Bachelor of Science in Biology

Biology is of fundamental importance in any curriculum. It provides students with insight into living systems—from the molecular to  ecosystems. A Bachelor of Science in Biology prepares students for careers in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, plant and animal biology, genetics, physiology, secondary education, ecology and field biology.

Students may also prepare for medical, dental, veterinary, agricultural, or other professional and graduate schools. The major establishes a foundation for interdisciplinary careers in biological resources management, human biology, nutritional sciences, science communications and technical writing.  Many students may be employed in industry (pharmaceutical, hospitals, clinics, and others) government agencies, environmental consulting firms, as well as education.

Christians bring desperately needed morals and ethical values into the workplace. It is, therefore, imperative that they continue to become employed in the biological sciences as the need to morally evaluate issues continues to arise (In Vitro fertilization, The Human Genome Project and Cloning, etc.).  It is crucial that we seed the scientific community with students that have a Christian perspective to help shape the future of science in the 21st century.

Two tracks have been developed within the biology major to provide a more customized learning for students.  The clinical track has been designed for students who are interested in furthering their education in professional schools (medical, dental, veterinarian, etc. programs).  The non-clinical track has been designed for students who are interested in pursuing graduate school (zoology, biotechnology, ecology, etc. programs).

Purpose

The purpose of the biology program at North Greenville University is to offer a distinctive, innovative program that attracts students and meets the needs of students and the community. In keeping with the institution’s Statement of Purpose, this program seeks to enable students to integrate academic disciplines, Christian lifestyle, and an enriched cultural experience by offering course work that produces well-rounded biologists for the future.  The students are taught with a Christian perspective, where they can learn an appreciation for God’s creation and complexity of life.

Goals

To graduate students proficient in the field of biology who can successfully compete for positions in the field of the biological sciences.  Such positions will include graduate, medical, dental and veterinary schools as well as industrial vocations. The specific goals of the Biology Program are:

• To provide students with a knowledge of fundamental biological concepts, relationships, and processes in order to prepare them for graduate studies in the life sciences;
• To provide students with a basic foundation of knowledge in cellular, molecular, and `total organism’ biology in order to enable them to study medicine, dentistry, allied health or to teach life sciences;
• To train students in the use of the scientific method in solving problems;
• To develop students’ skills in the use of laboratory equipment used in research.
• To develop students’ skills in the writing of scientific reports for specific biological topics.

Admission

Admission to North Greenville University does not guarantee admission to the Biology Degree Program.

General Education Requirements for all Biology Degrees:

COLL 1100 or HNRS 1210 (Student in two or more developmental courses must take COLL 1300) 1 (3) hours
ENGL 1310, 1320    6 hours
ENGL 23XX    3 hours
ENGL (2xxx level), ARTS 1300, MUSC 1300, or THTR 1300    3 hours
HIST 1350 or 1360    3 hours
MATH 1333, Statistics for Biology Majors    3 hours
CSCI 1305    3 hours
BIOL 1410/1411 Principles of Biology    4 hours
PHED 1200    2 hours
CHST 1310 and 1320    6 hours
PSYC 2310 or SOCY 2310    3 hours
COMM 2300    3 hours
Total    40-41 hours

Biology Requirements for all Biology Degrees:

These courses are required by all tracks of biology.

BIOL 2100, Biology Sophomore Seminar    1 hour
BIOL 33xx, Intelligent Design    3 hours
BIOL 3440/3441, Cell and Molecular Biology    4 hours
BIOL 3445/3446, Genetics    4 hours
BIOL 3465/3466, Embryology    4 hours
BIOL 4200, Senior Seminar    2 hours
CHEM 1450/1451 and 1460/1461, General Chemistry I & II    8 hours
PHYS 1410/1411 and PHYS 1420/1421, General Physics I & II    8 hours
MATH 1335, Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry    4 hours
Total    38 hours

Biology Electives

Clinical and Non-Clinical Tracks must select 12 hours of Biology Electives.

