Biological Sciences (BA)
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The NC State Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology is designed for students who want to combine studies in the life sciences with studies in a second discipline of interest (chosen from outside of the life sciences). Students in the B.A. are required to take just as much biology (through their Life Science Electives) as students in the B.S. in Biological Sciences, but requirements in the supporting sciences (chemistry, physics, and calculus) are reduced. Instead, Biology B.A. students identify a second area of interest outside the life sciences and create a focal area of study in that area (e.g., psychology, social work, communication, international studies, political science, anthropology, gender studies, education, mathematics, statistics). Their proposed list of Cross Discipline Electives is reviewed and approved by their academic advisor and the program director. 听
At the end of their undergraduate studies, students in this degree program complete a Senior Capstone Project through which they draw on both the life sciences (or a sub-discipline within the life sciences) and their chosen Cross Discipline to address a problem or issue that they identify. Experiential learning (related to their academic and/or career interests) is also required of all students in this program. 听
Students who graduate with a B.A. in Biology will benefit from training in scientific thinking and from gaining a broader perspective through their Cross Disciplinary studies. In choosing courses, students are encouraged to consider the course pre-requisites of graduate or professional programs to which they are interested in applying. Depending on their course choices, students will be prepared for a wide range of careers or further studies. This is a relatively new program, but so far our Biology B.A. graduates are employed or pursuing advanced study in bioethics, bioinformatics, law, health analytics, health care (nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy), clinical research, public health, science communication and informal education, neurobiology and psychology.
Plan Requirements
- Students should check with their adviser before electing to take any course with S/U grading if it is normally graded A-F. Up to 12 hours of Free Electives can be taken S/U.
- Students cannot use the same course both as a Cross Discipline Elective and to meet a GEP requirement (with the exception of Global Knowledge听and US Diversity).
- Student are responsible for determining the pre-requisites for any course they are interested in taking.
- 听Students interested in graduate school or professional school should check the courses required for admission to the programs to which they plan to apply.
- 听The B.A. in Biological Sciences cannot be used as a second major for many students already in a degree program in the life sciences听鈥� students interested in a second major should first check with the coordinator of their desired second major.
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exploring the Life Sciences | |||
| LSC听103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences | 1 | |
LSC听103 deals with transition-to-college issues while exploring degree program options within the life sciences. If a student transfers into the B.A. in Biological Sciences after taking a similar course in another program, that course can be substituted for LSC听103 on the degree audit, an action initiated by the academic advisor. | |||
| Communication and Writing | |||
| Communication and Writing Electives | 6 | ||
| Foundational Sciences | |||
| LSC听101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 | |
| BIO听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 | |
| BIO听183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 | |
| CH听101 &听CH听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 | |
| Select one of the following Organic Chemistry course sets: | 4 | ||
| Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab | |||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | |||
| Select one of the following Calculus courses: | 3 | ||
| Elements of Calculus | |||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | |||
| Calculus I | |||
| PY听131 | Conceptual Physics | 4 | |
| Select one of the following Quantitative Elective courses: | 3 | ||
| Economics and Business Statistics | |||
| Introduction to Statistics | |||
| Economics and Business Statistics | |||
| Major Electives 2,5 | |||
| Life Science Electives 300/400 level | 18 | ||
