The Bachelor of Science program provides the opportunity for in-depth study within particular sub-disciplines of the biological sciences. Students may select a broad-based degree or may choose a track that specializes in cell and molecular biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, neurobiology, or pre-health studies.
Program Summary
The BS degree programs are designed for students who desire in-depth training across the spectrum of biological disciplines.
Students may either follow a general BS curriculum or choose a track toward their degree by emphasizing course and lab work in:
Students qualify for the Bachelor of Sciences degree by successfully completing 44 credits of biology-required coursework plus 38 credits of chemistry, physics and mathematics.
Application to the Major
All freshmen with interest in BIO are accepted into the major if they select Biological Sciences (BIO) on their UB application.
Students transferring to UB are admitted directly to the major if they have a combined GPA of 2.0 in any completed biology courses that articulate to BIO 200, BIO 201, BIO 303, and BIO 305, and a combined GPA of 2.0 in any completed other science/math courses that articulate to MTH 121 or MTH 141, MTH 122 or MTH 142, CHE 101, CHE 102, CHE 201, and CHE 202.
Students transferring to the major from another degree program must apply to the major and are admitted if they have a combined GPA of at least 2.0 in BIO courses already taken (of BIO 200, BIO 201, BIO 303, BIO 305) and a combined GPA of at least 2.0 in all required MTH/CHE courses already taken (of MTH 121 or MTH 141, MTH 122 or MTH 142, CHE 101, CHE 102, CHE 201, CHE 202).
To apply to the Bio Major, submit the “Application for a Major Program” form located on the Forms page to the Bio Department, 109 Cooke Hall.
A minimum combined GPA of 2.0 for required BIO courses and a minimum combined GPA of 2.0 in required CHE and MTH courses are required for retention in the major. At the end of every semester a review of all BIO coursework is completed, and any student not meeting either GPA minimum for four consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the major.
A minimum GPA of 2.0 in biology courses and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in required chemistry, physics and mathematics courses is required for degree conferral.
Application to Major: Online Form
Bachelor of Science
Required lecture courses in biological sciences
Elective laboratory courses in biological sciences — Choose FOUR:
Students registered for 2 or 3 credits of BIO 498 may use this as credit towards one of the required labs.Students registered for 2 or 3 credits of biological research in another UB department may submit a Bio Research Petition to receive credit towards the major. To be approved for the major, the research must be hands-on laboratory, field, or bioinformatics research. Petitions can be found on Forms page.
The list of applicable electives can be found in the UB catalog from the year you started the Biological Sciences major. This is the year you matriculated at UB if you started as a Biological Sciences major, or, if you did not begin as a Biological Sciences major, the year you were accepted into the major. Refer to UB's archived catalogs.
Required courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics
Elective Courses:
COGNATE COURSES — Elective courses may include any of the following cognate courses:
1 Up to 3 total credits of BIO 49X may be used towards the major.
2 2 or 3 credits of BIO 498 may be counted as a lab towards the major provided the abstract is submitted at the completion of the research.
Make choices to reach the 44 credit minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree. Electives may include any lab course, any of the 300 or 400 level courses offered by the Department of Biological Sciences or a cognate course listed for the BA program. A minimum of 3 (three) credits must be at the 400 level. (NOTE: Although the UB Curriculum course BIO 387 Communicating in Biological Sciences can not be used as elective credit towards the BA, it can be used as elective credit for the BS.)
Up to 3 credits of any 490 level BIO course (495, 498, 499) can count toward the BS. Credits in excess of the 3 allowed for the BIO degree will be counted in the general university elective pool.
Selection of electives should be done in consultation your advisor.
Please note: Students may choose to construct their BS electives by concentrating study in (1) Cell and Molecular Biology, (2) Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (3) Pre-Health Studies or (4) Neuroscience. Suggested courses for the concentrations are included in the sections below.
Application to Major: Online Form
—Required BIO, CHE, MTH, and PHY courses same as required for BA and for BS (broad-based degree)
—Required laboratory courses in Biological Sciences (choose four total)
And three of the following:
—Elective courses: Make additional choices from the following courses to reach the 44 credit minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree.
Application to Major: Online Form
—Required BIO, CHE, MTH, and PHY courses same as required for BA and for BS (broad-based degree)
and for this concentration:
—Required laboratory courses in Biological Sciences (choose four total)
and three of the following:
—Elective courses: make choices from the following courses in Cell and Molecular Biology to reach the 44 credit minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree:
Application to Major: Online Form
—Required BIO, CHE, MTH, and PHY courses same as required for BA and for BS (broad-based degree)
and for this concentration:
—Required laboratory courses in Biological Sciences (choose four total)
and THREE of the following:
—Elective courses: make choices from the following courses to reach the 44 credit minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree.
Application to Major: Online Form
—Required BIO, CHE, MTH, and PHY courses same as required for BA and for BS (broad-based degree)
and for this concentration:
—Required laboratory courses in biological sciences (choose four total)
and three of the following:
—Elective courses: Make additional choices from the following courses to reach the 44 credit minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree.
See the possible timetable for completion of the BS degree in Biological Sciences listed in the UB CATALOG.