The biology major is designed to help students gain a comprehensive understanding of the life sciences. The biology faculty believe it is vital for students at the undergraduate level to become familiar with the major principles and unifying concepts of biology. Thus, the cur- riculum introduces the fundamental areas of biology and still provides flexibility. Students who wish may select from several emphasis areas, including teacher certification, genetics and cell/molecular, premedical, pre-physical therapy, plant biology, animal biology, wildlife biology, aquatic and fisheries biology, preveterinary medicine, and environmental health. Any of these areas, in addition to the basic major, may be used as the foundation for grad- uate study. Biology majors, in consultation with their advisors, are able to tailor programs to fit career needs or interests. All majors must complete 38 credits in biology.
The biology major requires fulfillment of 1, 2, 3, and 4 below. Emphases are optional.
1. General University Degree Requirements
As identified in the General Academic Regulations section of the catalog.
2. Biology Core
(25 semester credits):
BIO 120 General Biology I* BIO 121 General Biology II BIO 215 General Ecology BIO 375 Genetics*
BIO 376 Genetics Laboratory* BIO 405 Cell and Molecular Biology
and BIO 406 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory BIO 495 Evolutionary Biology**
3. Biology Electives
To reach a total of 38 credits from among biology courses numbered 209 or above (except BIO 355) and the following:
BMS 208 Human Anatomy BMS 212 Introductory Microbiology
172 Biology
*Satisfies B.S. degree cognates. B.A. students must take the listed courses and satisfy the foreign lan- guage requirement.
BMS 213 Laboratory in Microbiology BMS 290 Human Physiology
BMS 291 Laboratory in Human Physiology BMS 309 Laboratory in Human Anatomy
Plant Biology
One course must be taken from the Plant Biology category.
BIO 303 Plants and Fungi BIO 323 Aquatic Plants BIO 333 Systematic Botany
BIO 403 Plant Structure and Function BIO 413 Freshwater Algae
BIO 423 Plant Biotechnology
BIO 573 Plants of the Great Lakes Area with permission
Animal Biology
One course must be taken from the Animal Biology category.
BIO 222 Natural History of Vertebrates BIO 232 Natural History of Invertebrates BIO 272 Insect Biology and Diversity BIO 302 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy BIO 342 Ornithology
BIO 352 Animal Behavior BIO 362 Fisheries Biology BIO 412 Mammalogy BIO 422 Embryology
BIO 432 Comparative Animal Physiology BIO 572 Field Zoology with permission BMS 208 Human Anatomy
BMS 290 Human Physiology
BMS 291 Laboratory in Human Physiology BMS 309 Laboratory in Human Anatomy
Excluded Courses
The following courses are excluded from the biology major.
BIO 103 The Biology of People BIO 105 Environmental Science
BIO 107 Great Lakes and Other Water Resources BIO 109 Plants in the World
BIO 205 Genetics for K–8 Pre-Service Teachers BIO 206 Ecology for K–8 Pre-service Teachers BIO 310 Biological Diversity of the Americas BIO 311 Biological Basis of Society BIO 355 Human Genetics
4. Cognates
(Minimum of 23 credits) a. Chemistry CHM 115 Principles of Chemistry I CHM 116 Principles of Chemistry II Biologyand either
CHM 231 Introductory Organic Chemistry and CHM 232 Biological Chemistry or
CHM 241 Organic Chemistry For Life Sciences I and CHM 242 Organic Chemistry For Life Sciences II
b. Statistics and Mathematics
MTH 125 Survey of Calculus* or MTH 201 Calculus I*
or STA 215 Introductory Applied Statistics*
c. Physics
Those students planning to attend graduate or professional school, or planning to seek secondary teaching certification are urged to take PHY 220 and 221 or 230 and 231.
PHY 200 Physics for the Life Sciences or PHY 220 General Physics I or PHY 230 Principles of Physics I
Emphases (optional):
1. Teacher Certification Emphasis:
Students preparing to teach in secondary schools must complete the biology major out- lined above. Secondary admission to the College of Education requires at least a 2.7 GPA in the major.
Students with a baccalaureate degree and a major in biology from another institution can be certified to teach by earning at least five credits in the biology department and completing the professional education requirements of the College of Education. The required courses in biology must be approved by the department chair or designee.
2. Premedical, Preosteopathic, and Predental Emphasis:
Students planning careers as physicians and dentists may major in biology. There is no absolute list of required courses for persons seeking admission to medical or dental schools, though some of these schools have more specific course requirements than others. Careful consultation with your faculty advisor throughout the undergraduate program is strongly advised. Initial academic advising for these preprofessional areas is also available through the Science and Mathematics Advising, Resource, and Transi- tion (S.M.A.R.T.) Center located in 377 Padnos, (616) 331-8585. Premedical students majoring in biology should complete the following:
CHM 115 Principles of Chemistry I CHM 116 Principles of Chemistry II
CHM 241 Organic Chemistry For Life Sciences I CHM 242 Organic Chemistry For Life Sciences II PHY 220 General Physics I
PHY 221 General Physics II
174 Biology
*Satisfies B.S. degree cognates. B.A. students must take the listed courses and satisfy the foreign lan- guage requirement.