BIOL 2435/2436, Invertebrate Biology    4 hours
BIOL 2450/2451, Plant Science    4 hours
BIOL 2465/2644, Microbiology    4 hours
BIOL 2470/2471, Human Anatomy and Physiology I    4 hours
BIOL 2480/2481, Human Anatomy and Physiology II    4 hours
BIOL 3320, Biology Lab Assistant    2 hours
BIOL 3455/3456, Animal Behavior    4 hours
BIOL 3370, Metabolism and Its Diseases    3 hours
BIOL 3375, Immunology    3 hours
BIOL 3410/3411, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy    4 hours
BIOL 3460/3461 Ecology    4 hours
BIOL 3470/3471, Exercise Physiology    4 hours
BIOL 4110, Special Topics I    1 hour
BIOL 4210, Special Topics II    2 hours
BIOL 4320, Biology Lab Assistant    1-3 hours
BIOL 4440/4441, Pathophysiology    4 hours
BIOL 4530, Senior Research    1-5 hours
CHEM 4310, Biochemistry    3 hours

Clinical Track Biology Requirements

Biology requirements for Clinical Track.

BIOL 1470/1471, Comparative Biology    4 hours
BIOL 2470/2471, Human Anatomy and Physiology I    4 hours
BIOL 2465/2466, Microbiology    4 hours
BIOL 2480/2481, Human Anatomy and Physiology II    4 hours
BIOL 3200, Junior Seminar    2 hours
BIOL 4440/4441, Pathophysiology    4 hours
BIOL 4320 Research Assistantship and/or BIOL 4320
    Lab Assistantship and/or BIOL 4110 Special Topics    3 hours
CHEM 2450/2451 and 2460/2461 Organic Chemistry I and II    8 hours
CHEM 3410, Biochemistry    4 hours
Total    36 hours

Total Hours for Clinical Degree Track:
General Curriculum Requirements    40-41 hours
General Biology Requirements    38 hours
Biology Requirements for Clinical Track    36 hours
Biology Electives    12 hours
General Electives    6 hours
Total Hours for Biology Degree – Clinical Track    132 hours

Non-Clinical Track Biology Requirements

Biology requirements for Non-Clinical Track:

BIOL 1470/1471, Comparative Biology    4 hours
BIOL 2490/2491, General Anatomy and Physiology    4 hours
BIOL 2450/2451, Plant Science    4 hours
BIOL 3200, Junior Seminar    2 hours
BIOL 3460/3461, Ecology    4 hours
BIOL 4320 Research Assistantship and/or BIOL 4320
    Lab Assistantship and/or BIOL 4110 Special Topics    3 hours
CHEM 2450/2451 and 2460/2461 Organic Chemistry I & II    8 hours
CHEM 3410, Biochemistry    4 hours
PHSC 1420/1421, Earth Science    4 hours
Total    37 hours

Total Hours for Non-Clinical Degree Track:

General Curriculum Requirements    40-41 hours
General Biology Requirements    38 hours
Biology Requirements for Non-Clinical Track    37 hours
Biology Electives    12 hours
General Electives    6 hours
Total Hours for Biology Degree – Non-Clinical Track    133 hours

All students at North Greenville University must earn one credit hour for Chapel and Cultural Events for each semester of full-time enrollment in addition to the above hours up to a maximum of 8 credit hours. 

All part-time or transfer students must pass a minimum of two semesters of Cultural events and two semesters of Chapel attendance to earn a Bachelor degree from North Greenville University.
Students must apply to the Health Science Advisory Committee for admission into the Biology Program.  Application cannot be made until after their freshmen year (>30 credit hours).  The successful applicant must have an overall 2.5 GPA with a “C” or better in courses of Biology (BIOL 1410 and BIOL 1411), Chemistry (CHEM 1450 and CHEM 1460), and English (ENGL 1310 and ENGL 1320).  In order to graduate with a biology degree, the biology student must have:

• A2.5 GPA in courses of their major;
• Greater than a 2.0 overall GPA; and
• Pass the senior seminar capstone course with a “C” or better