Undergraduate Studies
Honors
Any of the B.A. and B.S. degrees in the Department of Biology may be earned with Honors.
Biology Minors
The Department of Biology offers minors in Biology, Animal Behavior, or Social Science and Medicine.
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate students can get hands-on experience conducting research with IU Biology faculty, preparing them for jobs or advanced degree work.
Biology Majors
Courses are offered in ecology, genetics, microbiology, cellular, developmental, environmental, and molecular biology. In addition, general coursework includes inorganic and organic chemistry and calculus, as well as courses in the humanities, social science, English composition and foreign language. Students may supplement their degrees with minors or certificates in areas such as business, environmental science, animal behavior, and psychology. Outstanding students are encouraged to fulfill the requirements for an honors degree.
Many of our graduates are admitted to medical school, dental school, or graduate programs. Two-thirds of the department's graduates are available for entry-level positions. The average GPA for all departmental graduates is 3.15. BS biology students have averaged 3.26. Each year at least 40 departmental graduates are elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Biology Major (B.A.) (top)
- Full requirements for the Biology major are listed in the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin.
- Indiana University's goals of Liberal Learning.
- The General Education Committee has identified specific learning outcomes for coursework.
BA Biology Degree Requirement Summary
Fundamental Skills Requirements
- English Composition
- Intensive Writing
- Mathematics
- Foreign Language - 4 semester sequence
Distribution Requirements
- TOPICS course (may count as 1 of the distribution courses listed below)
- Arts & Humanities - 4 courses
- Social & Historical Studies - 4 courses
- Natural & Mathematical Sciences - 4 courses
Culture Studies Requirements
- Culture Studies - 2 courses
Major Requirements
At least 25 hours in Biology to include:
- BIOL L111 - Intro to Biology: Evolution & Diversity
- BIOL L112 - Intro to Biology: Biological Mechanisms
- BIOL L113 - Biology Lab
- BIOL L211 - Molecular Biology
- BIOL L311 - Genetics
- BIOL L318 - Evolution
- 2 add'l 300-400 level biology lectures
- 2 add'l 300-400 level biology labs
Additional Major Requirements
- CHEM C117 - Inorganic I
- CHEM C106-C126 or C118 Inorganic II or N330 Intermediate Inorganic
- CHEM C341 - Organic (or if you don't plan to attend a professional school you can substitute CHEM R340 Survey of Organic Chemistry)
- MATH M118 or M119 or M211 or M215
Total Upper-Level Hours: 36
Total Credit Hours: 122
Biology Major (B.S.) (top)
-
Full requirements for the Biology major are listed in the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin.
BS Biology Degree Requirement Summary
Fundamental Skills Requirements
- English Composition
- Intensive Writing
- Mathematics
- Foreign Language - 3 hours at the 200-level
Distribution Requirements
- TOPICS course (may count as 1 of the distribution courses listed below)
- Arts & Humanities - 2 courses
- Social & Historical Studies - 2 courses
- Natural & Mathematical Sciences - 4 courses (fulfilled by major)
Major Requirements
- BIOL L111 - Intro to Biology: Evolution & Diversity
- BIOL L112 - Intro to Biology: Biological Mechanisms
- BIOL L113 - Biology Lab
- BIOL L211 - Molecular Biology
- BIOL L311 - Genetics
- BIOL L318 - Evolution
- 3 add'l 300-400 level biology lectures
- 3 add'l 300-400 level biology labs
Additional Major Requirements
- CHEM C117 - Inorganic I
- CHEM C106-C126 or C118 Inorganic II or N330 Intermediate Inorganic
- CHEM C341 - Organic I
- CHEM C342 - Organic II
- CHEM C343 - Organic I Lab
- PHYS P201-P202 or P221-P222 - Physics I & II
- MATH M119 & M120 or M211 or M215
- PSY/MATH K300 or K310 - Statistics (through Psychology, Math, or SPEA)
Total Upper-Level Hours: 30
Total Credit Hours: 122