Biology Curriculum
Ecology, biomedical research, genetics, biotechnology, medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry are only a few of the careers you can pursue with a biology degree from Berry College. The program is designed for students interested in professional careers in research, teaching, and an array of other medical and scientific vocations. For those interested in medicine, Berry provides students with a premedical committee and advisor to help prepare students to take the necessary courses, obtain the right extracurricular experiences, prepare for the MCAT, and apply to medical school.
The Biology Major
Students may choose between two options:
Concentration I is designed primarily for students who plan to attend graduate or professional school in biology or the health sciences.
Concentration II is intended for those students who do not intend to pursue graduate or professional health fields; for example, secondary education, science journalism, double majors, or business minors. See the Berry College Undergraduate Catalog for more information.
Biology Major Core Requirements (21 hrs.)
For either concentration, the program in biology requires a core of 21 semester hours of course work:
| BIO 111 |
Principles of Cell Biology
|
3-2-4 |
| BIO 202 |
Principles of Zoology
|
3-2-4 |
| BIO 204 |
Genetics
|
3-3-4 |
| BIO 215 |
Principles of Microbiology and Botany
|
3-2-4 |
| BIO 305 |
General Ecology
|
3-3-4 |
| BIO 490 |
Seminar in Biology
|
1-0-1 |
At least five additional elective courses, at the 200 level or above (at least 19 semester hours), are also required. Fifteen hours numbered 300 and above must be taken in residence. Within this block of courses students may select those subdisciplines that best suit their needs.
Berry does not offer a major or minor in marine biology; however, a number of courses in marine biology are offered through the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) in Mississippi during the summer term. Students may register for the courses as a transient student; two courses may used as electives toward the biology major at Berry. Berry College maintains an affiliation with GCRL.
Berry also maintains an affiliation with the Highlands Biological Station in North Carolina. One course taken there as a transient student may be used with departmental approval, as a biology elective at Berry.
Additional Science and Mathematics Requirements (Conc. 1 and Conc. 2)
Concentration I is for students who plan to attend graduate or professional school in biology or the health sciences. In addition to the biology core and biology electives (above), students pursuing Concentration I must also complete:
Chemistry: 16 hours at the CHM 108 level or above. Chemistry minors are exempt from this requirement.
Mathematics: 7 hours minimum. MAT 111 required; MAT 201 strongly encouraged.
Physics: 4 hours. PHY 111 or PHY 211 required; PHY 112 or PHY 212 strongly encouraged.
Concentration II is for students who have other interests in biology (i.e., secondary education, science journalism, double majors, business minors). In addition to the biology core and biology electives, students pursuing Concentration II must also complete:
Chemistry: 4 hours at the CHM 108 level or above. Chemistry minors are exempt from this requirement.
Math and Science Electives: 5 courses taken from ANS, AST, BIO, CHM, EVS, GEO, MAT, or PHY. Only one of these may be chosen from the following: ANS 105, BIO 103*, BIO 105, BIO 106, BIO 108, or PHY 101. CHM 102 may not be used for this elective credit. In addition, at least 2 courses must be non-BIO courses. Students having a minor in secondary education may substitute EDU 499 for one of the science electives.
*BIO 103 may be counted as an elective if the biology major has not already completed BIO 111.
The Biology Minor
A minor in biology requires 19-20 hours, as follows:
| BIO 111 |
Principles of Cell Biology
|
3-2-4 |
| BIO 202 |
Principles of Zoology
|
3-2-4 |
| BIO 215 |
Principles of Microbiology and Botany
|
3-2-4 |
AND one of the following
|
|
| BIO 204 |
|
3-3-4 |
| BIO 305 |
|
3-3-4 |
Plus, one additional biology course at the 200 level or above.
Teacher Certification in Secondary-School Science
Students planning to become certified to teach biology in Georgia public secondary schools must complete a major in biology and a minor in education. One course in microbiology, one course in plant biology, and one course in ethics should be successfully completed to meet the National Science Standards for certification in teaching biology. Such courses include BIO 301 (Microbiology), BIO 311WI (General Botany), or BIO 313WI (Forest Ecology), and PHI 358 (Bioethics) or PHI 359WI (Environmental Ethics). Other recommended courses include BIO 206, 303, 332WI, 341, 415, 482, and 483, and EVS 104. The student must be assigned an advisor in education in addition to a biology advisor.
The Environmental Sciences Major- Biology Concentration
Listed below are the requirements for the student planning a major in the environmental sciences with a concentration in biology. Each student must complete the core requirements, required number of electives, and the requirements for the area of concentration in chemistry (specified below). The EVS Program Web site provides more details about the program and course requirements for the other areas of concentration.
Core Requirements Environmental Sciences Major - Biology Conc. (41 hrs.)
| EVS 104 |
Intro. to Environmental Sciences
|
3-2-4 |
| EVS 405 |
Environmental Sciences Methods
|
2-4-4 |
| EVS 490 |
Environmental Sciences Seminar
|
1-0-1 |
| BIO 202 |
|
3-2-4 |
| BIO 215 |
Principles of Microbiology and Botany
|
3-2-4 |
| CHM 108 |
|
3-3-4 |
| ECO 110 |
Principles of Economics I
|
3-0-3 |
| GEO 101 |
|
3-2-4 |
| GOV 211 |
American National Government
|
3-0-3 |
| MAT 111 |
|
3-0-3 |
| PHI 359WI |
|
3-0-3 |
Electives - non-science (8 hrs.)
| Non-science electives, chosen from |
8 hours |
ANT 200
BUS 210
COM 301
ECO 470
GOV 207
SOC 355 |
Cultural Anthropology
Legal Environment of Business
Writing for the Mass Media
Environmental Economics*
Contemporary World Issues
Environmental Sociology* |
3 - 0 - 3
3 - 0 - 3
2 - 2 - 3
3 - 0 - 3
3 - 0 - 3
3 - 0 - 3 |
| * Check catalog for prerequisites. |
Area of Concentration in Biology Requirements (27 hrs.):
| BIO 111 |
Principles of Cell Biology
|
3-2-4 |
| BIO 305 |
|
3-3-4 |
| BIO 405 |
|
3-3-4 |
Plus, a minimum of 15 hours of BIO courses at the 200 level or above.