Majors and Minors

The courses listed for each of the following emphases are the minimum requirements. Higher-level supporting courses may be appropriate for students pursuing  certain careers. Students should consult with their advisors for proper course selections. All majors require a Capstone Course.

Major Requirements Checksheets for graduation updates.

Biology Major: Comprehensive Programs

All Biology majors require the 18-credit Biology Nucleus. 
Biology Nucleus
BIOL 150  Biological Principles (with laboratory)   4 cr
BIOL 151  Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory)   4 cr
BIOL 301  General Ecology   3 cr
BIOL 310  Cell Biology   3 cr
BIOL 312  Genetics (with recitation)   4 cr

Cell Biology/Pre-Medicine Emphasis

The Cell Biology/Pre-Medicine Emphasis requires a minimum of 67 credits, including the 18-credit Biology Nucleus, 15 additional credits in Biology, and 34 credits of supporting courses.
Required Biology courses:
BIOL 313  Cell and Genetics Laboratory   2 cr
Three of the following:
BIOL 342  Microbiology (with laboratory)   4 cr
BIOL 362  Evolutionary Biology: Theory and Application   3 cr
BIOL 373  Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory)   4 cr
BIOL 420  Molecular Biology (with laboratory)   4 cr
BIOL 454  Developmental Biology (with laboratory)   4 cr
BIOL 474  Comparative Animal Physiology (with laboratory)   4 cr
At least two credits of Capstone Experience courses:
BIOL 495  Senior Seminar (may be repeated)   1 cr
BIOL 496  Senior Thesis 2-4 cr
Minimum supporting courses:
CHEM 111  General Chemistry I  3 cr
CHEM 112  General Chemistry Laboratory I  1 cr
CHEM 113  General Chemistry II  3 cr
CHEM 114  General Chemistry Laboratory II  1 cr
CHEM 331  Organic Chemistry I  3 cr
CHEM 332  Organic Chemistry II  3 cr
CHEM 334  Organic Chemistry Laboratory I  1 cr
CHEM 335  Organic Chemistry Laboratory II  1 cr
CHEM 471  Biochemistry I  4 cr
SCI 202  Scientific Writing  3 cr
One of the following:
MATH 151  Calculus I  4 cr
MATH 213  Probability and Statistics  3 cr
Either both:
PHYS 170  Principles of Physics I  4 cr
PHYS 171  Principles of Physics II  4 cr
or both:
PHYS 200  General Physics I (with laboratory)  4 cr
PHYS 201  General Physics II (with laboratory)  4 cr

Environmental Biology and Ecology Emphasis

The Environmental Biology and Ecology Emphasis requires a minimum of 61 credits, including the 18-credit Biology Nucleus, 17 additional credits in Biology and 26 credits of supporting courses.
Required Biology Courses:
BIOL 302  Ecology Laboratory and Recitation  2 cr
Two of the following systems and applications courses:
BIOL 362  Evolutionary Biology: Theory and Application  3 cr
BIOL 430  Wildlife Ecology and Management (with laboratory)  4 cr
BIOL 440  Conservation Biology  3 cr
BIOL 444  Colorado Ecoregions  3 cr
BIOL 476  Aquatic Ecology (with laboratory)  4 cr
BIOL 477  Plant Ecology (with laboratory)  4 cr
Two of the following organismal courses:
BIOL 320  Ornithology (with laboratory)  4 cr
BIOL 322  Mammalogy (with laboratory)  4 cr
BIOL 327  Field Entomology (with laboratory)  4 cr
BIOL 352  Botany (with laboratory)  4 cr
BIOL 353  Rocky Mountain Flora  3 cr
At least two credits of Capstone Experience courses:
BIOL 495  Senior Seminar (may be repeated)  1 cr
BIOL 496  Senior Thesis  2-4 cr
Minimum supporting courses:
CHEM 111  General Chemistry I  3 cr
CHEM 112  General Chemistry Laboratory I  1 cr
CHEM 113  General Chemistry II  3 cr
CHEM 114  General Chemistry Laboratory II  1 cr
CHEM 231  Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry  3 cr
CHEM 234  Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory  1 cr
GEOL 101  Physical Geology  3 cr
GEOL 105  Physical Geology Laboratory  1 cr
MATH 213  Probability and Statistics  3 cr
PHYS 140  Introductory Physics (with laboratory)  4 cr
SCI 202  Scientific Writing  3 cr

Wildlife Biology Concentration: Environmental Biology and Ecology students may concentrate in wildlife biology. This concentration is intended for students seeking certification as a professional wildlife biologist from the Wildlife Society. Additional courses in humanities, social sciences, communications, and public policy and administration are also required. Appropriate courses should be selected in consultation with an advisor.

