B.A. Biology Requirements

B.A. in Biology

The B.A. in Biology requires completion of the Biology Core (below) which includes General Biology in combination with selected chemistry, physics, and mathematics courses that will serve as a foundation for further study in the Biology Department. 

A minimum of 22 credits of course work in Biology must be completed, in addition to General Biology I and II (8 credits).  Up to six research/internship credits may be used to satisfy this requirement.  This requirement may also be satisfied by any combination of courses offered by the Biology Department, as long as the following conditions are met:

• • the combination must include at least three laboratory courses
  • the combination must satisfy the course distribution requirement (below).

Choice of advanced courses should be made in light of future plans and should be discussed with the student's academic advisor.

To meet the above requirements, Biology majors will ordinarily earn a minimum of 30 credits in Biology as well as extradepartmental credits in chemistry, physics and mathematics courses.  A grade of "C" or better in any prerequisite course is required for advanced courses in Biology, although this requirement may be waived by permission of the instructor. 

Biology Core

The core curriculum is at the center of undergraduate education at the University of Dallas. As a component of this curriculum, the life sciences play an important role in introducing students to the ways in which science has contributed to the development of the Western tradition and to an understanding of our own existence.

Each undergraduate student must take one life science course that includes a laboratory component. Biology majors will, understandably, acquire sufficient credits in the course of their normal studies. Nonmajors have several options to fulfill the core life science requirement:

BIO 1311/1111 or 1312/1112 General Biology I and II.
BIO 2301, 2101. Biotechnology.
BIO 2315, 2115. Human Biology.
BIO 2348. 2148. Darwin.
BIO 2360, 2160. Environmental Science and Lab.

CHEM 1303/1103. General Chemistry I and II.
CHEM 3321/3121. Organic Chemistry I.
One Chemistry elective

PHYSICS 2311/2111 + 2312/2112 or 2305/2105 +2306/2106. General Physics I and II.

MAT 1404. Calculus I
MAT 1411. Calculus II OR
BIO 3345. Biostatistics.  Biostatistics cannot satisfy both the Biology Core math requirement and apply toward the advanced biology credits required for the B.A. or the B.S.

Course Distribution Requirements

To satisfy the Biology Department's course distribution requirement, students must take at least one Biology course from each of the three subject areas below.  Additional courses may be approved by the Department chair to satisfy distribution requirements.  Courses at the 3000 level or above require completion of General Biology I and II or AP credit for Biology.

Comprehensive Exam

All students must pass a comprehensive exam, which is given in the senior year.  This examination will generally entail a review of primary scientific literature in a specific subject area, followed by an oral presentation of findings and conclusions.  Students are urged to take the Biological Literature Seminar (4360) in the fall of the senior year as preparation for the comprehensive exam.