2020-2021 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Biology, B.S.

A minor is not required with this major.

Requirements

Specialization: General Biology:  The specialization in General Biology allows the most flexibility within the Biology BS degree.  This pathway is appropriate for those who wish to take a broad approach to their biological education, for students who are interested in multiple areas of biology and would like to keep their post-graduate educational and career options open, and for students who want to customize their degree to have a focus that is not offered in the other specializations.  Core requirements are the same for all Biology specializations, but the selection of Biology electives is unrestricted in the General Biology Specialization.

 

Biology Core

BIO 121General Biology I

4

BIO 122General Biology II

4

BIO 200Integrative Biology

4

BIO 290Biology Research Experience I

2

 

BIO 390Biology Research Experience II

1

or

BIO 391Internship in Biology

1 TO 6

General Biology

Biology core, plus 12-17 credits of any other 200-level or higher BIO or BMS courses (except for BIO 211). Please note that upper-level BMS courses require BMS 201, which can count as an elective in the general biology major. Other electives may be approved at the discretion of the department chair.

Related Requirements

MATH 124Applied Calculus with Trigonometry

4

or

MATH 152Calculus I

4

or

MATH 115Trigonometry

3

and

MATH 125Applied Calculus

3

PHYS 121General Physics I

4

and

PHYS 122General Physics II

4

or

PHYS 125University Physics I

4

and

PHYS 126University Physics II

4

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3

CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 210Organic Chemistry I - Foundations

3

CHEM 211Organic Chemistry I Laboratory - Foundations

1

And one of the following:

CHEM 200Foundations of Analytical Chemistry

3

CHEM 212Organic Synthesis

3

CHEM 260Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

3

CHEM 354Foundations of Biochemistry

3

Ecology, Biodiversity, and Evolutionary Biology Specialization

A minor is not required for this major.

The Ecology, Biodiversity, and Evolutionary Biology specialization emphasizes ecological and evolutionary processes integrated with study of organismal diversity. Students will develop an understanding of the processes that influence relationships among organisms and interactions with their environments through selected courses and individual research projects. This program will prepare students for careers with government agencies (e.g., conservation, fisheries, wildlife management, forestry), nongovernmental organizations, environmmental education groups, and the environmental industry. In addition, students will be prepared for graduate studies in fields such as ecology, evolution, animal behavior, natural resources management, or marine and aquatic biology.

Biology core, plus 12-17 credits as follows:

One of the following:

BIO 402Population Genetics

3

BIO 405Ecology

4

BIO 434Ecology of Inland Waters

4

BIO 440Evolution

3

BIO 480Animal Behavior

4

And one of the following:

BIO 315Microbial Ecology

4

BIO 322Vertebrate Zoology

4

BIO 326Mushrooms, Mosses, & More

4

BIO 327Vascular Plants

4

BIO 420Ornithology

4

BIO 421Marine Invertebrate Biology

4

BIO 425/BIO 516Biology of Marine and Freshwater Algae

4

BIO 444Plant Taxonomy

3

BIO 469Entomology

4

And any advanced courses in the E/B/E Group

E/B/E Group:
BIO 230Natural History

3

BIO 402Population Genetics

3

BIO 315Microbial Ecology

4

BIO 322Vertebrate Zoology

4

BIO 326Mushrooms, Mosses, & More

4

BIO 327Vascular Plants

4

BIO 405Ecology

4

BIO 410Ecological Physiology

4

BIO 420Ornithology

4

BIO 421Marine Invertebrate Biology

4

BIO 425/BIO 516Biology of Marine and Freshwater Algae

4

BIO 434Ecology of Inland Waters

4

BIO 436Environmental Resources and Management

3

BIO 438/BIO 538Aquatic Pollution

4

BIO 440Evolution

3

BIO 444Plant Taxonomy

3

BIO 469Entomology

4

BIO 470Field Studies in Biology

1 TO 4

BIO 471International Field Studies in Biology

1 TO 4

BIO 480Animal Behavior

4

BIO 489Vertebrate Dissection

2

BIO 490Topics in Biology

3 TO 4

BIO 491Advanced Studies in Biology

1 TO 3

BIO 499Undergraduate Thesis in Biology

1

BIO 490, BIO 491, and BIO 499: with a topic focus approved by the E/B/E faculty advisor

Related Requirements

MATH 124Applied Calculus with Trigonometry

4

or

MATH 152Calculus I

4

or

MATH 115Trigonometry

3

and

MATH 125Applied Calculus

3

PHYS 121General Physics I

4

and

PHYS 122General Physics II

4

or

PHYS 125University Physics I

4

and

PHYS 126University Physics II

4

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3

CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 210Organic Chemistry I - Foundations

3

CHEM 211Organic Chemistry I Laboratory - Foundations

1

And one of the following:

CHEM 200Foundations of Analytical Chemistry

3

CHEM 212Organic Synthesis

3

CHEM 260Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

3

CHEM 354Foundations of Biochemistry

3

Environmental Science Specialization (32 total credits in biology required)

A minor is not required for this major.

