Biological Sciences B.A.

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Minimum Requirements for Biological Sciences B.A.: 120 credits

Optional Concentration: Environmental Change

Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

General University Requirements
Complete the general university requirements.
General Education Requirements
Complete the general education requirements.35-40
As part of the general education requirements, complete the following:
CHEM F105X
and CHEM F106X
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry II
STAT F200X
Elementary Statistics
or STAT F300
 Statistics
B.A. Degree Requirements
Complete the B.A. degree requirements. 137
Biological Sciences Program Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F115XFundamentals of Biology I4
BIOL F116XFundamentals of Biology II4
BIOL F260Principles of Genetics4
BIOL F481Principles of Evolution4
CHEM F321Organic Chemistry I4
PHYS F123XCollege Physics I3-4
or PHYS F211X General Physics I
or CS F103 Introduction to Computer Programming
or CS F201 Computer Science I
Capstone
Complete the following:
BIOL F410Integrative Capstone in Biological Sciences 23
Concentration
Complete one of the following:15-24
Environmental Change
Without Concentration
Electives
General Electives0-7
Total Credits120-128
1

Students should consider the UAF requirement for 39 upper-division credits when choosing courses to fulfill humanities, social science and minor degree credits.

2

Fulfills the baccalaureate capstone requirement.

Concentrations

Environmental Change

Environmental Change Concentration Requirements
B.A. Degree Requirements
As part of the B.A. requirements, complete the following:
Minor in Environmental Change 3,4
Program Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F371Principles of Ecology4
BIOL F385Global Change Biology3
Electives
Complete one of the following:3-4
STO F401
Communicating Science
or choose from Lists A, B, C, D or E
Complete one course from List C3-4
Complete one course from List D3-4
Total Credits16-19
3

Up to 7 credits of BIOL courses may be used for both the major and the minor (e.g., BIOL F371, BIOL F385 or others that appear in both the major and minor lists).

4

Biological Sciences majors may not count BIOL F103X toward the Environmental Change minor.

Without Concentration

Without Concentration Requirements
Biology Breadth Requirements
Complete two of the following:6-12
BIOL F310
Animal Physiology
or BIOL F111X
and BIOL F112X
 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
or BIOL F342
 Microbiology
or BIOL F460
 Principles of Virology
BIOL F360
Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOL F371
Principles of Ecology
Electives
Complete three of the following: 69-12
STO F401
Communicating Science
or choose from Lists A, B, C, D or E
Total Credits15-24
5

Because biology breadth courses for the B.A. degree serve as prerequisites for many upper-division biology electives, course choices should be made with consideration of the elective biology courses the student plans to complete.

6

BIOL F497, URSA F388 or URSA F488 courses may be substituted by petition for a maximum of two required elective courses in biology (3-4 credits of independent study or research per substituted course). The subject area of the independent study or research will determine which biological subject areas the credits satisfy.

Biology Elective Course Lists

Courses that satisfy upper-division elective credit may require prerequisites.

List A - Cell and Molecular Biology

BIOL F342Microbiology4
BIOL F360Cell and Molecular Biology3
BIOL F417Neurobiology3
BIOL F435Introduction to Biology of Cancer3
BIOL F460Principles of Virology3
BIOL F462Infectious Diseases3
BIOL F463Immunology3
BIOL F466Advanced Cell and Molecular Laboratory3
CHEM F325Organic Chemistry II4
CHEM F449General Biochemistry: Metabolism3
CHEM F450Information Storage and Transfer: Molecules and Pathways3
CHEM F470Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience3
CHEM F474Neurochemistry3

List B - Physiology

BIOL F310Animal Physiology4
BIOL F312Medical Physiology3
BIOL F335Principles of Epidemiology3
BIOL F342Microbiology4
BIOL F412Exercise Physiology3
BIOL F417Neurobiology3
BIOL F430Plant Physiology and Development3
BIOL F440Behavioral Neuroscience Research Capstone3
BIOL F441Animal Behavior4
BIOL F455Environmental Toxicology3
BIOL F457Environmental Microbiology3
BIOL F462Infectious Diseases3
WLF F305Wildlife Diseases3

List C - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

BIOL F371Principles of Ecology4
BIOL F385Global Change Biology3
BIOL F415Systematic and Comparative Biology4
BIOL F418Biogeography3
BIOL F431Population Genetics3
BIOL F441Animal Behavior4
BIOL F446Freshwater Habitat Dynamics3
BIOL F457Environmental Microbiology3
BIOL F469Landscape Ecology and Wildlife Habitat3
BIOL F471Population Ecology3
BIOL F472Community Ecology4
BIOL F473Limnology4
BIOL F476Ecosystem Ecology4
BIOL F483Stream Ecology3
BIOL F486Vertebrate Paleontology3
BIOL F487Conceptual Issues in Evolutionary Biology3
BIOL F488Arctic Vegetation Ecology: Geobotany3
BIOL F489Vegetation Description and Analysis3
BIOL F491The Human Microbiome4
WLF F301Design of Wildlife Studies3
WLF F421Ecology and Management of Large Mammals3

