Degree Requirements
Core Requirements
- BIOL 150
- BIOL 151
- BIOL 220
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 121A, 121B
- CHEM 125A, 125B
- CHEM 241A, 241B*
-
CHEM 245*
(*CHEM 241B and 245 exempt for Professional Education Licensure)
Complete one of the following specializations:
Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- BIOL 327
- BIOL 365
- BIOL 492
- BIOL 492M or 497
Biology, Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (EEC) Electives (12-14 hours)
- BIOL 321, 371, 422A, 423, 427, 428, 434, 435, 436, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 480, 483, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489
Two 400-level courses required. Three courses must have labs, among which must be at least one field course and at least one diversity course.
One course from Genetics and Cellular Biology (GCB) Electives
- BIOL 319, 335, 337, 350, 416, 418A, 420, 421, 422A, 425, 431, 432, 436, 451, 452, 455A, 475
Mathematics/Physics Requirements
- STAT 244 or BIOL 417
- [(PHYS 111 or PHYS 131/131L and MATH 145 or 150)] or [(PHYS 131/131L and PHYS 132/132L) or (PHYS 151/151L and PHYS 152/152L) and (MATH 125 or 145 or 150)]
Genetics and Cellular Biology
- BIOL 319
- BIOL 418A, 418B, or 452
- BIOL 492
- BIOL 492M or 497
- CHEM 351, 352 or CHEM 451A, 451B
Biology Genetics and Cellular Biology (GCB) Electives
- BIOL 335, 337, 350, 416, 418A, 418B, 420, 421, 422A, 425, 431, 432, 436, 451, 452, 455A, 475
Two of the above must be taken, including at least one lab course if 418B is not taken.
Biology GCB Electives
At least one additional 300-400-level BIOL elective must be taken from courses not on the GCB list above.
Mathematics/Physics Requirements
- MATH 145 or 150
- STAT 244
- (PHYS 131/131L and PHYS 132/132L) or (PHYS 151/151L and PHYS 152/152L)
Integrative Biology
- BIOL 492
- BIOL 492M or 497
One course from the Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (EEC) area:
- BIOL 321, 327, 365, 371, 422A, 423, 427, 428, 434, 435, 436, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 480, 483, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489
One course from the Biological Diversity (DIV) area:
- BIOL 321, 350, 428, 457, 462, 471, 474, 480, 483, 485, 486, 487, 488
One course from the Morphology, Physiology and Development (MPD) area:
- BIOL 337, 340, 416, 423, 425, 434, 440, 441, 444A, 457, 461, 467, 472, 473, 481, 489
One course from the Genetics and Cellular Biology (GCB) area:
- BIOL 319, 335, 337, 350, 416, 418A, 420, 421, 422A, 425, 431, 432, 436, 451, 452, 455A, 475
Biological Sciences Electives (8-12 hours)
Two BIOL lecture courses must be taken at the 400-level, and three BIOL courses above 220 must have a laboratory requirement. No course may be used for credit in more than one area.
Mathematics/Physics Requirements
- STAT 244 or BIOL 417
- [(PHYS 111 or PHYS 131/131L and MATH 145 or 150)] or [(PHYS 131/131L and PHYS 132/132L) or (PHYS 151/151L and PHYS 152/152L) and (MATH 125 or 145 or 150)]
Medical Science
- BIOL 319
- BIOL 340
- CHEM 351, 352, or CHEM 451A, 451B
- BIOL 492
- BIOL 492M or 497
Biology Electives (10 hours)
Must include one 400-level elective course.
Mathematics/Physics Requirements
- MATH 145 or 150
- STAT 244
- (PHYS 131/131L and PHYS 132/132L) or (PHYS 151/151L and PHYS 152/152L)
Medical Technology
- BIOL 319
- BIOL 335
- BIOL 340
- BIOL 350
- CHEM 351
Mathematics/Physics Requirements
- MATH 125
- STAT 107 or 244
- (PHYS 131/131L and PHYS 132/132L) or (PHYS 151/151L and PHYS 152/152L)
Hospital Rotation (36 hours of BIOL 495 A, B, C, D, E, or F): As biology majors, students in the medical technology curriculum take three years of prescribed coursework at SIUE, then complete a fourth year of clinical/professional study in the clinical laboratory at one of SIUE’s affiliated hospitals. These students are not in residence on the SIUE campus during their senior year. Intern students move to the vicinity of the hospitals in St. Louis, MO or Peoria, IL. The department views the senior assignment for medical technology students in two ways:
- (1) successful completion of the hospital calendar year education program
- (2) achieving eligibility to apply for examination by the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the certifying professional body in the United States.
An outcome assessment also is provided by the scores received on the registry examination, which compares SIUE students’ performance with other students in the United States who take the examination at the same time.
Advisement
Students interested in majoring in one of the options in biology are advised to declare a major as early as possible and to consult with an advisor without delay. Students are informed of advisement procedures and assigned an academic advisor. Students are required by the University to consult an advisor prior to registration each term. Biology, particularly specializations in medical sciences, teacher licensure (9-12), and medical technology, requires strict course sequencing if requirements are to be completed in four years. An appointment for advisement may be made by calling the CAS Advising Office at 618-650-5525. An advisor will help prepare a program of study in biological sciences in any one of the six specializations.
Academic Standards
All students pursuing a major in the biological sciences must adhere to the following academic standards in addition to those listed above:
- A grade of C or better is required in each of the major core courses (BIOL 150, 151, 220).
- No more than four hours of D may be counted in the 38 hours required for a major in the biological sciences.
- The GPA in the major is based on all biological sciences courses attempted at SIUE.
- Any student who receives four grades of D, F, or WF in biology courses numbered 220 or lower is no longer permitted to enroll in biology classes for credit toward a biology major.
Residency and Other Requirements
Majors in biological sciences must complete at least 18 of the required hours in biology at SIUE. At least two 400-level courses must be included in the 18 hours. Students may take as many as eight hours of 491 and 493 together as electives, but these will not fulfill the 400-level course requirements. For graduation, all specializations require 26 hours in biology beyond the introductory level (BIOL 150, 151, 220). Credit for a biology major will be awarded for courses cross-listed with the biology curriculum. One year of a foreign language and six fine and performing arts or humanities is required for the Bachelor of Arts in all specializations. Students seeking a minor in biological sciences must complete at least nine of the 19 hours of biology at SIUE and obtain a GPA of 2.0 or better in all biology courses attempted at SIUE.
Retention
Students should show satisfactory academic progress to be retained in a degree program. Students may be dropped from the biology major for any of the following reasons:
- GPA of 1.0 or below in any term
- Cumulative GPA of lower than 2.0 in the major at any time
- Any combination of withdrawal, incomplete, and failing grades in 50% or more of the courses for which the student is registered during two successive terms
- Any combination of three withdrawal, incomplete, or failing grades in any single required course in biology.
- For readmission, students must meet the same admission requirements as students entering the program for the first time.
