Biology - Cellular and Molecular Biology (BS)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus

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A degree in biology provides students with the skills to succeed in diverse careers and tackle the challenges faced by society. Biology is a valuable major for students going into human health and veterinary disciplines, and graduate programs ranging from molecular biology to organismal biology to ecology, as well as a diversity of bachelor’s-level jobs. In addition to the curriculum requirements of the University and College of Arts and Sciences, students earning a biology BS must take courses indicated below and choose one of the seven tracks to complete.

Pre-vet option - Biology

Students who complete the K-State Core, College of Arts and Sciences Program requirements and Biology Major Requirements, with the exception of up to 15 credit hours from courses under their declared degree sub-option (Animal Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Human Health Biology, Integrative Biology, Plant Biology, or Computational Biology) and Biology Elective requirements, and have a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours prior to enrolling in the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State, may earn a Biology degree after successful completion of at least 30 credit hours in veterinary medical school.

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.

General Education: K-State Core

Program Requirements

Orientation: 1 credit hour

BIOL 100 - Biology First-Year Orientation Credits: 1
OR
DAS 101 - Discover, Create, and Thrive: Arts and Sciences Orientation Credits: 1

Outside Concentration: 4-9+ credit hours

Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except for Biology OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit).

Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for 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).

Any 9 credit hour microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

Overlays: [9] credit hours

May be filled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself.

Ethical Reasoning Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
Global Perspectives Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
US Multicultural Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]

Programs

The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take Calculus.

Biology Requirements: 38-47 credit hours

Credit total assumes MATH 220 counted as part of the K-State Core 3

BIOL 198 - Principles of Biology Credits: 4
BIOL 398 - Principles of Genetics Credits: 4
MATH 220 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Credits: 4
KSC-030
BIOL 520 - Evolution Credits: 3
OR
BIOL 521 - Evolution of Infectious Diseases Credits: 3
BIOCH 521 - General Biochemistry Credits: 3
Alternatively, BIOCH 755, with BIOCH 765 recommended for students planning on further study in cellular or molecular areas of biology or in biochemistry.
CHM 210 - Chemistry I Credits: 4
OR
CHM 220 - Honors Chemistry I Credits: 5
CHM 230 - Chemistry II Credits: 4
OR
CHM 250 - Honors Chemistry II Credits: 5
CHM 350 - General Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
Alternatively, CHM 531, with CHM 550 recommended for students planning to attend medical school or to pursue further study in cellular or molecular areas of biology or in biochemistry.
CHM 351 - General Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2
OR
CHM 532 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2
PHYS 113 - General Physics I Credits: 4
OR
PHYS 213 - Engineering Physics I Credits: 5
PHYS 114 - General Physics II Credits: 4
OR
PHYS 214 - Engineering Physics II Credits: 5
Choose once course from the list below:
CC 210 - Fundamental Computer Programming Concepts Credits: 4
CIS 200 - Programming Fundamentals Credits: 4
MATH 221 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus II Credits: 4
MATH 551 - Applied Matrix Theory Credits: 3
MATH 615 - Introduction to Digital Image Processing Credits: 3
STAT 225 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3
STAT 240 - Biometrics I Credits: 3
STAT 701 - Fundamental Methods of Biostatistics Credits: 3
STAT 703 - Introduction to Statistical Methods for the Sciences Credits: 3
CC 110 - Introduction to Computing Credits: 2
AND
CC 111 - Elements of Computer Programming Credits: 1

Cellular and Molecular Biology Option: 13 credit hours

BIOL 255 - General Microbiology Credits: 4
BIOL 541 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 580 - Molecular Biology of Genes and Genomes Credits: 3
Choose one course (at least 3cr) from the list below:
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: 0-8

Major Electives: 13 credit hours

Choose 14 credit hours from the lists below, including no more than 3 credits numbered 399 or lower. BIOL 221 Organismic Biology can be included and will not be counted toward the allowed 3 credits numbered 399 or lower. Must include two lab classes. Courses used here may not be used elsewhere.

Biology courses (other than BIOL 695 and BIOL 698).

