Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, B.S.


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Contact Information

Phone: (470) 578-5100

Program Description

The program of study in biology leading to a Bachelor of Science degree provides students with the opportunity to pursue a major field of concentration in biology with the necessary specialization to succeed in a wide array of post-baccalaureate opportunities. The following degree tracks include the course work and experience necessary for student success. See an academic advisor for specific course information and important aspects of each of these tracks.

General Biology Track: This track is designed to allow flexibility in preparing students for a multitude of biological roles. Students can design a course of study that will prepare them for work in private sectors, government agencies or for continued graduate education. Due to the variety of options in this track, students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic advisor early to plan a course of study.

Pre-Professional Track: This track is designed to prepare students for a multitude of post-baccalaureate education in the medical and professional fields. Course specifications exist for students interested in Human Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dentistry, Optometry, and a number of related fields. Given the intense nature of the course requirements for many of these specialties, students are encouraged to talk to an advisor early in their course of study.

Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Track: This track is designed to prepare students for graduate school in a number of sub-disciplines that focus on cellular and sub-cellular processes or use a range of molecular techniques.

Ecology/Environmental Biology Track: This track Is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the field of Ecology or Environmental Biology. Students completing this track will have the knowledge and skills to pursue further graduate education or obtain environmentally-related professional positions in the public and private sector.

Plant Biology Track: This track is designed for students interested in attending graduate school or entering the professional workforce where plants are the principal study organism.

Microbiology Track: This track is designed for students with a strong interest in pursuing professional work or graduate education in microbiology. After completing the track, students will be qualified to sit for certification as Registered Microbiology Specialists in Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices, or Specialists in Microbiology.

Biotechnology Track: This track is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the multitude of biotechnology companies in the Atlanta region and around the world. This track replaces the Biotechnology degree and specifically targets the concepts and techniques necessary to make students marketable across a range of professional opportunities.

Bioinformatics Track: This track is designed to prepare students for professional work or graduate education that uses bioinformatics. Bioinformatics underlies all genomic advances, encompassing principles and techniques for learning from sequence data stored in databases.

Cytogenetics Track: This track is designed to prepare students for a variety of cytogenetic laboratory opportunities, from diagnostic and basic research to graduate studies in molecular cytogenetics. This training program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences1; students who complete the track are eligible to sit for national certification as a clinical cytogenetic specialist. Students are encouraged to meet with the program director

Admission Requirements

This program does not have specific admission requirements and only admission to Kennesaw State University is required. For more information, please visit the Admissions  section of the Catalog.

Graduation Requirements

Each student is expecged to meet the Academic Policies Graduation Policies and Procedures  outlined in the Academic Policies section of the Catalog.

Program of Study

General Education Core Curriculum (Areas A-E) (42 Credit Hours)


See listing of requirements.   

General Education Core Curriculum Requirements Specific to This Major:


Science Majors must take MATH 1113 or higher in Area A2 and MATH 1190 or higher in Area D1.


Science and Engineering Majors must take two four-hour laboratory sciences in Area D2. Students must choose from CHEM 1211/L, CHEM 1212/L, PHYS 1111/L*, PHYS 1112/L, PHYS 2211/L*, PHYS 2212/L, BIOL 1107/L, or BIOL 1108/L.                                                                                    

*Students cannot take both PHYS 1111/L and PHYS 2211/L nor PHYS 1112/L and PHYS 2212/L.

Major Requirements (26 Credit Hours)


Tracks (25 Credit Hours)


Select one of the following track options. Please see advisor for assistance with selecting electives.

General Biology Track


Any 3000 or 4000-level BIOL or ENVS course (with the exception of BIOL 3317 or BIOL 3396).

Laboratory Requirements:
A student must have a minimum of four (4) laboratory courses
(BIOL 3300L and 3370L in the core, plus two upper-level K or L classes here)

Integrative Options:
A student may include up to 4 credit hours of any 3000 or 4000-level
Physics, Chemistry, Math, Statistics, GIS, or SCI 3360, HIST 3377,
POLS 4456, PSY 4410, or BIOL 3398.

See notes 3 and 6.

Pre-Professional Track


Ecology and Environmental Biology Track


Track Electives


Select 6 credit hours from any 3000 or 4000-level BIOL course (with the exception of BIO 3317, 3396, or 3398). A student may include CHEM 3500L or CHEM 3501L (see note 7).

See notes 3 and 6

Track Electives


Select 6 credit hours from any 3000 or 4000-level BIOL course (with the exception of BIOL 3317, BIOL 3396, or BIOL 3398). A student may include CHEM 3500 and CHEM 3500L or CHEM 3501 and CHEM 3501L7.

See notes 3 and 6.

Free Electives (9 Credit Hours)


Any credit courses in university curriculum.

Program Total (120 Credit Hours)


Notes:


1.  NAACLS: www.naacls.org; 773-714-8880; 5600 North River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, Illinois  60018-5119

2.  BIOL 4399 may only be taken once for credit toward a biology degree.

3.  A maximum of 8 hours from BIOL 3110L, BIOL 4400, BIOL 4402, BIOL 4450, ENVS 3110L, and/or ENVS 4400 can be used to satisfy biology upper-level electives.

4.  Students planning on taking CHEM 3501/3501L need to take CHEM 2800 and those planning on taking CHEM 4500 need to take CHEM 3501/3501L.

5.  A maximum of 6 hours from BIOL 3110, BIOL 4400, BIOL 4402, BIOL 3398, and/or BIOL 4110 can be used in this track. Two of the elective classes must have laboratories. A student may include up to 4 credits of any 3000 or 4000-level Physics, Chemistry, Math, GIS, or SCI 3360, HIST 3377, POLS 4456, PSY 4410, or BIOL 3398.

6. A maximum of 4 credits of BIOL 3398 can count in the Upper-Division Major’s Courses. More than 4 credits of BIOL 3398, credit for BIOL 3317, and credit for BIOL 3396 can be applied to Free Electives only.

7. BIOL 4310L is variable credits taken twice for a total of 12 credits.

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