| Life Science Electives | 6 | ||
| Cross Discipline Electives 300/400 lvl | 15 | ||
| Cross Discipline Electives | 6 | ||
| Experiential Learning 2 | 3 | ||
| Experiential Learning opportunities can take many forms, but should be relevant to a possible career path or other academic interest for the student. The out-of-class experience to be undertaken to meet this requirement must be approved in advance by the adviser and program director. It is the responsibility of the student to identify an opportunity, to make arrangements with a supervisor to pursue that opportunity, and to complete the contract necessary for credit to be awarded for the experience. | |||
| Professional Experience | |||
| Research Experience | |||
| Teaching Experience | |||
| BIO听481 | Senior Capstone Project | 1 | |
| GEP Courses | |||
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GEP U.S. Diversity (Verify Requirement) | |||
| GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (Verify Requirement) | |||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2 | 12 | ||
These electives cannot be taken at an elementary level after you have taken comparable coursework at a more advanced level. | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
| 1 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
| 2 | Students who wish to take two semesters of organic chemistry should NOT start with CH 220, but should take CH 221/222 and CH 223/224. |
| 3 | Students interested in taking more than one semester of calculus should start with either MA 131 or MA 141, because MA 121 does not serve as a pre-requisite for either MA 231 or MA 241. Additional semesters of calculus can be used toward Life Science Electives requirements. MA 121 Elements of Calculus MA 131 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A (first of two-semester series) MA 141 Calculus I (first of three-semester series) |
| 4 | Students should consult their academic advisors to determine how to complete these requirements.听 With advisor approval, students can use a total of up to 3 hours of learning experience towards Life Science Electives or toward Cross-Discipline Electives - whichever category the experience appropriately fits. Some experimental courses (295, 495, 592) and graduate (500-level) courses may also be used with advisor and departmental approval. Students should check the prerequisites and restrictions on courses in which they are interested. |
| 5 | Students in the B.A. in Biological Sciences will identify a second discipline of interest in which to also focus their studies. These 21 credit hours will be planned by the student in consultation with their advisor and must be approved by the advisor and by the program. This second disciplinary focal area can be selected from a wide range of fields outside of the life sciences (see examples below). At least 12 of these hours must be at the 300 level or higher and the rest must be at the 200 level or higher. With adviser approval, students can use a total of up to 3 hours of learning experience (e.g., BSC 492, 493, 494) or honors research experience toward 7Life Science Electives or toward Cross Discipline Electives 鈥� whichever category the experience appropriately fits. Some experimental courses (295, 495, and 592) and graduate (500-) level courses may also be used as Cross Discipline Electives, with adviser and program approval. Students should check the prerequisites and restrictions on courses in which they are interested. For example, most ELM courses are restricted to Elementary Education majors and therefore would be appropriate only to those with a second major in Elementary Education. Courses used to meet GEP requirements cannot also be used to meet Cross Discipline Electives requirements. |
| 6 | Students in the B.A. in Biological Sciences will identify a second discipline of interest in which to also focus their studies. These 21 credit hours will be planned by the student in consultation with their advisor and must be approved by the advisor and by the program. This second disciplinary focal area can be selected from a wide range of fields outside of the life sciences (see examples below). At least 15 of these hours must be at the 300 level or higher and the rest must be at the 200 level or higher. With adviser approval, students can use a total of up to 3 hours of learning experience (e.g., BSC 492, 493, 494) or honors research experience toward 7Life Science Electives or toward Cross Discipline Electives 鈥� whichever category the experience appropriately fits. Some experimental courses (295, 495, and 592) and graduate (500-) level courses may also be used as Cross Discipline Electives, with adviser and program approval. Students should check the prerequisites and restrictions on courses in which they are interested. For example, most ELM courses are restricted to Elementary Education majors and therefore would be appropriate only to those with a second major in Elementary Education. Courses used to meet GEP requirements cannot also be used to meet Cross Discipline Electives requirements. |
