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Xavier University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 2024-2025
Biology, B.S.
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 Return to: Majors, Minors, Certificates, Curriculums and Special Programs
The biology curriculum includes courses that present current concepts of the molecular, cellular, organismal, and population levels of biological organization. Basic biological principles are presented through the study of animals, plants, and microorganisms. Laboratory sessions provide experience in careful observation, controlled experimentation, and thoughtful analysis of scientific data. The biology program provides preparation for further study at the graduate level or in the health professions (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, podiatry, or optometry), as well as preparation for a teaching career or other specialized employment.
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Requirements for the Biology Major
Core Curriculum Requirements:
Students must complete the Undergraduate Core Curriculum requirements. Specific courses that must be taken to satisfy the core curriculum requirements include science courses and the following:
Mathematical Perspectives:
Science, Writing Flag, Quantitative Reasoning Flag
Scientific Perspectives, Natural Science Elective, Writing and quantitative reasoning flags included within the major.
Major Requirements:
65 credit hours, as follows
16 hours in required foundational biology courses:
16 hours in chemistry courses:
8 hours in physics courses:
17 hours of upper level biology electives which must include
At least one molecular biology course from:
At least one ecological course from:
And one organismal lecture/ lab combination from:
Senior Capstone
- 2 credits from BIOL 495-499
Note(s):
- A 2.000 cumulative average must be attained in the 35 hours of biology courses.
- Up to 4 hours of independent study (either BIOL 290, BIOL295, BIOL298 or BIOL 495) may be used in this elective requirement
TOTAL Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120 Semester Hours
B.S. Biology
This block serves as a guideline for progress toward a degree. See your academic advisor. First Semester
- BIOL 160 - General Biology I
- BIOL 161 - General Biology I Lab
- CHEM 160 - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I Lab
- CORE 100 1st Year Seminar or Theology 111
- ENGL 101 - English Composition or ENGL 115 - Rhetoric
- CORE 101 GOA
Total (14)
Second Semester
- BIOL 162 - General Biology II
- BIOL 163 - General Biology II Lab
- CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II
- CHEM 163 - General Chemistry II Lab
- CORE 100 1st Year Seminar or Theology 111
- CORE 102 - GOA
- PHIL 100 - Ethics as Intro to Philosophy
Total (14)
First Semester
- BIOL206 - Human Physiology
- BIOL207 - Human Physiology Lab
- CHEM 240 - Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry I Lab
- MATH 140 - Concepts of Calculus OR MATH 170 Calculus I OR MATH 171 Calculus II
- PHIL 200 - Philosophical Perspectives Elective
- Second Language I
Total (16)
Second Semester
- BIOL230 - Genetics
- BIOL231 - Genetics Lab
- CHEM 242 - Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 243 - Organic Chemistry II Lab
- Second Language II
- Theological Perspectives Elective
Total (16-17)
First Semester
- BIOL Elective ** (3-5)
- MATH 146 - Biostatistics or MATH 171 - Calculus II
- PHYS 160 - College Physics I
- PHYS 161 - Introductory Physics Lab I
- Historical Perspectives Elective
- Social Science Elective*
Total (15-17)
Second Semester
- BIOL Elective (3-5)
- Creative Perspectives Elective
- General Elective
- PHYS 162 - College Physics II
- PHYS 163 - Introductory Physics Lab II
Total (13-15)
First Semester
- Senior Capstone (BIOL495-499)
- BIOL Elective (5-6)
- ENGL 205 - Literature & Moral Imagination
- Diversity Curriculum Requirement
- General Elective
Total (16 - 17)
Second Semester
- Senior Capstone (BIOL495-499)
- BIOL Electives * (5-6)
- E/RS Focus Elective
- Humanities Elective
- General Elective
Total (14-17)
Scheduling Notes:
- Consult the “Undergraduate Core Curriculum ” requirements of the Catalog.
- Freshman Year: Alternative Courses: Can take Historical Perspectives, Creative Perspectives, Second Language, Math or Humanities Elective instead of PHIL 100.
- * PSYC 101 and SOCI 101 (DCR flag) must be taken before the MCAT. Students interested in health professional programs must check with Kara Rettig-Pfingstag about specific requirements by their sophomore year and before you apply.
- The MCAT requires BIOL 160-163, BIOL 206-207, CHEM 160-163, CHEM 240-243, CHEM 440 (counts as BIOL molecular elective), PHYS 160-163, PSYC 101 and SOCI 101. Pre-medical students generally take the MCAT ~15 months before their desired medical school start date.
- All students must elect one each of oral communications, quantitative reasoning and writing-intensive flagged courses; many of these are available within the core or major.
- A cumulative average of 2.0 is required in the major courses for graduation.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for the degree. A second Bachelor’s degree requires 150 credit hours (30 additional credit hours).
B.S. Biology - Alternative Pathway I
This block serves as a guideline for progress toward a degree for students who start with a math placement in pre-calculus (“PRE”). See your academic advisor. Courses with a † or †† can be swapped around with other courses with the same symbol.