Additional Electives
BIO 302 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy BIO 357 Environmental Microbiology BIO 422 Embryology
BIO 432 Comparative Animal Physiology BMS 208 Human Anatomy
BMS 212 Introductory Microbiology BMS 213 Laboratory in Microbiology BMS 290 Human Physiology
BMS 291 Laboratory in Human Physiology BMS 309 Laboratory in Human Anatomy CHM 351 Introduction to Physical Chemistry CHM 461 Biochemistry I
CHM 462 Techniques in Biochemistry CHM 463 Biochemistry II
3. Preveterinary Medicine Emphasis:
This emphasis includes all the course requirements currently necessary for admission to the Michigan State University School of Veterinary Medicine with the exception of an introductory course in animal nutrition. An MSU-approved animal nutrition course is currently available online at several universities. Consult your advisor or MSU for details. Additionally, MSU requires applicants to accumulate a minimum of 240 hours of contact with the veterinary profession as well as substantial experience with animals, both small and large. If you intend to apply to a veterinary school other than MSU, you need to contact that school to see if there are additional requirements. Early con- sultation with the pre-vet advisor is strongly encouraged. Initial academic advising for this preprofessional area is also available through the Science and Mathematics Advising, Resource, and Transition (S.M.A.R.T.) Center located in 377 Padnos, (616) 331-8585.
Students preparing for careers as veterinarians may major in biology. Students should complete the following courses:
CHM 115 Principles of Chemistry I CHM 116 Principles of Chemistry II
CHM 241 Organic Chemistry For Life Sciences I CHM 242 Organic Chemistry For Life Sciences II CHM 461 Biochemistry I
PHY 220 General Physics I PHY 221 General Physics II
Additional Requirements
Students must have competency in college algebra and trigonometry and must choose biology electives from the following courses:
BIO 222 Natural History of Vertebrates BIO 232 Natural History of Invertebrates BIO 302 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy BIO 303 Plants and Fungi
BIO 352 Animal Behavior BIO 422 Embryology
BIO 432 Comparative Animal Physiology
4. Pre-physical Therapy Emphasis:
Students planning to apply to the M.S. program in physical therapy may select biology as their undergraduate major. The following modifications to the preprofessional sam- ple curriculum, which is printed in the Physical Therapy section of the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog, are strongly recommended to ensure that all requirements are met in the most efficient manner.
Students must take the following courses to complete the biology major.
BIO 121 General Biology II BIO 215 General Ecology BIO 375 Genetics
BIO 376 Genetics Laboratory BIO 405 Cell and Molecular Biology
BIO 406 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory BIO 495 Evolutionary Biology (capstone)
And a plant biology course From the following:
BIO 303 Plants and Fungi BIO 323 Aquatic Plants BIO 333 Systematic Botany
BIO 403 Plant Structure and Function BIO 413 Freshwater Algae
BIO 423 Plant Biotechnology
BIO 573 Plants of the Great Lakes Area with permission
5. Plant Biology Emphasis
Requires the following as biology electives.
BIO 303 Plants and Fungi BIO 333 Systematic Botany
BIO 403 Plant Structure and Function
6. Animal Biology Emphasis
Requires the following as biology electives.
BIO 222 Natural History of Vertebrates BIO 232 Natural History of Invertebrates BIO 302 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy BIO 432 Comparative Animal Physiology
7. Wildlife Biology Emphasis
Requires the following as biology electives and the NRM course as a cognate.
BIO 222 Natural History of Vertebrates BIO 333 Systematic Botany
BIO 342 Ornithology BIO 408 Wildlife Management NRM 281 Principles of Soil Science
8. Aquatic Sciences Emphasis:
The Aquatic Sciences Emphasis provides broad academic training to students with an interest in aquatic sciences. Students selecting the emphasis will complete coursework that covers the two major regional aquatic habitats (lakes and rivers) and the major
176 Biology
groups of organisms (fish, plants, invertebrates). The emphasis is specifically designed to prepare students to be particularly competitive for graduate school admission or entry-level positions in the field of aquatic science.
Students will consult with their academic advisor to develop a plan of study that fits their interests and career goals.
All students will complete the following courses:
BIO 440 Limnology BIO 450 Stream Ecology
Additional Courses
All students must also choose at least one course from each of the following three cat- egories:
Category 1
BIO 362 Fisheries Biology or
BIO 442 Fish Ecology
Category 2
BIO 232 Natural History of Invertebrates
Category 3
BIO 323 Aquatic Plants or BIO 413 Freshwater Algae
9. Genetics and Cell and Molecular Emphasis:
Students considering graduate study in one of the specialties relating to cellular and molecular biology or genetics, or pursuing work in the aforementioned fields and/or biotechnology may wish to select the Genetics and Cell and Molecular Biology Empha- sis. The Genetics and Cell and Molecular Biology Emphasis requires:
• PHY 221 (or 231) is highly recommended CHM 241 Organic Chemistry For Life Sciences I CHM 242 Organic Chemistry For Life Sciences II CHM 461 Biochemistry I
CHM 462 Techniques in Biochemistry and either
PHY 220 General Physics I
or PHY 230 Principles of Physics I as cognates
Biology Electives
Courses in the Biology electives category must include BIO 423 (Plant Biology elec- tive), 426, six credits of 490 and/or 499, 422 or 432 (Animal Biology elective), and two courses chosen from 411, 414, and 416.