Communication and Writing Electives听
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Courses | |||
| COM听110 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| COM听112 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |
| COM听201 | Introduction to Persuasion Theory | 3 | |
| COM听202 | Small Group Communication | 3 | |
| COM听211 | Argumentation and Advocacy | 3 | |
| COM听226 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 | |
| COM听240 | Communication Inquiry | 3 | |
| THE听203 | Theory and Practice of Acting | 3 | |
| Writing Courses | |||
| BIO听267 | Research in the Life Sciences I: Research Skills | 3 | |
| ENG听214 | Introduction to Editing | 3 | |
| ENG听232 | Literature and Medicine | 3 | |
| ENG听287 | Explorations in Creative Writing | 3 | |
| ENG听288 | Fiction Writing | 3 | |
| ENG听289 | Poetry Writing | 3 | |
| ENG听292 | Writing About Film | 3 | |
| ENG听316 | Introduction to News and Article Writing | 3 | |
| ENG听323 | Writing in Rhetorical Traditions | 3 | |
| ENG听331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 | |
| ENG听332 | Communication for Business and Management | 3 | |
| ENG听333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 | |
| ENG听333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 | |
| ENG听381 | Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop | 3 | |
| ENG听422 | Writing Theory and the Writing Process | 3 | |
Life Science Electives 300/400 Level听
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEC听360 | Ecology | 4 | |
| AEC听380 | Water Resources: Global Issues in Ecology, Policy, Management, and Advocacy | 3 | |
| AEC听400 | Applied Ecology | 3 | |
| AEC 419/519 | Freshwater Ecology | 4 | |
| AEC听420 | Introduction to Fisheries Science | 3 | |
| AEC听423 | Introduction to Fisheries Sciences Laboratory | 1 | |
| AEC听441 | Biology of Fishes | 3 | |
| AEC听442 | Biology of Fishes Laboratory | 1 | |
| AEC听460 | Field Ecology and Methods | 4 | |
| ANS听330 | Laboratory Animal Science | 3 | |
| ANS听415 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| ANS听554 | Lactation, Milk and Nutrition | 3 | |
| ANT听371 | Human Variation | 3 | |
| BCH听351 | General Biochemistry | 3 | |
| BCH听452 | Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 | |
| BCH 453/553 | Biochemistry of Gene Expression | 3 | |
| BCH听454 | Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| BCH听455 &听BCH听555 | Proteins and Molecular Mechanisms and Proteins and Molecular Mechanisms | 6 | |
| BIO听315 | General Parasitology | 3 | |
| BIO听330 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 | |
| BIO听361 | Developmental Biology | 3 | |
| BIO听370 | Developmental Anatomy of the Vertebrates | 3 | |
| BIO听405 | Functional Histology | 3 | |
| BIO听414 | Cell Biology | 3 | |
| BIO听424 | Endocrinology | 3 | |
| BIO听432 | Evolutionary Medicine | 3 | |
| BIO听434 | Hormones and Behavior | 3 | |
| BIO听440 | The Human Animal: An Evolutionary Perspective | 3 | |
| BIO听444 | The Biology of Love and Sex | 3 | |
| BIO 488/588 | Neurobiology | 3 | |
| BIT听410 | Manipulation of Recombinant DNA | 4 | |
| BIT 462/562 | |||
| BIT 464/564 | Protein Purification | 2 | |
| BIT 465/565 | Real-time PCR Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 466/566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 467/567 | PCR and DNA Fingerprinting | 2 | |
| BIT 468/568 | |||
| BIT 471/571 | RNA Interference and Model Organisms | 2 | |
| BIT 473/573 | Protein Interactions | 2 | |
| BIT 474/574 | Plant Genetic Engineering | 2 | |
| BIT听476 | Applied Bioinformatics | 2 | |
| BIT听481 | Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation | 2 | |
| BSC听478 | Research Fundamentals in Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| COM听436 | Environmental Communication | 3 | |
| ENT听305 | Introduction to Forensic Entomology | 3 | |
| ENT听402 | Forest Entomology | 3 | |
| ENT听425 | General Entomology | 3 | |
| ES听300 | Energy and Environment | 3 | |
| ES听400 | Analysis of Environmental Issues | 3 | |
| FOR听402 | Forest Entomology | 3 | |