General Biology Emphasis

The General Biology Emphasis requires a minimum of 54 credits including the 18-credit Biology Nucleus, 14 credits of 300- and 400-level Biology electives, and 22 credits of supporting courses: 
CHEM 111  General Chemistry I  3 cr
CHEM 112  General Chemistry Laboratory I  1 cr
CHEM 113  General Chemistry II  3 cr
CHEM 114  General Chemistry Laboratory II  1 cr
CHEM 231  Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry  3 cr
CHEM 234  Introductory Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory  1 cr
MATH 213  Probability and Statistics  3 cr
PHYS 140  Introductory Physics (with laboratory)  4 cr
SCI 202  Scientific Writing   3 cr
The following restrictions apply: Biology electives must include at least two credits of either BIOL 302 Ecology Laboratory and Recitation or BIOL 313 Cell and Genetics Laboratory; at least two credits of Capstone courses (BIOL 495 Senior Seminar, or BIOL 496 Senior Thesis); 300 and 400-level Biology electives must be selected in consultation with an advisor; CHEM 471 Biochemistry I, may be used to satisfy up to four credits; Biology faculty approval is required to apply more than three credits of BIOL 392 Independent Study or SCI 499 Internship in Science.

Pre-Allied Health Emphasis

The Pre-Allied Health Emphasis requires a minimum of 57 credits including the 18-credit Biology Nucleus, 17 additional biology credits, and 22 credits of supporting
courses. Appropriate chemistry and physics courses should be selected in consultation with an advisor.
Required Biology courses:
BIOL 300  Basic Nutrition  3 cr
BIOL 342  Microbiology  4 cr
BIOL 372  Human Anatomy & Physiology I (with laboratory)  4 cr
BIOL 373  Human Anatomy & Physiology II (with laboratory)  4 cr
At least two credits of Capstone Experience Courses:
BIOL 495  Senior Seminar (may be repeated) 1 cr
BIOL 496  Senior Thesis  2-4 cr
Minimum supporting courses:
CHEM 111  General Chemistry I  3 cr
CHEM 112  General Chemistry Laboratory I  1 cr
CHEM 113  General Chemistry II  3 cr
CHEM 114  General Chemistry Laboratory II  1 cr
CHEM 231  Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry  3 cr
CHEM 234  Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory  1 cr
MATH 213  Probability and Statistics  3 cr
PHYS 140  Introductory Physics (with laboratory)  4 cr
SCI 202  Scientific Writing  3 cr

Secondary Licensure Emphasis

The Secondary Licensure Emphasis requires a minimum of 62 credits including the 18-credit Biology Nucleus, eight additional credits in Biology, and 36 credits in supporting courses. Students must fulfill the requirements for the Secondary Licensure Option (described under Education). Students interested in pursuing this comprehensive program should consult with the Teacher Education Program advisor in addition to the advisor in their major as soon as possible. EDUC 409 Secondary Student Teaching fulfills the Capstone Requirement for students completing this emphasis. 
Required Biology courses:
BIOL 342  Microbiology (with laboratory)  4 cr
Either:
ESS 201  Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with laboratory)  4 cr
or both of the following:
BIOL 372  Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory) 4 cr
BIOL 373  Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory)  4 cr
Minimum supporting courses:
CHEM 111  General Chemistry I  3 cr
CHEM 112  General Chemistry Laboratory I  1 cr
CHEM 113  General Chemistry II  3 cr
CHEM 114  General Chemistry Laboratory II  1 cr
CHEM 231  Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry  3 cr
CHEM 234  Introductory Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory  1 cr
GEOL 101  Physical Geology  3 cr
GEOL 105  Physical Geology Laboratory  1 cr
GEOL 201  Historical Geology (with laboratory) 4 cr
MATH 213  Probability and Statistics  3 cr
PHYS 110  Solar System Astronomy  3 cr
PHYS 120  Meteorology  3 cr
PHYS 140  Introductory Physics (with laboratory)  4 cr
SCI 202  Scientific Writing  3 cr

Biology Minor

A minimum of 18 credits is required, including:
BIOL 150  Biological Principles (with laboratory)  4 cr
BIOL 151  Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory)  4 cr
Biology electives 10 cr

Substitutions. The following substitutions may be used to satisfy biology degree requirements: CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits), CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits), CHEM 334 Organic Chemistry Lab I (1 credit), CHEM 335 Organic Chemistry Lab II (1 credit), may be substituted for CHEM 231 Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (3 credits), and CHEM 234 Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Lab (1 credit); PHYS 170 Principles of Physics I (4 credits), may be substituted for PHYS 140 Introductory Physics with lab (4 credits); PHYS 200 General Physics I (4 credits), PHYS 201 General Physics II (4 credits), may be substituted for PHYS 170 Principles of Physics I (4 credits), PHYS 171 Principles of Physics II (4 credits).

Capstone Course Requirement. The following courses in the Biology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement:  BIOL 495 Senior Seminar, BIOL 496 Senior Thesis, or EDUC 409 Secondary Student Teaching (Secondary Licensure Emphasis)