Biology Curriculum

The biology curriculum is flexible. The courses in your first two years will introduce you to basic biological concepts, providing a foundation in the natural and physical sciences, humanities and social sciences. During the third and fourth years, you may take an interdisciplinary approach or choose to concentrate in areas such as cell biology, microbiology, animal or plant biology, clinical biology, pharmacognosy and environmental biology. You will be able to receive academic credit for independent study or directed research into questions being pursued by leading scientists. You will be encouraged to take advantage of the many research opportunities available.

The following is a typical curriculum for biology students entering University of the Sciences in Fall 2012; current students should refer to their academic advisor for their curricula.

First Year

Biological Sciences Orientation
Introductory Biology I, II
General Chemistry I, II
General Chemistry Lab I, II
Mathematical Analysis I, II
Writing and Rhetoric I, II
Physical Education I, II

Second Year

Biological Sciences Colloquium
Organic Chemistry I, II
Organic Chemistry Lab I, II
Introductory Physics I, II
Basics of Microbiology
Intellectual Heritage I, II
Biology Elective
General Education Requirements

Third Year

Quantitative Science Requirements
Molecular Structure in Biochemistry or Survey of Biochemistry or Biochemistry
General Education Requirement
General Education Communication Requirement
Biology, Natural Science, and General Education Electives

Fourth Year

Biological Sciences Seminar I, II
Biology and General Education or Free Electives
General Education Requirement

You can construct a course of study that best suits your career goals by selecting from among the following elective courses:

Animal Biology

Animal Diversity and Morphology
Human Structure and Function I, II
Functional Human Anatomy and Histology
Comparative Animal Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology I, II
Human Physiology

Cellular/Subcellular Biology

Advanced Microbiology
Applied Microbiology
Environmental Microbiology
Virology
Microbial Physiology
Immunobiology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Molecular Biology Laboratory

Clinical Biology

Human Structure and Function Laboratory I, II
Hematology
Human Parasitology
Clinical Microbiology
Clinical Immunology
Principles and Applications of Immunology

Interdisciplinary Biology

Basic Nutrition
Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory
Toxic Natural Products
Biology of Aging
Pharmacognosy
Independent Study in Biological Sciences
Biology Internship
Principles of Forensic Pathology
Ethnobotany
Neuroscience
Neuropsychology
Environmental Toxicology
Special Topics in Biology
Directed Research in Biological Sciences

Plant Biology

Plant Diversity and Morphology
Economic Botany
Plant Physiology

Population Biology

Evolutionary Biology
Introduction to Environmental Science
Animal Behavior
Aquatic Biology
Ecology

Additional general education courses will be required as part of the program.

For detailed course descriptions and other information about the biology curriculum, see the University Catalog.