The Environmental Science specialization offers students a strong biology core curriculum and added multidisciplinary strengths in environmental science. The program provides students with a foundation in organismal biology, ecology, environmental chemistry, earth science, and environmental management in order to give an understanding of environmental issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. The program has particular strengths in plant and animal organismal biology and aquatic (freshwater and estuarine) ecology. The specialization prepares students for careers in environmental science and natural resource management with government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the environmental industry, or for graduate studies in these areas.

Biology core, plus 12-17 credits as follows:

One course in environmental management. 

BIO 436Environmental Resources and Management

3

or

BIO 438/BIO 538Aquatic Pollution

4

One of the following:

One course in organismal biology. 

BIO 315Microbial Ecology

4

BIO 322Vertebrate Zoology

4

BIO 326Mushrooms, Mosses, & More

4

BIO 327Vascular Plants

4

BIO 420Ornithology

4

BIO 421Marine Invertebrate Biology

4

BIO 425/BIO 516Biology of Marine and Freshwater Algae

4

BIO 444Plant Taxonomy

3

BIO 469Entomology

4

BIO 482Mammalogy

4

One of the following:

One course in physiology.

BIO 318/BMS 318Anatomy and Physiology I

4

BIO 319/BMS 319Anatomy and Physiology II

4

BIO 331Neurobiology

4

BIO 333Endocrinology

3

BIO 403Human Reproductive Biology

3

BIO 404Epigenetics in Development and Disease

4

BIO 410Ecological Physiology

4

BIO 412/BMS 412Human Physiology

3

BIO 413/BMS 413Human Physiology Laboratory

1

BIO 449Plant Physiology

3

One of the following:

One course in ecology.

BIO 405Ecology

4

BIO 407Stream Ecology

4

BIO 434Ecology of Inland Waters

4

BIO electives to complete 32 credits

Related Requirements

MATH 124Applied Calculus with Trigonometry

4

or

MATH 152Calculus I

4

or

MATH 115Trigonometry

3

and

MATH 125Applied Calculus

3

PHYS 121General Physics I

4

and

PHYS 122General Physics II

4

or

PHYS 125University Physics I

4

and

PHYS 126University Physics II

4

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3

CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 200Foundations of Analytical Chemistry

3

CHEM 201Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 210Organic Chemistry I - Foundations

3

CHEM 211Organic Chemistry I Laboratory - Foundations

1

CHEM 212Organic Synthesis

3

or

CHEM 260Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

3

or

CHEM 354Foundations of Biochemistry

3

CHEM 406Environmental Chemistry

3

or

CHEM 456Toxicology

3

GSCI 121The Dynamic Earth

3

and

GSCI 125The Dynamic Earth Laboratory

1

or

GSCI 131Environmental Geoscience

3

and

GSCI 135Environmental Geoscience Laboratory

1

or

GSCI 141Earth and Life History

3

and

GSCI 145Earth and Life History Laboratory

1

Add Degree Requirements Human Biology Specialization

A minor is not required for this major.

The Human Biology specialization is designed for students who want to focus their biological studies on the structure and function of the human body.  In addition to basic coursework focused on anatomy and physiology, there are specialized courses that deal with such topics as reproduction, neurobiology, endocrinology, genetics, embryology, nutrition, and metabolism.  Several courses within the specialization also address the causes and vectors of disease.

Biology core, plus:
BIO 318/BMS 318Anatomy and Physiology I

4

BIO 319/BMS 319Anatomy and Physiology II

4

Human Biology group electives (as needed to reach the 32 credit minimum in the major):
BIO 331Neurobiology

4

BIO 333Endocrinology

3

BIO 401Human Nutrition and Metabolism

3

BIO 403Human Reproductive Biology

3

BIO 404Epigenetics in Development and Disease

4

BIO 411Embryo Biotechnology

3

BIO 412/BMS 412Human Physiology

3

BIO 413/BMS 413Human Physiology Laboratory

1

BIO 414Human Disease

3

BIO 463Parasites and Human Disease

3

BIO 490Topics in Biology

3 TO 4

BMS 306Genetics

3

BMS 316Microbiology

4

Note: Microbiology (BMS 316) at CCSU requires BMS 201 as an extra prerequisite. 

Related Requirements (27-30 credits)
MATH 124Applied Calculus with Trigonometry

4

or

MATH 152Calculus I

4

or

MATH 115Trigonometry

3

and

MATH 125Applied Calculus

3

PHYS 121General Physics I

4

and

PHYS 122General Physics II

4

or

PHYS 125University Physics I

4

and

PHYS 126University Physics II

4

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3

CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 200Foundations of Analytical Chemistry

3

or

CHEM 260Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

3

CHEM 201Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 210Organic Chemistry I - Foundations

3

CHEM 211Organic Chemistry I Laboratory - Foundations

1

CHEM 212Organic Synthesis

3

and

CHEM 213Organic Chemistry II Laboratory - Synthesis

1

or

CHEM 354Foundations of Biochemistry

3

Note: Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 201) can be taken with either CHEM 200 or CHEM 260