University of Portland Bulletin 2025-2026

Biology, B.S.

The B.S. major in biology is designed to give students a rigorous and comprehensive background in biology, with additional supporting coursework in the physical sciences, mathematics and/or computer science. The program is suitable for either a terminal degree or as preparation for medical or dental schools, veterinary professional programs, or graduate study in the biological sciences. The degree program requires 120 credit hours.

Learning Outcomes for Biology B.S. Majors

Biology B.S. 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.

At least 10 credit hours of electives and/or Exploration Level courses in the University Core Curriculum must be upper-division courses.

BIO 277 with BIO 278, and the Capstone courses are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.S. in Biology.

College of Arts and Sciences B.S. Requirements — 6 credit hours

See College Requirements, B.S.

Major Requirements — 58-63 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

Select Two Options - 12-16 credit hours

Select two of the following four options that constitute a progression or series:

Option 1: Chemistry – 8 credit hours

CHM 325Organic Chemistry I

3
CHM 326Organic Chemistry II

3
CHM 375Organic Chemistry I Lab

1
CHM 376Organic Chemistry II Lab

1

Option 2: Physics – 8 credit hours

PHY 201College Physics I

3
PHY 202College Physics II

3
PHY 271College Physics Lab I

1
PHY 272College Physics Lab II

1

Option 3: Mathematics – 6 credit hours

MTH 361Applied Statistics I

3
Or
BIO 351Data Analysis in Biology and Medicine

3
MTH 381Math Modeling

3

Option 4: Computer Science – 6-7 credit hours

CS 203Introduction to Computer Science

3
with
CS 273Computer Science Laboratory

1
And
CS 423/BIO 423/CS 523Computational Biology

3
Or
BIO 385Python Coding in Biology

2

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.

Cell and Molecular Labs - 4 credit hours

Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture course from the following not already used to fulfill the Organismal Labs or the Ecology and Evolution Labs requirements:
BIO 333Genetics Lab

1
with
BIO 330Genetics

3
BIO 361Microbiology Lab

1
with
BIO 372Cell and Molecular Biology Lab

1
with
BIO 354Cell and Molecular Biology

3
BIO 470Immunology Lab

1
with
BIO 400Immunology

3
BIO 376Developmental Biology Lab

1
with
BIO 336Developmental Biology

3

Organismal Labs - 4 credit hours

Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture course from the following not already used to fulfill the Cell and Molecular Labs or the Ecology and Evolution Labs requirements:
BIO 360Comparative Anatomy

1
with
BIO 310Comparative Physiology

3
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

Ecology and Evolution Labs - 4 credit hours

Select one lab with corresponding 3-credit hour lecture course from the following not already used to fulfill the Cell and Molecular Labs or the Organismal Labs requirements:
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 360Comparative Anatomy

1
with
BIO 310Comparative Physiology

3
BIO 362Ornithology Lab

1
with
BIO 302Ornithology

3
BIO 368Marine Biology Lab

1
with
BIO 338Marine Biology

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
BIO 311Comparative Biomechanics: How organisms move and interact with their environment

3
with
Any 3-credit hour Ecology and Evolution Lecture course
This option will apply 2-credit hours towards upper division biology electives as well as satisfying the Ecology and Evolution lecture/lab requirement.

3

Capstone - 3 credit hours

Select one course from the following:
BIO 410Advances in Biomedical Science

3
BIO 430Biology of Health and Disease

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

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

3
BIO 487OTPT Capstone

3

BIO 497, 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/BIO 485/BIO 493/BIO 497/BIO 499) may be used for completion of the major. A maximum of three upper-division electives in BIO 397 or BIO 485 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