Union University
Union University Dept of Biology
Students work on a biology lab experiment.

Curriculum


The curriculum in biology is designed to acquaint students with living organisms as whole, functioning entities that, in their diversity, share many common features. In addition to providing the scientific background required of all educated citizens, the courses provide a foundation upon which the student may build a graduate program, undertake training in health-related professions such as medicine or pharmacy, or prepare for secondary-level science teaching. Students also participate in independent or small group research.

In order to help students achieve their career goals, the Biology Department offers three majors, Biology (with concentrations in General Biology and Zoology), Conservation Biology, and Cell and Molecular Biology.

Tamara Popplewell helps students with some lab work.

Because contemporary biology leans heavily on mathematics and physical sciences, students majoring in biology should include courses in mathematics, statistics, chemistry, and physics.  In the freshman year students in BIO 112 will build a foundation for study of biological processes. Students can proceed to the first 200-level biology course during the second semester of the freshman year. In the sophomore year, students will continue the survey of the kingdoms of life by taking additional 200-level biology courses. Students should strengthen their understanding of mathematics and obtain a background in organic chemistry during that year. Biology courses at the 300- to 400-level should be taken during the junior and senior years, with seminar (BIO 498) reserved for the senior year. Students will examine in detail how organisms function and interact with their environment and each other. Biology majors are required to complete a minor and are encouraged to minor in chemistry.  Conservation Biology and Cell and Molecular majors are exempt from the minor requirement.

Upper-level students may enroll in marine biology, ecological, and behavioral courses by cooperative agreement with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory or the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies. For information, please contact Dr. JR Kerfoot, (jkerfoot@uu.edu) or Dr. Andy Madison, (amadison@uu.edu).

Conservation Biology Majors may meet the requirements to become a certified wildlife biologist by taking twelve hours of communication.  The General Core requirement for COM 112 and electives of COM 121 and COM 235 may be used to fulfill 10 hours of this requirement.  The remaining hours may be selected in consultation with your assigned faculty advisor.

  1. Major in Biology - 42-48 hours
    1. General Biology Concentration/Independent Research Option—42-44 hours
      1. BIO 112, 302, 425, 426, 437, and 498—8 hours
      2. BIO 211, 213, 214, 215, and 315—20 hours
      3. Four 300-level BIO courses—14 hours minimum
    2. General Biology Concentration/Collaborative Research Option—45-47 hours
      1. BIO 112, 302, 415, and 498—7 hours
      2. BIO 211, 213, 214, 215, 304, and 315—24 hours
      3. Four 300-level BIO courses—18 hours minimum
    3. Zoology Concentration/Independent Research Option—43-44 hours
      1. BIO 112, 302, 425, 426, 437, and 498—8 hours
      2. BIO 213, 214; 200 or 211—12 hours
      3. BIO 316, five -300 level BIO excluding 307, 309, 322 & 337— 23 hours minimum
    4. Zoology Concentration/Collaborative Research Option—47-48 hours
      1. BIO 112, 302, 415, and 498—7 hours
      2. BIO 213, 214; 200 or 211; 304—12 hours
      3. BIO 316, five-300 level BIO excluding 307,309, 322 & 337—27 hours minimum
  2. Major in Cell and Molecular Biology
    1. Independent Research Option—72-74 hours
      1. BIO 112, 211; 214 or 215—12 hours
      2. BIO 302, 315, 323, 325, 397, 498—16 hours
      3. Three of BIO 307, 309, 310, 316, 317, 320, 321, or 324—12 hours
      4. One 300-level BIO Elective—3 or 4 hours
      5. CHE 111, 112, 314, 315, 324, 326, 319, 329—26 hours
      6. BIO 425, 426 and 437—3 hours
      7. No minor is required
    2. Collaborative Research Option—75-76 hours
      1. BIO 112, 211; 214 or 215—12 hours
      2. BIO 302, 315, 323, 325, 397, 498—16 hours
      3. Three of BIO 307, 309, 310, 316, 317, 320, 321, or 324—12 hours
      4. One 300-level BIO Elective—3 or 4 hours
      5. CHE 111, 112, 314, 315, 324, 326, 319, 329—26 hours
      6. BIO 304 and 415—6 hours
      7. No minor is required
  3. Major in Conservation Biology—70-71 hours
    1. Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHE 111; PHY 112 or higher, 2 MAT courses 111 or higher
    2. BIO 112, 200, 213, 214, 215—20 hours
    3. BIO 302, 303, 304, 305, 315, 318, 335, 336, 337, 355—28 hours
    4. BIO 425, 426, 437, 498—4 hours
    5. No Minor Required
  4. Teacher Licensure in Biology (Grades 7-12)
    1. Major requirements as shown above with General Biology Concentration (I.A.&B) to include 316 (or 307 and 309) and 318
    2. Additional requirements: PHY 111 & 112; CHE 111 & 112; MAT 114 or 208 (in B.S. core); CSC 105; and membership in BIOME
    3. Professional Education: EDU 150, 250, 326, 418, 433; PSY 213, 318; SE 225
    4. Completion of applicable portions of the Praxis II
    5. For additional information, see the Assistant Dean for Teacher Education and Accreditation
  5. Minor in Biology—21-24 hours
    1. BIO 112
    2. Two 200-level BIO courses—7-8 hours
    3. Three 300-level BIO courses—10-12 hours, no more than 2 may be from BIO 307, 309, 322