Biology course listing can be found in the University Course Catalog.
Research Courses - Choose no more than 3 credit hours from the list below:

Choose from the Course list below. No more than 3 credit hours from all Research Courses combined can be used toward BIOL electives.
AGRON 598 - Undergraduate Research in Agronomy Credits: 0-18
AP 790 - Problems in Anatomy and Physiology Credits: 1-18
ASI 561 - Undergraduate Research in Animal Sciences & Industry Credits: 0-3
BAE 497 - Undergraduate Research Experience Credits: 0-3
BAE 499 - Honors Research in Biological Systems Engineering Credits: 1-18
BIOCH 599 - Research Training in Biochemistry Credits: 1-3
BIOL 695 - Internship in Biology Credits: 1-3
BIOL 698 - Research in Biology Credits: 0-8
CHE 497 - Undergraduate Research Experience Credits: 0-3
CHM 497 - Research in Undergraduate Chemistry Credits: 1-3
DAS 400 - Undergraduate Research in Arts and Sciences Credits: 0-3
DAS 506 - Undergraduate Cancer Research Credits: 1
DMP 680 - Problems in Pathobiology Credits: 1-5
ENTOM 482 - Research Experience in Entomology Credits: 1-3
GEOG 497 - Undergraduate Research in Geography Credits: 1-3
KIN 597 - Research Experience in Kinesiology Credits: 0-3
PLPTH 495 - Undergraduate Research in Plant Pathology Credits: 0-3
PSYCH 599 - Research in Psychology Credits: 0-18
WOEM 495 - Undergraduate Research in Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Credits: 0-3
Courses From Other Departments (except research courses):

