BACHELOR OF ARTS or BACHELOR OF SCIENCE MAJOR

For either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, the student must take our introductory core sequence (BIOL 125 and 126) and a semester of Genetics (BIOL 332). Completion of the two-course introductory core is required before upper-division biology courses can be taken.  Furthermore, BIOL 332 must be completed within five semesters of starting the introductory core series.  To ensure breadth of study in biology, students must complete at least one upper-division course in each of the three categories below.  In addition, at least one upper division course must be taken that is botanical in nature and one that is zoological in nature. The two upper division courses that satisfy the botanical and zoological requirements could also fulfill corresponding distribution requirements.  Each of the courses taken for the biology major including the required supporting courses must be completed with a grade of C- or higher and the cumulative GPA must be at least 2.00. Courses not designed for biology majors (BIOL 111, 116, 201, 205, 206) ordinarily cannot be used to satisfy major requirements. Independent study (BIOL 491) and internship (BIOL 495) may be used for no more than a total of four of the upper-division biology hours required for the BS degree, and for no more than a total of two of the upper-division biology hours required for the BA degree. Students who plan to apply biology credits earned at other institutions toward a PLU degree with a biology major should be aware that at least 14 hours in biology, numbered 300 or higher and including 499, must be earned in residence at PLU. Each student must consult with a biology advisor to discuss selection of electives appropriate for educational and career goals. Basic requirements under each plan for the major are listed below.

BACHELOR OF ARTS: 34 semester hours in Biology

• BIOL 125, 126, 332, and 499
• Plus: 20 additional upper-division biology hours that satisfy the following requirements below.
• At least one upper-division course in each of the following three categories:
  • Cellular & Molecular Biology – BIOL 328, 348, 403, 407, 444, or 448;
  • Organism Structure & Function – BIOL 324, 325, 327, 361, 364, 365, or 441;
  • Ecology & Evolution – BIOL 326, 333, 340, 424, 425, 427 or 475.
• At least one upper-division course must be botanical in nature. Courses satisfying this requirement are: BIOL 340, 364 and 365.
• At least one upper-division course must be zoological in nature. Courses satisfying this requirement are: BIOL 324, 325, 326, 327, 361, and 441.
• Required supporting courses:
  
  • CHEM 115
    
  • MATH 140
• Recommended supporting courses: PHYS 125 (with 135 Lab) and PHYS 126 (with 136 Lab).

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE: 42 semester hours in Biology

• BIOL 125, 126, 332, and 499
• Plus: 28 additional upper-division biology hours that satisfy the following requirements below.
• At least one upper-division course in each of the following three categories:
  • Cellular & Molecular Biology – BIOL 328, 348, 403, 407, 444, or 448;
  • Organism Structure & Function – BIOL 324, 325, 327, 361, 364, 365, or 441;
  • Ecology & Evolution – BIOL 326, 333, 340, 424, 425, 427 or 475.
• At least one upper-division course must be botanical in nature. Courses satisfying this requirement are: BIOL 340, 364, and 365.
• At least one upper-division course must be zoological in nature. Courses satisfying this requirement are: BIOL 324, 325, 326, 327, 361, and 441.
• Required supporting courses:
  • CHEM 115 and 116
  • CHEM 331 (with 333 lab)
  • MATH 151
  • PHYS 125 (with 135 Lab) or PHYS 153 (with 163 Lab)
  • PHYS 126 (with 136 Lab) or PHYS 154 (with 164 Lab)

MINOR

• At least 20 semester hours selected from any biology courses.
• A grade of C- or higher must be earned in each course, and total Biology GPA must be at least 2.00.
• Course prerequisites must be met unless written permission is granted in advance from the instructor.
• Applicability of non-PLU biology courses will be determined by the department chair.
• At least eight of the 20 credit hours in biology must be earned in courses taught by the Biology Department at PLU.
• For students applying only eight PLU biology hours toward the minor, those hours cannot include independent study (BIOL 491) or internship (BIOL 495) hours. 

Biology: Secondary Education

Students planning to be certified to teach biology in high school should plan to complete a BA or BS in biology. Upper-division biology course selection should be made in consultation with a biology advisor.  See the School of Education section of the catalog for biology courses required for certification.