuing the BA will design a curriculum of 18–24 credits in some area of specialization outside of biology that supports their professional goals. This coursework must be approved by the biology faculty and should include at least 12 credits at an advanced (200 or above) level. Suggestions for achieving this objective are to minor in areas such as a modern language, anthropology or sociology (pre-PT), psychology (pre-PT, counseling), legal studies and analysis (pre-law), professional writing, and economics. Student-designed curricula are strongly encouraged. To facilitate this increase in course requirements, BA students have reduced requirements in their science coursework. A minimum of 12 credits used to satisfy the BA in biology coursework must be outside of those used to satisfy social science or humanities general education requirements. Students enrolled in the BS in biology program may switch to the BA in biology provided they have 12 credits or more remaining until graduation.

Curriculum Sequence

Freshman

Fall (14.5 Credits)

BIOL 161 - Biological Concepts I—Principles of Evolution and Ecology 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 165 - Biological Concepts I w/ Lab
CHEM 145 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit(s) ++
CHEM 147 - General Chemistry Lab I 1 Credit(s) ++
ENGL 101 - Reading, Thinking and Writing 3 Credit(s)
HUM/SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)
Physical Education Elective 0.5 Credit(s)

Spring (14.5 Credits)

BIOL 162 - Biological Concepts II—Plant and Animal Structure and Function 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 146 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit(s) ++
CHEM 148 - General Chemistry Lab II 1 Credit(s) ++
ENGL 102 - Literature and Critical Writing (W) 3 Credit(s)
or
ENGL 115 –ENGL 124 3 Credit(s)
HUM/SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)
Physical Education Elective 0.5 Credit(s)

Sophomore

Fall (15-16 Credits)

BIOL 261 - Biological Concepts III—Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I 4 Credit(s) ++
CHEM 257 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 Credit(s) ++
MATH 118 - Elementary Calculus I 3 Credit(s)
or
MATH 131 - Calculus With Review I 4 Credit(s)
or
MATH 120 - Precalculus 4 Credit(s)
HUM/SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)

Spring (16-22 Credits)

BIOL 262 - Principles of Modern Genetic Analysis 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 299 - Research Methods and Statistics 3 Credit(s)
BA Coursework 6-9 Credit(s) ⁺
HUM/SSCI Elective 3-6 Credit(s)

Junior

Fall (16 Credits)

PHYS 141 - College Physics I 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 143 - College Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
BIOL Electives 8 Credit(s)
HUM/SSCI Elective or BA Coursework 3 Credit(s) +

Spring (16 Credits)

PHYS 142 - College Physics II 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 144 - College Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
BIOL Electives 8 Credit(s)
HUM/SSCI Elective or BA Coursework 3 Credit(s) ⁺

Senior

Fall (16 Credits)

BIOL Elective 4 Credit(s)
BA Coursework 6 Credit(s) ⁺
HUM/SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)
ASC 400 - Values Seminar 3 Credit(s)

Spring (16 Credits)

BIOL Elective 4 Credit(s)
BA Coursework 6 Credit(s) ⁺
HUM/SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)
Free Elective 3 Credit(s)

Total Credits: 123

⁺Coursework (18–24 credits) must be approved by the biology faculty. This coursework should serve the student’s educational objectives and include at least 12 credits at an advanced (200 or above) level. Student-designed curricula are strongly encouraged. Coursework satisfying the BA in biology coursework category may also satisfy social science or humanities general education requirements.\

++The chemistry sequence of Chem 145-148 and Chem 255 and Chem 257 is recommended. Alternative chemistry coursework for the BA in Biology: Chem 101 and 103 and Chem 102 and 104. In addition, if Chem 145 and 147 were taken first, they may be followed by Chem 102 and 104.

*Six biology electives are required and must include at least one from each of the following lists of courses:

A. Organismal Biology: 303, 305, 307, 308, 309, 311, 315, 317, 324, 325, 327.
B. Cell & Molecular Biology: 302, 306, 310, 314, 316, 319, 320, 326.
C. Interorganismal Biology: 301, 312, 313, 318, 340/342, 345, 401, 419.

Students with a Science GPA of at least 2.3 may take BIOL 498 or BIOL 499 (at least 3 semester hours on one project with additional specifications - see your advisor) as one of their four unspecified biology electives. BCH 451 /BCH 453 may also be taken as an unspecified biology elective. For students with a strong interest in biology, it is recommended that additional advanced biology courses be considered for free electives.

Pathways

Pre-Occupational Therapy Pathway

Biology majors who wish to apply for admission to Widener’s graduate occupational therapy program should take the following courses (note the most recent courses are factored into the prerequisite requirements):

BIOL 299 - Research Methods and Statistics 3 Credit(s) (statistics requirement)
BIOL 303 - Comparative Animal Physiology 4 Credit(s) (physiology elective)
or
BIOL 325 - Human Physiology 4 Credit(s) (physiology elective)
BIOL 307 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy 4 Credit(s) (anatomy elective)
or
BIOL 327 - Functional Anatomy of Mammals 4 Credit(s) (anatomy elective)
PHYS 141 - College Physics I 4 Credit(s) (physics requirement)
PHYS 143 - College Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s) (physics requirement)
PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 211 - Infants, Children and Adolescents 3 Credit(s)
PSY 212 - Adulthood and Aging 3 Credit(s)
PSY 225 - Abnormal Psychology 3 Credit(s)
SOC or ANTH elective (1 course)

Pre-Physical Therapy Pathway

Students who wish to apply for admission to Widener’s graduate physical therapy program may follow a BS or BA biology program and should take the following courses (note the most recent courses are factored into the prerequisite requirements):

BIOL 299 - Research Methods and Statistics 3 Credit(s)
Upper-level BIOL elective
BIOL 303 - Comparative Animal Physiology 4 Credit(s) (Physiology elective)
or
BIOL 325 - Human Physiology 4 Credit(s) (Physiology elective)
BIOL 307 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy 4 Credit(s) (Anatomy elective)
or
BIOL 327 - Functional Anatomy of Mammals 4 Credit(s) (Anatomy elective)
CHEM 146 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit(s) (BA)
CHEM 148 - General Chemistry Lab II 1 Credit(s) (BA)
CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I 4 Credit(s) (BA)
CHEM 257 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 Credit(s) (BA)
or
CHEM 101 - Introduction to Chemistry I 3 credits(s) (BA)
CHEM 103 - Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I 1 credit(s) (BA)
CHEM 102 - Introduction to Chemistry II 3 credit(s) (BA)
CHEM 104 - Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II 1 credit(s) (BA)
or
CHEM 145 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit(s) (BA)
CHEM 147 - General Chemistry Lab I 1 credit(s) (BA)
CHEM 102 - Introduction to Chemistry II 3 credit(s) (BA)
CHEM 104 - Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II 1 credit(s) (BA)
or
CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I 4 credit(s) (BS)
CHEM 257 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 credit(s) (BS)
CHEM 256 - Organic Chemistry II 4 Credit(s) (BS)
CHEM 258 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1 Credit(s) (BS)
PHYS 141 - College Physics I 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 143 - College Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
PHYS 142 - College Physics II 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 144 - College Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology 3 Credit(s)
One other PSY elective
SOC or ANTH elective