| FS听301 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 | |
| FS 401/501 | Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 | |
| FS听405 &听FS听406 | Food Microbiology and Food Microbiology Lab | 4 | |
| FS听505 &听FS听506 | Food Microbiology and Food Microbiology Lab | 4 | |
| FW 444/FS听544 | Mammalogy | 3 | |
| FW 465/FS听565 | African Ecology and Conservation | 4 | |
| GN听301 | Genetics in Human Affairs | 3 | |
| GN听311 &听GN听312 | Principles of Genetics and Elementary Genetics Laboratory | 5 | |
| GN 421/521 | Molecular Genetics | 3 | |
| GN听423 | Population, Quantitative and Evolutionary Genetics | 3 | |
| GN听425 | Advanced Genetics Laboratory | 2 | |
| GN听427 | Introductory Bioinformatics | 3 | |
| GN听434 | Genes and Development | 3 | |
| GN 441/541 | Human and Biomedical Genetics | 3 | |
| GN听451 | Genome Science | 3 | |
| IDS听303 | Humans and the Environment | 3 | |
| MA听331 | Differential Equations for the Life Sciences | 3 | |
| MA听432 | Mathematical Models in Life Sciences | 3 | |
| MB听351 &听MB听352 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 4 | |
| MB听354 | Inquiry-Guided Microbiology Lab | 1 | |
| MB听360 | Scientific Inquiry in Microbiology: At the Bench | 3 | |
| MB听405 &听MB听406 | Food Microbiology and Food Microbiology Lab | 4 | |
| MB听411 &听MB听412 | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 4 | |
| MB听414 | Microbial Metabolic Regulation | 3 | |
| MB 420/520 | Fundamentals of Microbial Cell Biotransformations | 2 | |
| MB 435/535 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 | |
| MB听441 | Immunology | 3 | |
| MB听451 &听MB听452 | Microbial Diversity and Microbial Diversity Lab | 5 | |
| MB听455 | Microbial Biotechnology | 3 | |
| MB听461 | Molecular Virology | 3 | |
| MB听470 | Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases | 3 | |
| MB听505 &听MB听506 | Food Microbiology and Food Microbiology Lab | 4 | |
| MEA听300 | Environmental Geology | 4 | |
| MEA听369 | Life on Earth: Principles of Paleontology | 3 | |
| NR听303 | Humans and the Environment | 3 | |
| NR听406 | Conservation of Biological Diversity | 3 | |
| NTR听301 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 | |
| NTR 401/501 | Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 | |
| NTR 410/510 | Maternal and Infant Nutrition | 3 | |
| NTR 415/515 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| NTR听419 | Human Nutrition and Chronic Disease | 3 | |
| NTR 421/521 | Life Cycle Nutrition | 3 | |
| NTR听454 | Lactation, Milk and Nutrition | 3 | |
| PB听321 | Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology | 3 | |
| PB听360 | Ecology | 4 | |
| PB 403/503 | Systematic Botany | 4 | |
| PB听421 | Plant Physiology | 3 | |
| PB 480/580 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | 3 | |
| PB听481 | Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation | 2 | |
| PO 404/504 | Avian Anatomy and Physiology | 4 | |
| PO 415/515 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| PO 466/566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| PP听315 | Principles of Plant Pathology | 4 | |
| SSC听332 | Environmental Soil Microbiology | 3 | |
| TOX 401/501 | Principles of Toxicology | 4 | |
| TOX听415 | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry | 4 | |
| ZO听333 | Captive Animal Biology | 3 | |
| ZO听350 | Animal Phylogeny and Diversity | 4 | |
| ZO听402 | Invertebrate Biology | 4 | |
| ZO听410 | Introduction to Animal Behavior | 3 |
Life Sciences Electivesx
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any course from the Life Sciences Electives 300/400 level list | |||
| ANS听205 &听ANS听206 | Physiology of Domestic Animals and Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab | 4 | |
| ANS听220 &听ANS听221 | Reproductive Physiology and Reproductive Physiology Lab | 4 | |
| ANS听225 | Principles of Animal Nutrition | 3 | |
| ANS听230 &听ANS听231 | Animal Nutrition and Animal Nutrition Lab | 4 | |
| BCH听220 | Role of Biotechnology in Society | 3 | |
| BIO听240 | Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (A): Nervous, Skeletal, Muscular, & Digestive Systems | 4 | |
| BIO听245 | Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (B): Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Renal Systems | 4 | |
| BIO听267 | Research in the Life Sciences I: Research Skills | 3 | |
| BIO听269 | Research in the Life Sciences II: Guided Research | 3 | |
| BIT听200 | Early Research in Biotechnology | 4 | |
| BIT听210 | Phage Hunters | 3 | |
| BIT听211 | Phage Genomics | 2 | |
| CH听223 &听CH听224 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 | |
