Biology Major

The biology major is intended to give students an undergraduate education with an emphasis on several broad areas within the science of biology. It is strongly recommended that all Biology majors take Calculus, have one year of Physics, and minor in Chemistry. Computer science proficiency is highly recommended.

Required Core - 18 semester hours

• 4 BIOL 151 General Biology I & 151L Lab (gen ed)
• 4 BIOL 153 General Biology II & 153L Lab (gen ed)
• 4 BIOL 371 Genetics & 371L Lab
• 4 BIOL 373 Evolution & 373L Lab
• 2 BIOL 490 Seminar

17 Restricted Elective - Elective courses shall be taken from two emphases, with at least two courses from one emphasis and the remainder from the other. Students must take the corresponding lab if applicable.

Environmental Biology Emphasis  

• 4 BIOL 301 Plant Systematics & 301L Lab
• 3 BIOL 302 Animal Behavior
• 4 BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology & 311L Lab
• 3 BIOL 321 Conservation of Natural Resources
• 3 BIOL 355 Mammalogy & 355L Lab
• 4 BIOL 357 Invertebrate Zoology & 357L Lab 
• 4 BIOL 405 Entomology & 405L Lab
• 3 BIOL 415 Mycology & 415L Lab
• 4 BIOL 434 Herpetology & 434L Lab
• 3 BIOL 437 Biometry
• 3 BIOL 461 Agrostology & 461L Lab
• 4 BIOL 462 Dendrology & Lab
• 4 BIOL 463 Omithology & Lab
• Must take BIOL 311 & 311L with this emphasis 

Cellular/Physiology Emphasis

• 3 BIOL 317 Electron Microscopy & 317L Lab
• 4 BIOL 325 Physiology & 325L Lab 
• 3 BIOL 437 Biometry [Pre-req MATH 102 & 281]
• 4 BIOL 331 Microbiology & 331L Lab
• 4 BIOL 343 Cell & Molecular Biol. & 343L Lab
• 4 BIOL 381 Vertebrate Anatomy & 381L Lab 
• 4 BIOL 422 Immunology & 422L Lab
• 4 BIOL 430 Neurobiology & 430L Lab
• 4 BIOL 460 Evolutionary & Ecological Plant Phys/Lab
• 4 BIOL 474 Ecological Genomics & Lab
• Must take BIOL 343 & 343L with this emphasis

Gen Ed Requirements - 35 semester hours

• MATH Gen Ed - Mathematics - 3 semester hours
• Gen Ed - Social Science - satisfied by major - 9 semester hours
  (See footnote * below)
• Gen Ed - Arts & Humanities - 12 semester hours
  (See footnote * below)
• Gen Ed - Natural Science & Lab - 0 semester hours
• ENGL 101 - Composition I
• ENGL 201 - Composition II
• SPCM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech
• SPCM 215 - Public Speaking
• SPCM 222 - Argumentation and Debate
• WEL 100 - Wellness for Life
• WEL 100L - Wellness Lab

* Global Requirement: depending on your selection, this requirement will satisfy 3 hours of either Social Science or Arts & Humanities requirements. Take 1 course from AIS/HIST 257, ANTH 210, ARTH 211/212/251, ENGL 211/212, GEOG 210, HIST 121/122/153, HUM 100, MCOM 151, POLS 141/250.

A minor is required with this major plus electives to total 120 hours, of which 36 hours must be 300-400 level courses.

Biology Major - Teaching

Required Core - 20 semester hours

• 4 BIOL 151 General Biology I & 151L Lab (gen ed)
• 4 BIOL 153 General Biology II & 153L Lab (gen ed)
• 4 BIOL 371 Genetics & 371L Lab
• 4 BIOL 373 Evolution & 373L Lab
• 2 BIOL 490 Seminar
• 2 SEED 413 7-12 Science Methods

17 Restricted Electives - Elective courses shall be taken from two emphases,
with at least two courses from one emphasis and the remainder from the other. Students must also take the corresponding lab if applicable.

Environmental Biology Emphasis
Must take BIOL 311 & 311L with this emphasis

• BIOL 301 Plant Systematics & 301L Lab (4)
• BIOL 302 Animal Behavior (3)
• BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology & 311L Lab (4)
• BIOL 321 Conservation (3)
• BIOL 355 Mammalogy & 355L Lab (3)
• BIOL 357 Invertebrate Zoology & 357L Lab (4)
• BIOL 405 Entomology & 405L Lab (4)
• BIOL 415 Mycology & 415L Lab (3)
• BIOL 434 Herpetology & 434L Lab (3)
• BIOL 437 Biometry
• BIOL 461 Agrostology & 461L Lab (3)
• BIOL 462 Dendrology & Lab (4)
• BIOL 463 Omithology & Lab (4)

Cellular/Physiology Emphasis
Must take BIOL 343 & 343L with this emphasis

• BIOL 317 Electron Microscopy & 317L Lb (3)
• BIOL 325 Physiology & 325L Lab (4)
• BIOL 437 Biometry (3) [Pre-req MATH 102 & 281]
• BIOL 331 Microbiology & 331L Lab (4)
• BIOL 343 Cell & Molecular Biol. & 343L Lab (4)
• BIOL 381 Vertebrate Anatomy & 381L Lab (3)
• BIOL 422 Immunology
• BIOL 430 Neurobiology & 430L Lab (4)
• BIOL 460 Evolutionary & Ecological Plant Phys/Lab (4)
• BIOL 474 Ecological Genomics & Lab (4)

Pre-Professional Teaching Core - 18 semester hours

• 2 EDFN 338 Foundations of American Education
• 1 EDFN 295 Practicum: Pre-Admission Teaching
• 3 EPSY 302 Educational Psychology
• 3 EPSY 428 Child & Adolescent Development 
• 3 INED 411 South Dakota Indian Studies
• 3 PSYC 101 General Psychology (gen ed)
• 3 SPED 405 Educating Secondary Students with Disabilities

Professional Secondary Ed Teaching Core - 24 semester hours

• 3 EDFN 365 Computer Based Technology & Learning
• 2 MLED 480 Middle Level Methods
• 3 SEED 408 Plan, Manage & Assess the 7-12 Diverse Classroom 
• 3 SEED 450 7-12 7-12 Reading and Content Literacy
• 1 SEED 495 Practicum: Pre-Student Teaching
• 3 EDFN 475 Human Relations
• SEED 488 7-12 Student Teaching

Gen Ed Requirements - 32 semester hours

• MATH Gen Ed - Mathematics - 3 semester hours
• Gen Ed - Social Science - 6 semester hours
  (See footnote * below)
• Gen Ed - Arts & Humanities - 12 semester hours
  (See footnote * below)
• Gen Ed - Natural Science & Lab - 0 semester hours
• ENGL 101 - Composition I
• ENGL 201 - Composition II
• SPCM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech
  or
• SPCM 215 - Public Speaking
  or
• SPCM 222 - Argumentation and Debate
• WEL 100 - Wellness for Life & WEL 100L Lab

* Global Requirement: depending on your selection, this requirement will satisfy 3 hours of either Social Science or Arts & Humanities requirements. Take 1 course from AIS/HIST 257, ANTH 210, ARTH 211/212/251, ENGL 211/212, GEOG 210, HIST 121/122/153, HUM 100, MCOM 151, POLS 141/250

A minor is required with this major plus electives to total 120 hours, of which 36 hours must be 300-400 level courses.