Biology - Bachelor of Science
The major in biology provides a solid academic base for those planning to enter any of the various fields of the biological sciences. The program allows considerable latitude. Degree plans for specific areas of interest can be obtained from the Biology Success Center in Foster Hall room 204.
Requirements
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Area I: Communications | 10 | |
English Composition - Level 1 1 | ||
English Composition - Level 2 1 | ||
Oral Communication 1 | ||
| Area II: Mathematics | ||
| MATH 1511G | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 2 | 4 |
| Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences | 11 | |
| General Physics for Life Science I | 3 | |
or PHYS 1230G | Algebra-Based Physics I | |
| Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science I | 1 | |
or PHYS 1230L | Algebra-Based Physics I Lab | |
| General Physics for Life Science II | 3 | |
or PHYS 1240G | Algebra-Based Physics II | |
| Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science II | 1 | |
or PHYS 1240L | Algebra-Based Physics II Lab | |
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences coure (3 credits) 1 | ||
| Area V: Humanities 1 | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective | ||
| BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L | Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory (Departmental Requirement) | 4 |
| Viewing a Wider World 3 | 6 | |
| Departmental/College Requirements | ||
| BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L | Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 301 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 305 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 377 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 455 | Biometry 4 | 3 |
| or A ST 311 | Statistical Applications | |
| BIOL 467 | Evolution | 3 |
| Select sufficient upper-division biology electives to bring total upper-division credits to 28. 5 | 18 | |
| Non-Departmental Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW) | ||
| CHEM 1215G | General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 |
| or CHEM 1216 | General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for CHEM Majors | |
| CHEM 1225G | General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 |
| or CHEM 1226 | General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for CHEM Majors | |
| Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Requirement | 7-11 | |
| Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Lab | 4 | |
and additional 3 credit Biology upper-division elective | ||
OR | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory and Biochemistry I | 11 | |
| Second Language Requirement (see below) | 0-8 | |
The number of credits required to satisfy this requirement will vary depending on the option a student choses. | ||
| Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 6 | 15-27 | |
Select sufficient electives to bring the total to 120 credits, including at least 48 upper-division credits. | ||
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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See the General Education Section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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MATH 1511G Calculus and Analytic Geometry I is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisite courses needed to enter MATH 1511G first.
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See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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Only BIOL 455 will count as Departmental Requirements, students taking A ST 311 will need 3 more credits of upper-division Biology.
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At least one upper-division course must include a laboratory and/or field experience. The laboratory/field requirement can be satisfied by any BIOL course above the 300 level that includes a laboratory or is a field course—including BIOL 350 Special Topics or BIOL 450 Special Topics.
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Elective credit may vary based on prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The elective credits in the requirement list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may vary depending on the degree. Students may need to complete more or less courses on a case-by-case basis and each student should discuss this with their advisor.
Second Language Requirement
For the Bachelor of Science in Biology there is a one year second language requirement, the options to complete this requirement are listed below. The number of credits that a student needs to take may vary depending on what level they come in with. Please speak with an advisor for more information as to which courses you will need to take to fulfill the second language requirement for this degree.
Option 1:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following sequences: | ||
| FREN 1110 & FREN 1120 | French I and French II | 8 |
| GRMN 1110 & GRMN 1120 | German I and German II | 8 |
| JAPN 1110 & JAPN 1120 | Japanese I and Japanese II | 8 |
| SPAN 1110 & SPAN 1120 | Spanish I and Spanish II | 8 |
| PORT 1110 & PORT 1120 | Portuguese I and Portuguese II | 6 |
| For Heritage Speakers: | ||
| SPAN 1210 & SPAN 1220 | Elementary Spanish for Heritage Learners I and Spanish for Heritage Learners II | 3-6 |
| or SPAN 2210 | Spanish for Heritage Learners III | |
Option 2:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language (with a C- or better): | ||
| SIGN 1110 | American Sign Language I | 3 |
| SIGN 1120 | American Sign Language II | 3 |
Option 3:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge the 1120 level for the following courses: | ||
| FREN 1120 | French II | 3-4 |
| or PORT 1120 | Portuguese II | |
| or SPAN 1220 | Spanish for Heritage Learners II | |
| or SPAN 2210 | Spanish for Heritage Learners III | |
Option 4:
Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics.
Option 5:
Obtain college certification of completion of three years of a second language at the high school level with a grade of C- or higher in the second-year level.
Option 6:
By obtaining certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director.
Option 7:
By obtaining, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of a second language if such language is not taught at NMSU.
Option 8:
In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam admission, the dean will automatically waive the second language requirement.
A Suggested Plan of Study for Students
This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1220G College Algebra and ENGL 1110G Composition I. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 2610G | Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 2610L | Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 1 | 4 |
| Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course 2 | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 1 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| MATH 1250G | Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1215G | General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1121 | General Supplemental Instruction I | 1 |
| BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L | Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| Choose from one of the following Area I General Education Courses: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Introduction to Communication Honors | ||
| Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| MATH 1511G | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1225G | General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1122 | General Supplemental Instruction II | 1 |
| ENGL 2210G | Professional and Technical Communication Honors | 3 |
| BIOL 305 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIOL 377 | Cell Biology 1 | 3 |
| Upper-division Biology Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| Area V: Humanities Course 2 | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 | 3 | |
| First Second Language Course in Series | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| CHEM 313 | Organic Chemistry I 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 303 | Organic Supplemental Instruction I | 1 |
| PHYS 2230G & PHYS 2230L | General Physics for Life Science I and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science I 1 | 4 |
| Second Second Language Course in Series 1 | 3-4 | |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 1 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHYS 2240G & PHYS 2240L | General Physics for Life Science II and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science II 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 314 & CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 5 |
| CHEM 304 | Organic Supplemental Instruction II | 1 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Biometry 1 | ||
| Statistical Applications 1 | ||
| Upper-division Biology Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| BCHE 395 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| BIOL 301 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| Upper-division Biology Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| Upper-division Biology Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIOL 467 | Evolution | 3 |
| Upper-division Biology Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| Upper-division Biology Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| Additional Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |
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These courses have prerequisites and it is the students responsibility for checking and fulfilling all course prerequisites listed for these courses.
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See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.