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Dec 05, 2025
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Biology (BA)
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 Return to: Degrees and Certificates Offered
The Biology BA combines the study of biological sciences with the study of language. It provides an excellent foundation in biology for students wishing to have interdisciplinary careers, including in education, policy, and law. In addition to the requirements of the University and College of Arts and Sciences, students earning a biology BA must take courses indicated below to meet graduation requirements.
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Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours
K-State Core is the foundation for an impactful life and career after time at K-State. The K-State Core framework covers six disciplinary areas: English, Communications, Mathematics & Statistics, Natural & Physical Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Arts and Humanities. In addition, a seventh area is reserved for institutionally designated use, which K-State is keeping as free electives. In total, the framework takes up 34-35 credit hours of 100 and 200-level coursework. Students who complete their general education elsewhere cannot be required to take additional general education coursework in the disciplinary areas of the framework without permission from KBOR to continue requiring courses in the K-State Core. Orientation: 1 credit hour
Outside Concentration: 4-9+ credit hours
Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except BIOL, OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit). OR Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except BIOL) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program). OR Any 9 credit hours in a microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program). Overlays: [9] credit hours
May be fulfilled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself. - Ethical Reasoning Overlay Credits: [3]
- Global Perspectives Overlay Credits: [3]
- US Multicultural Overlay Credits: [3]
Biology (BA) Major Requirements
The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take Calculus.
Biology Requirements: 37-45 credit hours
Credit total assumes MATH 220 counted as part of the K-State Core 3 Major Electives: 15 credit hours
Select a total of 15 credit hours. No course used here can be used elsewhere. BA Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Restrictive Electives: 9 credit hours
3 credit hours in each of the following, with at least 6 credit hours at 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline. One course in Humanities: 3 credit hours
Any course or combination of courses in Fine Arts: 3 credit hours
One Non-Quantitative Social Science Course: 3 credit hours
Choose any Social course that does NOT have a MATH or STAT prereq.
BA Second Language Requirement: 3-16 credit hours
Choose one of the following: Option 1: (3-14 credit hours)
At least 3 credit hours of coursework culminating with level 4 or above (i.e., Frech 4, German 4, Spanish 4, etc.) or the equivalent of level 4 in a second language sequence. Option 2: (16 credit hours)
At least 16 credit hours of coursework in which student takes the first and second levels of two different languages, selected from any language offered within the department of Modern Languages, ASL, or from any other second language transferred in at an equivalent level. Option 3: (3 credit hours)
Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement by meeting the English Proficiency Admission Standards for K-State or by completing the appropriate level of exit courses with the English Language Program. Free Electives: 3-8 credit hours
In addition to the K-State Core Free Electives requirement, take any course so that the total number of credit hours completed is 120. Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120
Arts & Sciences common degree requirements for the BS are satisfied by the following: Natural and Quantitative (at least one at the 300 level or with a prerequisite) - Natural Science: CHM 210 or CHM 220 (listed in Courses Required for the Biology Degree)
- Additional Natural Science, Quantitative, or Quantitative Social Social: covered by Quantitative: BIOL 450
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