First Semester
- BIOL 160 - General Biology I
- BIOL 161 - General Biology I Lab
- CHEM 160 - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I Lab
- CORE 100 - First Year Seminar or THEO 111 - Theological Foundations
- MATH 120 - Elementary Functions
- CORE 101 - 1st Year Co-Curricular Program I
Total (14)
Second Semester
- BIOL 162 - General Biology II
- BIOL 163 - General Biology II Lab
- CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II
- CHEM 163 - General Chemistry II Lab
- CORE 100 - First Year Seminar or THEO 111 - Theological Foundations
- CORE 102 - 1st Year Co-Curricular Program II
- ENGL 101 - English Composition or ENGL 115 - Rhetoric†
Total (14)
First Semester
- BIOL 206 - Human Physiology
- BIOL 207 - Human Physiology Lab (writing flag)
- CHEM 240 - Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry I Lab
- MATH 140 - Concepts of Calculus OR MATH 180 - Differential Calculus
- Second Language I†
- PHIL 100 - Ethics as Intro to Philosophy†
Total (17)
Second Semester
- BIOL 230 - Genetics (quantitative flag)
- BIOL 231 - Genetics Lab
- CHEM 242 - Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 243 - Organic Chemistry II Lab
- Social Science Elective *† or ††
- Second Language II†
- Recommended: BIOL 299 Professional Communication in the Sciences (oral flag)
Total (14-15)
First Semester
- BIOL Elective (3-4)*
- PHYS 160 - College Physics I
- PHYS 161 - Introductory Physics Lab I
- STAT 146 - Biostatistics†
- Diversity Curriculum Requirement *† or ††
- Theological Perspectives Elective
Total (16-17)
Second Semester
- BIOL Elective (3-4)
- Creative Perspectives Elective†
- PHYS 162 - College Physics II
- PHYS 163 - Introductory Physics Lab II
- PHIL 200 Philosophical Perspectives Elective††
Total (13-14)
First Semester
- BIOL Capstone
- BIOL Electives ** (6-8)
- ENGL 205 - Literature & Moral Imagination††
- Historical Perspectives† or ††
Total (13-17)
Second Semester
- BIOL Capstone
- BIOL Electives * (5-8)
- E/RS Focus Elective**
- Humanities Elective
Total (12-16)
Notes:
- * For students interested in medical school, PSYC 101, SOCI 101 and CHEM 440 must be taken before the MCAT. Students interested in health professional programs must check with Kara Rettig-Pfingstag about specific requirements by their sophomore year and before applying.
- A cumulative average of 2.0 is required in the major courses for graduation.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for the degree. A second Bachelor’s degree requires 150 credit hours (30 additional credit hours).
B.S. Biology - Alternative Pathway II
This block serves as a guideline for progress toward a degree for students who start with a math placement in MATH 105. See your academic advisor. Courses with a † or †† can be swapped around with other courses with the same symbol.
First Semester
- BIOL 160 - General Biology I
- BIOL 161 - General Biology I Lab
- CHEM 160 - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I Lab
- CORE 100 - First Year Seminar or THEO 111 - Theological Foundations
- MATH 105 - Fundamentals of Mathematics
- CORE 101 - 1st Year Co-Curricular Program I
Total (14)
Second Semester
- BIOL 162 - General Biology II
- BIOL 163 - General Biology II Lab
- CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II
- CHEM 163 - General Chemistry II Lab
- CORE 100 - First Year Seminar or THEO 111 - Theological Foundations
- CORE 102 - 1st Year Co-Curricular Program II
- MATH 120 - Elementary Functions
Total (14)
First Semester
- BIOL 206 - Human Physiology
- BIOL 207 - Human Physiology Lab
- CHEM 240 - Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry I Lab
- MATH 140 - Concepts of Calculus OR MATH 180 - Differential Calculus
- Second Language I†
- ENGL 101 - English Composition or ENGL 115 - Rhetoric†
Total (17)
Second Semester
- BIOL 230 - Genetics
- BIOL 231 - Genetics Lab
- CHEM 242 - Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 243 - Organic Chemistry II Lab
- Social Science Elective *† or ††
- Second Language II†
- Recommended: BIOL 299 Professional Communication in the Sciences (oral flag)
Total (14-15)
Fall Semester
- BIOL Elective (3-4)*
- PHYS 160 - College Physics I
- PHYS 161 - Introductory Physics Lab I
- STAT 146 - Biostatistics†
- Diversity Curriculum Requirement *† or ††
- Theological Perspectives Elective
Total (16-17)
Second Semester
- BIOL Elective (3-4)
- Creative Perspectives Elective†
- PHYS 162 - College Physics II
- PHYS 163 - Introductory Physics Lab II
- PHIL 100 - Ethics as Intro to Philosophy†
Total (13-14)
First Semester
- BIOL Capstone
- BIOL Electives ** (6-8)
- ENGL 205 - Literature & Moral Imagination††
- Historical Perspectives† or ††
- PHIL 200 Philosophical Perspectives Elective††
Total (15-18)
Second Semester
- BIOL Capstone
- BIOL Electives * (5-8)
- E/RS Focus Elective**
- Humanities Elective
Total (12-16)
Notes:
- * For students interested in medical school, PSYC 101, SOCI 101 and CHEM 440 must be taken before the MCAT. Students interested in health professional programs must check with Kara Rettig-Pfingstag about specific requirements by their sophomore year and before applying.
- A cumulative average of 2.0 is required in the major courses for graduation.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for the degree. A second Bachelor’s degree requires 150 credit hours (30 additional credit hours).
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Return to: Majors, Minors, Certificates, Curriculums and Special Programs
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