Choose from the Course list below. No more than 6 credits can be used from “Courses From Other Departments (except research courses)”. Research courses do not count toward the 6 credit total limit.
AGCOM 712 - Environmental Communication Credits: 3
AGEC 525 - Natural Resource and Environmental Economics Credits: 3
AGRON 205 - Soils Credits: 3
AGRON 251 - Range Management Credits: 3
AGRON 335 - Environmental Quality Credits: 3
AGRON 610 - Biotechnology Credits: 3
AGRON 620 - Applied Crop Physiology Credits: 3
AGRON 630 - Crop Improvement and Biotechnology Credits: 3
AGRON 645 - Soil Microbiology Credits: 3
AGRON 646 - Soil Microbiology Laboratory Credits: 1
AGRON 660 - Grassland Monitoring and Assessment Credits: 2
AGRON 661 - Grassland Monitoring and Assessment Lab Credits: 1
AGRON 680 - Plant Genetics Credits: 3
AGRON 681 - Range Ecology Credits: 3
AGRON 682 - Grassland Fire Ecology Credits: 3
AGRON 695 - Climate Change and Agriculture Credits: 3
AGRON 781 - Ecology of Invasive Species Credits: 3
AP 600 - Introduction to Pharmacology for Health Professionals Credits: 3
AP 641 - Histology for Health Professions Credits: 3
AP 711 - Stem Cells and Comparative Biomedicine Credits: 2
ASI 218 - Fundamentals of Nutrition Credits: 3
ASI 533 - Physiology of Domestic Animals Credits: 3
ASI 540 - Principles of Animal Disease Control Credits: 3
ASI 560 - Course-Based Undergraduate Research in Animal Sciences & Industry Credits: 2
ASI 658 - Animal Growth and Development Credits: 3
BAE 445 - Biological Engineering Fundamentals Credits: 3
BIOCH 522 - General Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 3
BIOCH 571 - Medical Biochemistry Credits: 3
BIOCH 755 - Biochemistry I Credits: 3
BIOCH 756 - Biochemistry I Laboratory Credits: 2
BIOCH 757 - NMR Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOCH 758 - Protein Structure Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOCH 765 - Biochemistry II Credits: 3
BIOCH 766 - Recombinant DNA Laboratory I Credits: 1
BIOCH 767 - Recombinant DNA Laboratory II Credits: 1
BIOCH 775 - Molecular Biophysics Credits: 3
CHM 315 - Environmental Science: A Chemistry Perspective Credits: 3
DMP 690 - Essential Practices for BSL-3 Research Settings Credits: 1
DMP 691 - Introduction to High Containment Laboratory Topics and Techniques Credits: 3
DMP 710 - Introduction to One Health Credits: 2
DMP 754 - Introduction to Epidemiology Credits: 3
DMP 770 - Emerging Diseases Credits: 3
ECON 527 - Environmental Economics Credits: 3
ENTOM 312 - General Entomology Credits: 3
ENTOM 625 - Integrative Behavioral Ecology Credits: 3
ENTOM 630 - Introduction to Molecular Entomology Credits: 2
ENTOM 635 - Insect Evolution Credits: 3
ENTOM 649 - Introduction to Arthropod Vectors of Human Pathogens Credits: 3
ENTOM 652 - Introduction to Insect Molecular Techniques Credits: 2
ENTOM 660 - Introduction to Insect Genetics Credits: 3
ENTOM 675 - Introduction to Insect Physiology Credits: 3
ENTOM 692 - Insect Ecology Credits: 3
ENTOM 695 - Insect Taxonomy Credits: 3
FDSCI 600 - Food Microbiology Credits: 2
FDSCI 601 - Food Microbiology Lab Credits: 2
FNDH 400 - Human Nutrition Credits: 3
FNDH 620 - Nutrient Metabolism Credits: 3
FNDH 654 - Pathophysiology and Clinical Evaluation Credits: 3
GEOG 445 - Biogeography Credits: 3
GEOG 460 - Human Dimensions of Global Change Credits: 3
GEOG 508 - Geographic Information Systems I Credits: 4
GEOG 605 - Remote Sensing of the Environment Credits: 3
GEOG 608 - Geographic Information Systems II Credits: 3
GEOG 761 - Human Impact on the Environment Credits: 3
GEOL 650 - Geomicrobiology Credits: 3
KIN 601 - Cardiorespiratory Physiology Credits: 3
KIN 603 - Cardiovascular Physiology Credits: 3
KIN 607 - Muscle Physiology Credits: 3
KIN 609 - Environmental Physiology Credits: 3
KIN 611 - Autonomic Neurophysiology Credits: 3
KIN 615 - Cardiorespiratory/Comparative Physiology in Health and Disease Credits: 3
KIN 617 - Signaling Pathways in Physiology Credits: 3
KIN 657 - Integrative Human Pathophysiology Credits: 3
LAR 298 - Ethics and Environmental Dilemmas Credits: 3
PHILO 595 - Environmental Ethics Credits: 3
PLPTH 500 - Principles of Plant Pathology Credits: 3
PLPTH 585 - Crop Diseases Credits: 2
PLPTH 610 - Biotechnology Credits: 3
PSYCH 470 - Principles of Neuroscience Credits: 3
PSYCH 570 - Psychopharmacology Credits: 3
STAT 703 - Introduction to Statistical Methods for the Sciences Credits: 3
WOEM 400 - Pond and Sportfish Management Credits: 3
WOEM 555 - Big Game Management Credits: 3
WOEM 560 - Upland Game Bird Management Credits: 3
WOEM 561 - Waterfowl and Wetlands Management Credits: 3
WOEM 562 - Advanced Wildlife Habitat Management Credits: 4
WOEM 620 - Human-Wildlife Conflicts Credits: 3

BS Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Restrictive Electives: 6 credit hours

3 credit hours in each of the following, with at least 3 credit hours total at 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline.

Fine Arts or Humanities Course: 3 credit hours

Any course or combination of courses.

Non-Quantitative Social Science Course: 3 credit hours

Choose any social science course that does NOT have a MATH or STAT prereq

Free Electives: 5-10 credit hours

In addition to K-State Core Free Electives requirement, take any course so that the total credit hours completed equals 120.

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

Arts & Sciences common degree requirements for the BS are satisfied by the following:

Natural and Quantitative

Natural Science: CHM 210 or CHM 220 (listed in Courses Required for the Biology Degree)
Quantitative: STAT 225, STAT 240, STAT 701, STAT 703; MATH 221, MATH 551, MATH 615; CC 110 plus CC 111, CC 210; CIS 200 (listed in Courses Required for the Biology Degree)
Natural Science, or Quantitative, or Social Science w/MATH or STAT prereq: (3 credit hours) CHM 230 or CHM 250 (listed in Courses Required for the Biology Degree)
Natural Science, or Quantitative, or Social Science w/MATH or STAT prereq: (3 credit hours) BIOL 450 (listed in Courses Required for the Biology Degree)