| CS听230 | Introduction to Agroecology | 3 | |
| ENT听201 | Insects and People | 3 | |
| ENT听207 | Insects and Human Disease | 3 | |
| ENT听212 | Basic Entomology | 1 | |
| ES听200 | Climate Change and Sustainability | 3 | |
| FOR听261 | Forest Communities | 2 | |
| MB听200 | The Fourth Horseman: Plagues that Changed the World | 3 | |
| MB听210 | Phage Hunters | 3 | |
| MB听211 | Phage Genomics | 2 | |
| MEA听200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 | |
| MEA听210 | Oceanography Lab | 1 | |
| MEA听220 | Marine Biology | 3 | |
| MEA听250 &听MEA听251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments and Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory | 4 | |
| PB听200 | Plant Life | 4 | |
| PB听215 | Medicinal Plants | 3 | |
| PB听219 | Plants in Folklore, Myth, and religion | 3 | |
| PB听220 | Local Flora | 3 | |
| PB听277 | Space Biology | 3 | |
| PY听212 | College Physics II | 4 | |
| SSC听201 | Soil Science Laboratory | 1 | |
| TOX听201 | Poisons, People and the Environment | 3 | |
| ZO听250 | Animal Anatomy and Physiology | 4 | |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| BIO听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 |
| CH听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| LSC听101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 |
| Calculus | 3 | |
| LSC听103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences 1 | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO听183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| Organic Chemistry and Lab | 4 | |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Communication Requirement | 3 | |
| Life Science | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Life Science Elective | 3 | |
| Life Science Elective | 3 | |
| Cross Discipline Elective (Advised) | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PY听131 | Conceptual Physics | 4 |
| Experiential Learning Requirement | 3 | |
| Cross Discipline Elective (Advised) | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Life Science Elective | 3 | |
| Life Science Elective | 3 | |
| Cross Discipline Elective (Advised) | 3 | |
| Writing | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Life Science Elective | 3 | |
| Life Science Elective | 3 | |
| Cross Discipline Elective (Advised) | 3 | |
| Cross Discipline Elective (Advised) | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Life Science Elective | 3 | |
| Cross Discipline Elective (Advised) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Cross Discipline Elective (Advised) | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| BIO听481 | Senior Capstone Project | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
| 1 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
Career Opportunities
Many students majoring in the Department of Biological Sciences take advantage of scholarship and honors programs available at NC State, including the 福利逼站 Honors Program and the 福利逼站 Scholars Program.听 In addition, we offer a discipline-based Undergraduate Honors Program in Biological Sciences (DBS Honors Program).听 The DBS Honors Program requires students to design a challenging program of advanced study, including eight credits of honors coursework in biology and at least two semesters of research or teaching scholarship.听 Participants write an honors thesis and are required to present their scholarly work at a local, regional, or national meeting.听 Invitations to join the DBS Honors Program are sent in the first three weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters.听听Students in any major in the Department of Biological Sciences who have earned an overall GPA of 3.60 after completing 30-65 credit hours at NC State will receive an invitation to join the DBS Honors Program; transfer students in any of our majors who have earned an overall GPA of 3.60 in 15 credit hours at NC State also will receive an invitation.听听
Students who graduate from the Department of Biological Sciences are well prepared for employment in various government agencies and private industries. Graduates may continue their education with studies leading to advanced degrees in many areas of the biological sciences, including cell biology, ecology, microbiology, genetics, zoology, neurobiology, and biomedical disciplines. Many choose to seek advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, public health, and other health-related fields. Students who plan to seek certification for pre-college teaching may want to pursue a second major in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Education.