Biology BA/BS

Location(s): Manhattan Campus

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Students in this major may obtain either the BA or BS degree. In addition to the requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, biology majors must take the courses of blocks A, B, and one of the seven options of block C as listed below. Biology is a valued major for students aiming at a variety of professional health disciplines, at graduate programs ranging from molecular biology to ecology, and at a diversity of bachelor’s-level jobs. Each biology major may need to take free electives beyond their specified biology coursework in order to meet graduation requirements. Free electives could be additional courses in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and math, courses in computer science, statistics, foreign language or business, or courses in another area of student interest.

Bachelor’s degree requirements

Block A: Courses offered by other departments

BIOCH 521 - General Biochemistry Credits: 3
CHM 210 - Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHM 230 - Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHM 350 - General Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHM 351 - General Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2
MATH 220 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Credits: 4
PHYS 113 - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHYS 114 - General Physics II Credits: 4
A class chosen from STAT 325 , STAT 340 , STAT 701 , STAT 703 ; MATH 221 , MATH 551 , MATH 615 ; CC 110 , CC 210 ; CIS 200

Math Note

Prerequisites for MATH 220 are MATH 100 and MATH 150 or four semesters of high school algebra and one semester of trigonometry plus appropriate math placement exam scores.

MATH 100 - College Algebra Credits: 3
MATH 150 - Plane Trigonometry Credits: 3

Chemistry/Biochemistry Note

Upon consultation with a Division of Biology advisor a student may substitute:

Biochemistry I and II for General Biochemistry
BIOCH 755 - Biochemistry I Credits: 3
BIOCH 765 - Biochemistry II Credits: 3
Organic Chemistry I and II for General Organic Chemistry
CHM 531 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHM 550 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 3
Organic Chemistry Laboratory for General Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 532 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2

Physics Note

Upon consultation with a Division of Biology advisor a student may substitute:

Engineering Physics I and II for General Physics I and II
PHYS 213 - Engineering Physics I Credits: 5
PHYS 214 - Engineering Physics II Credits: 5

Block B: Division of Biology courses

BIOL 198 - Principles of Biology Credits: 4
BIOL 450 - Modern Genetics Credits: 4
BIOL 520 - Evolution Credits: 3
Additional requirements – Biology major electives

In addition to the 11 to 15 credits hours required for the student’s chosen option in Part C, additional biology major electives (11 to 15 hours) are required. Biology major electives are biology courses at the 400 level or higher, including two courses providing a laboratory experience. See notes below.

Notes on acceptable courses for the biology major electives
No more than a total of three (3) credits from the combination of BIOL 695 and/or BIOL 698 may be used as biology major elective credit.
BIOL 695 - Internship in Biology Credits: 1-3
BIOL 698 - Research in Biology Credits: 1-8
Two (2) credit hours of biology major elective credit can be earned from BIOL 365 .
BIOL 365 - Practicum in Biology Credits: 1-4
In addition to biology courses numbered 400 and above as choices for biology major elective credit, one to five (5) hours of credit for the following courses can be applied toward biology major elective credit.
AGRON 610 - Biotechnology Credits: 3
AGRON 630 - Crop Improvement and Biotechnology Credits: 3
AGRON 645 - Soil Microbiology Credits: 3
AGRON 646 - Soil Microbiology Laboratory Credits: 1
AGRON 680 - Plant Genetics Credits: 3
BIOCH 571 - Medical Biochemistry Credits: 3
BIOCH 755 - Biochemistry I Credits: 3
BIOCH 765 - Biochemistry II Credits: 3
ENTOM 312 - General Entomology Credits: 3
GEOG 445 - Biogeography Credits: 3
GEOG 508 - Geographic Information Systems I Credits: 4
PLPTH 500 - Principles of Plant Pathology Credits: 3
PLPTH 610 - Biotechnology Credits: 3
PSYCH 470 - Principles of Neuroscience Credits: 3

Block C: Options

Animal biology option

BIOL 401 - Organismic Biology Credits: 5
BIOL 513 - Physiological Adaptations of Animals Credits: 4
BIOL 541 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
⁵Fourteen credits from the Biology major elective list, including one course providing a laboratory experience.

Cellular and molecular biology option

BIOL 455 - General Microbiology Credits: 4
BIOL 541 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 580 - Molecular Biology of Genes and Genomes Credits: 3
A class (3 credits) chosen from:
BIOL 461 - Phage Hunters I Credits: 3
BIOL 676 - Molecular Genetics Laboratory Credits: 3
BIOL 695 - Internship in Biology Credits: 1-3
BIOL 698 - Research in Biology Credits: 1-8
⁵Thirteen credits from the Biology major elective list, including two courses providing a laboratory experience.

Ecology and evolutionary biology option

BIOL 401 - Organismic Biology Credits: 5
BIOL 529 - Ecology Credits: 3
BIOL 632 - Ecology Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOL 640 - Population Biology Credits: 3
⁵Fourteen credits from the Biology major elective list, including one course providing a laboratory experience.

Human health biology option

BIOL 441 - Human Body I Credits: 4
BIOL 442 - Human Body II Credits: 4
BIOL 455 - General Microbiology Credits: 4
BIOL 541 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
⁵Eleven credits from the Biology major elective list.

Integrative biology option

BIOL 401 - Organismic Biology Credits: 5
BIOL 529 - Ecology Credits: 3
BIOL 541 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
⁵Fifteen credits from the Biology major elective list, including two courses providing a laboratory experience.

Plant biology option

BIOL 401 - Organismic Biology Credits: 5
BIOL 500 - Plant Physiology Credits: 3
BIOL 551 - Taxonomy of Flowering Plants Credits: 4
A class (3 credits) chosen from:
BIOL 461 - Phage Hunters I Credits: 3
BIOL 676 - Molecular Genetics Laboratory Credits: 3
BIOL 695 - Internship in Biology Credits: 1-3
BIOL 698 - Research in Biology Credits: 1-8
⁵Eleven credits from the Biology major elective list, including two courses providing a laboratory experience.

Computational biology option

MATH 312 - Finite Applications of Mathematics Credits: 3
CC 110 - Introduction to Computing Credits: 2
AND
CC 111 - Elements of Computer Programming Credits: 1
CC 210 - Fundamental Computer Programming Concepts Credits: 4
CC 310 - Data Structures and Algorithms I Credits: 3
CC 315 - Data Structures and Algorithms II Credits: 3
CC 410 - Advanced Programming Credits: 4
CIS 531 - Introduction to Programming Techniques for Data Science and Analytics Credits: 3
OR
CC 535 - Applied Data Science Credits: 3
BIOL 734 - Introduction to Genomics and Bioinformatics Credits: 4
Six credits of Biology, Statistics, CIS, CC, or Math classes at the 400-level or above
⁵Twelve credits from the Biology major elective list.

Kansas State University

Course Catalog