2022-2023 Undergraduate Academic Catalogue 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Academic Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, BS


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Requirements for the Major


Typical Program


An example of a typical program of courses are as follows:

Freshman Year


Sophomore Year


Junior Year


Senior Year


Fall Term


  • Ethics Core
  • Biology Elective*
  • Biology Elective*
  • Elective
  • Elective***

Spring Term


  • Biology Elective*
  • Biology Elective*
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective***

Key:


* Required for major.
** Terms may be interchanged, but BL 201 /BL 202  should be completed by the end of sophomore year.
*** Depending upon their progression through the major, students may not need these two elective courses to achieve the graduation requirement of a minimum of 38 courses and 120 credits. 
† One math course is required for the biology major. A second math course may be required for medical, graduate, and other professional schools. An elective is used for this purpose.

Notes:


  1. Biology majors should successfully complete BL 118 /BL 119 , BL 121 /BL 126 , and BL 201 /BL 202  before starting their junior year.
  2. The math requirement (MA 251  or MA 252  or ST 210  or ST 265 ) may be taken anytime. Most students choose the sophomore or junior years. Students who plan to take General rather than Introductory Physics should arrange to take Calculus I and II during their first or sophomore years.
  3. Courses from BL 100-BL 118, BL 120 , BL 121 , and BL 201  may be elected in partial fulfillment of the natural science core requirement for non-natural science majors.
  4. For courses numbered 206 and above, if a student decides to withdraw from either the lecture or laboratory component of corequisite courses, then the student must also withdraw from the corresponding lecture or laboratory course. Likewise, if a student fails either the lecture or laboratory component of corequisite courses, both courses must be retaken with passing grades to receive credit within the biology major. A student will not receive credit for completing the lecture or laboratory only, either at Loyola or another institution, unless the department chair gives prior written permission.
  5. To count in the biology major or an associated interdisciplinary major with biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BL 206 /BL 207 ) and Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BL 208 /BL 209 ) must be taken at Loyola or a consortium school.
  6. Students interested in studying abroad will find many programs available to both biology and interdisciplinary biology majors. Students are encouraged to visit the Office of International Programs early in their careers to plan a course of study for Loyola and the host institution. Students should also consult their academic advisor.
  7. Honors students who complete the functional anatomy course while studying abroad in Glasgow, Scotland may not take Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (BL 105 ), Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BL 206 /BL 207 ), Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BL 208 /BL 209 ), or Vertebrate Anatomy (BL 301 ) at Loyola.
  8. Students must complete the diversity core requirement through a designated diversity core, major, or elective course (see Diversity Core Requirement  under Curriculum and Policies).

Elective Restrictions


Students take seven upper-level biology electives. Of the seven biology electives, students must take at least one course from each of three categories described below, and these three courses must be taken within the Biology Department at Loyola. At least four of the seven courses must be taken at the 300-level or higher (BL 300-499). Students may take two experiential learning courses (i.e. research or internships) that count towards graduation. One 3-credit research or internship course may count toward the seven biology electives. One additional research or internship biology course may be taken as a free elective. Students should consult their academic advisor before selecting their electives.

Other Interdisciplinary Majors


Interdisciplinary majors allow students to combine interests in two different disciplines. This enables students to individualize their curriculum and helps to prepare them for our interdisciplinary world. Disciplines recently combined with biology in this way include communication, economics, history, mathematics, philosophy, sociology, Spanish, theology, and writing. It is possible, however, to combine biology with many other disciplines. The general biology requirements for an interdisciplinary major (unless specified by targeted programs) are as follows:

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