University of Portland Bulletin 2024-2025

Biology, B.A.

The B.A. major in biology is designed to allow students to combine coursework in biology with classes towards a major or minor in a liberal arts field, business, or education. It is appropriate for students preparing for admission to doctoral or master’s degree programs in physical therapy, hospital administration, and genetic counseling; it can also be used to meet admission requirements for programs in occupational therapy, optometry, environmental law, scientific illustration, public health, and science communication, among many other possibilities. The degree program requires 120 credit hours.

Learning Outcomes for Biology B.A. Majors

Biology B.A. graduates of the University of Portland will be able to:

  1. Apply the scientific process to investigate aspects of biology by asking questions, critically evaluating scientific literature, creating hypotheses, designing experiments, analyzing data, and formulating conclusions.
  2. Communicate biological concepts, data interpretations, and significant conclusions to scientists and non-scientists, particularly in writing.
  3. Explain the fundamental concepts in biology that include: evolution, information flow, exchange and storage, structure and function, pathways and transformations of energy and matter, and living systems across organization levels.
  4. Integrate concepts from other disciplines to generate and interpret biological data in a socially relevant and ethical context.

UP Core Requirements — 40 credit hours

All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.

See UP Core Requirements

Two of the three core requirements in the Science & Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the major.

BIO 277/278 and the Capstone courses are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.A. in Biology.

College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Requirements — 24-33 credit hours

See College Requirements, B.A.

Major Requirements – 46-47 credit hours

Required Courses — 19-20 credit hours

BIO 207Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology

3
BIO 277Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab

1
BIO 208Introduction to Evolution and Ecology

3
BIO 278Introduction to Evolution and Ecology Lab

1
CHM 207General Chemistry I

3
CHM 277General Chemistry I Lab

1
CHM 208General Chemistry II

3
CHM 278General Chemistry II Lab

1
MTH 161Elementary Statistics

3
Or
MTH 201Calculus I

4

At least three upper-division biology labs with corresponding lectures - 12 credit hours

Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture from each content area and organizational level.

Molecule and Cell Labs - 4 credit hours

Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture course from the following:
BIO 333Genetics Lab

1
with
BIO 330Genetics

3
BIO 361Microbiology Lab

1
with
BIO 301Microbiology

3
BIO 372Cell and Molecular Biology Lab

1
with
BIO 354Cell and Molecular Biology

3
BIO 470Immunology Lab

1
with
BIO 400Immunology

3

Organismal labs - 4 credit hours

Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture course from the following:
BIO 365Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 1

1
with
BIO 305Human Anatomy and Physiology 1

3
BIO 366Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 2

1
with
BIO 306Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

3
BIO 376Developmental Biology Lab

1
with
BIO 336Developmental Biology

3

Population/System labs - 4 credit hours

Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture course from the following:
BIO 313/ENV 313Freshwater Ecology Lab

1
with
BIO 312/ENV 312Freshwater Ecology

3
BIO 323Entomology Lab

1
with
BIO 303Entomology

3
BIO 343Ecology Lab

1
with
BIO 340Ecology

3
BIO 350Plants and Civilization Lab

1
with
BIO 325Plants and Civilization

3
BIO 358Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation Lab

1
with
BIO 318Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation

3
BIO 362Ornithology Lab

1
with
BIO 302Ornithology

3
BIO 371Field Botany

1
with
BIO 341The Nature of Plants

3
BIO 374Wetlands Ecology Lab

1
with
BIO 304Wetlands Ecology

3
BIO 375Vertebrate Biology Lab

1
with
BIO 345Vertebrate Biology

3

Capstone - 3 credit hours

Select one course from the following:
BIO 405Ecology, Evolution, and Culture of East Africa

3
BIO 410Advances in Biomedical Science

3
BIO 418Biology of Exercise

3
BIO 440Advances in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

3
BIO 497Internship

Variable
BIO 497IOTPT Internship

3

BIO 491, BIO 499, or 497 internships from outside Biology may fulfill the capstone requirement with pre-approval of the department chair.

 

Upper-division biology electives - 12 credit hours

A maximum of six non-classroom credit hours (from BIO 397/493/497/499) may be used for completion of the major. A maximum of three upper-division electives in BIO 397 or 497 may be Pass/No Pass for completion of the major.

Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours

Total Credit Hours: 120