List D - Organismal Biology

BIOL F239Introduction to Plant Biology4
BIOL F331Systematic Botany3
BIOL F406Entomology4
BIOL F418Biogeography3
BIOL F425Mammalogy3
BIOL F426Ornithology3
BIOL F427Ichthyology4
BIOL F486Vertebrate Paleontology3
BIOL F489Vegetation Description and Analysis3

LIST E - Biomedical Science

BIOL F312Medical Physiology3
BIOL F335Principles of Epidemiology3
BIOL F402Biomedical and Research Ethics3
BIOL F412Exercise Physiology3
BIOL F417Neurobiology3
BIOL F435Introduction to Biology of Cancer3
BIOL F440Behavioral Neuroscience Research Capstone3
BIOL F455Environmental Toxicology3
BIOL F460Principles of Virology3
BIOL F462Infectious Diseases3
BIOL F463Immunology3
BIOL F466Advanced Cell and Molecular Laboratory3
BIOL F491The Human Microbiome4
CHEM F450Information Storage and Transfer: Molecules and Pathways3
CHEM F470Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience3
CHEM F474Neurochemistry3
WLF F305Wildlife Diseases3

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Roadmaps

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.

  • This roadmap should be used in conjunction with regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor or mentor each semester.
  • Some courses and milestones must be completed in the semester listed to ensure timely graduation.
  • Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
  • Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
  • Courses with (*) are recommended.

Environmental Change Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F115X204BIOL F116X204
CHEM F105X74CHEM F106X74
WRTG F111X13LS F101X151
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3General Education Requirement - Humanities3
 Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 14 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F260204BIOL F37120,254
PHYS F123X, CS F103, or CS F201203-4STAT F200X63
General Education Requirement - Arts3General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3
Complete one of the following:13Degree Requirement - Humanities or Social Sciences3
Minor Course3
 
 
 
 13-14 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F38520,253STO F40125,262
CHEM F32120,254General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3
Degree Requirement - Humanities or Social Sciences3Degree Requirement - Humanities3
Program Elective3Degree Requirement - Ethics + Upper Division3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
 16 14
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F48120,254BIOL F41020,21,253
Degree Requirement - Humanities + Upper Division3Degree Requirement - Social Sciences + Upper Division3
Degree Requirement - Social Sciences + Upper Division3Program Elective + Upper Division3
Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed3Minor Course3
Minor Course3General Elective3
 16 15
Total Credits 119-120

Footnote Definitions

General Education Requirements Degree Requirements Program & Other Requirements
1--Communication 8--Alaska Native-themed 20--Program Requirement
2--Arts 9--Communication 21--Capstone Requirement
3--Humanities 10--Computation 22--Concentration Course
4--Social Sciences 11--Ethics 23--General Elective
5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences 12--Humanities 24--Minor Course
6--Mathematics 13--Human Relations 25--Upper Division
7--Natural Sciences 14--Humanities or Social Sciences 26--Program Elective
15--Library & Information Research
16--Mathematics
17--Natural Sciences
18--Other
19--Social Sciences

Without Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F115X204BIOL F116X204
CHEM F105X74CHEM F106X74
WRTG F111X13LS F101X151
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 14 12
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F260204STAT F200X63
PHYS F123X, CS F103, or CS F201203-4General Education Requirement - Arts3
General Education Requirement - Humanities3Degree Requirement - Humanities3
Complete one of the following:13Program Requirement (Biology Breadth)3
Minor Course3
 
 
 
 13-14 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM F32120,254STO F40125,262
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3Degree Requirement - Humanities or Social Sciences3
General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3Degree Requirement - Ethics + Upper Division3
Program Requirement (Biology Breadth) - Upper Division4Program Elective3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
 General Elective1
 17 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F48120,254BIOL F41020,21,253
Degree Requirement - Humanities or Social Sciences3Degree Requirement - Social Sciences + Upper Division3
Degree Requirement - Social Sciences + Upper Division3Degree Requirement - Humanities + Upper Division3
Program Elective + Upper Division4Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
 17 15
Total Credits 118-119

Footnote Definitions

General Education Requirements Degree Requirements Program & Other Requirements
1--Communication 8--Alaska Native-themed 20--Program Requirement
2--Arts 9--Communication 21--Capstone Requirement
3--Humanities 10--Computation 22--Concentration Course
4--Social Sciences 11--Ethics 23--General Elective
5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences 12--Humanities 24--Minor Course
6--Mathematics 13--Human Relations 25--Upper Division
7--Natural Sciences 14--Humanities or Social Sciences 26--Program Elective
15--Library & Information Research
16--Mathematics
17--Natural Sciences
18--Other
19--Social Sciences

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Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes are measurable statements that describe knowledge or skills achieved by students upon completion of the program.

Students graduating from this program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate mastery of knowledge of core biological concepts, including evolution, inheritance and the expression of genes, cellular and organismal structure and function, and biologically-relevant pathways and transformations of energy and matter
  • Effectively communicate biological subject matter to a wide range of audiences, from disciplinary experts to the general public, in a range of formats including writing and speech
  • Apply quantitative approaches to problem-solving in biology
  • Receive practice and instruction in the use of common biological laboratory tools and techniques, and in effective scientific collaboration
  • Demonstrate critical, creative and integrative thinking skills by designing, and completing a project that integrates biological science with another discipline