Biological Sciences B.S.

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

Optional Concentrations: Biomedical ScienceCell and Molecular BiologyEcology and Evolutionary BiologyPhysiology 

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:
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
Essential Calculus with Applications in the Life Sciences
Calculus I
B.S. Degree Requirements
Complete the B.S. degree requirements.15
As part of the B.S. requirements, complete the following:
Fundamentals of Biology I
Fundamentals of Biology II
Elementary Statistics
Statistics
Biological Sciences Program Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F260Principles of Genetics4
BIOL F481Principles of Evolution4
CHEM F321Organic Chemistry I4
PHYS F123XCollege Physics I4
or PHYS F211X General Physics I
Capstone 1
BIOL F400Research Capstone in Biological Sciences0
Satisfactory completion of a capstone research project which can be done either working individually with a faculty member or within one of the following courses: 2,30-4
Behavioral Neuroscience Research Capstone
Animal Behavior
Advanced Cell and Molecular Laboratory
Community Ecology
Limnology
The Human Microbiome
Concentration
Complete one of the following: 430-44
Biomedical Science
Cell and Molecular Biology
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Physiology
Without Concentration
Electives
General Electives1-24
Total Credits120
1

Fulfills the baccalaureate capstone requirement.

2

Students working individually with a faculty member may, for example, take BIOL F497 credits or work with a faculty member without taking course credits.

3

Capstone courses may be double counted as electives.

4

BIOL F397, 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.

Concentrations

Biomedical Science

Biomedical Science Concentration Requirements
General Education Requirements
As part of the general education requirements, the following are recommended:
Introduction to Economic Analysis
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Program Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F111X
and BIOL F112X
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4-8
or BIOL F310 Animal Physiology
BIOL F342Microbiology4
BIOL F360Cell and Molecular Biology3
CHEM F325Organic Chemistry II4
CHEM F449General Biochemistry: Metabolism3
PHYS F124XCollege Physics II4
or PHYS F212X General Physics II
Biology Breadth Electives
Complete one additional course from lists C or D3-4
Biomedical Electives
Complete at least three additional courses from list E9-12
Total Credits34-42

Cell and Molecular Biology

Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration Requirements
Program Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F360Cell and Molecular Biology3
CHEM F325Organic Chemistry II4
CHEM F449General Biochemistry: Metabolism3
CHEM F450Information Storage and Transfer: Molecules and Pathways3
PHYS F124XCollege Physics II3-4
or PHYS F212X General Physics II
or CS F103 Introduction to Computer Programming
or CS F201 Computer Science I
Complete one of the following:3-8
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Animal Physiology
Microbiology
Plant Physiology and Development
Cell and Molecular and Physiology Electives
Complete one additional course from list A3-4
Complete two additional courses from lists A or B6-8
Biology Breadth Elective
Complete one additional course from lists C or D3-4
Total Credits31-41

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F371Principles of Ecology4
CHEM F325Organic Chemistry II3-4
or CHEM F449 General Biochemistry: Metabolism
PHYS F124XCollege Physics II3-4
or PHYS F212X General Physics II
or CS F103 Introduction to Computer Programming
or CS F201 Computer Science I
STAT F401Regression and Analysis of Variance3-4
or STAT F402 Scientific Sampling
Complete one of the following:3-8
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Animal Physiology
Microbiology
Plant Physiology and Development
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Electives
Complete two additional courses from list C6-8
Organismal Elective
Complete one additional course from list D3-4
Biology Breadth Elective
Complete one additional course from lists A, B, or E3-4
Biology Elective
Complete one additional course from lists A, B, C, D, or E3-4
Total Credits31-44

Physiology

Physiology Concentration Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F360Cell and Molecular Biology3
CHEM F325Organic Chemistry II3-4
or CHEM F449 General Biochemistry: Metabolism
PHYS F124XCollege Physics II3-4
or PHYS F212X General Physics II
or CS F103 Introduction to Computer Programming
or CS F201 Computer Science I
Complete one of the following:3-8
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Animal Physiology
Microbiology
Plant Physiology and Development
Physiology or Cell and Molecular Biology Electives
Complete two additional courses from list B6-8
Complete two additional courses from lists A or B6-8
Biology Breadth Elective
Complete one additional course from lists C or D3-4
Biology Elective
Complete one additional course from lists A, B, C, D, or E3-4
Total Credits30-43

Without Concentration

Without Concentration Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F360Cell and Molecular Biology3
BIOL F371Principles of Ecology4
CHEM F325Organic Chemistry II3-4
or CHEM F449 General Biochemistry: Metabolism
PHYS F124XCollege Physics II3-4
or PHYS F212X General Physics II
or CS F103 Introduction to Computer Programming
or CS F201 Computer Science I
Complete one of the following:3-8
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Animal Physiology
Microbiology
Plant Physiology and Development
Organismal Elective
Complete one additional course from list D3-4
Biology Electives
Complete four additional courses from lists A, B, C, D or E12-16
Total Credits31-43

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 F450Information Storage and Transfer: Molecules and Pathways3
CHEM F470Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience3
CHEM F474Neurochemistry3
WLF F305Wildlife Diseases3

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

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 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.

Without Concentration 

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F115X174BIOL F116X174
CHEM F105X74CHEM F106X74
WRTG F111X13LS F101X111
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 
 14 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F260204BIOL F36020,253
PHYS F123X or F211X204PHYS F124X, F212X, CS F103, or CS F201203-4
General Education Requirement - Humanities3General Education Requirement - Arts3
Complete one of the following:63-4Program Elective3
Complete one of the following:163
 
 14-15 15-16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F37120,254PHIL F322X (*)11,253
CHEM F32120,254Program Elective - Upper Division3
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3General Elective3
Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed3Complete one of the following:20,253-8
Program Elective3
 
 
 
 Complete one of the following:20,253-4
 
 
 17 15-21
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F40020,21,250Program Elective - Upper Division3
BIOL F48120,254Program Elective - Upper Division4
General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3General Elective3
General Elective - Upper Division4General Elective3
General Elective 3 
 14 13
Total Credits 117-125

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

Biomedical Science Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F115X174BIOL F116X174
CHEM F105X74CHEM F106X74
LS F101X151General Education Requirement - Humanities3
SOC F101X (*)4,223Complete one of the following:13
WRTG F111X13
 
 
 15 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F260204BIOL F36022,253
PHYS F123X or F211X204PHYS F124X or F212X224
Complete one of the following:63-4General Education Requirement - Arts3
Complete one of the following: (*)4,223
Complete one of the following:13
Complete one of the following:163
 14-15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM F32120,254BIOL F34222,254
Concentration Course3CHEM F32522,254
Concentration Course - Upper Division3Concentration Course - Upper Division3
General Elective4General Elective4
 Complete one of the following:22,254
 
 
 
 
 14 19
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F48120,254BIOL F40020,21,250
PSY F111X (*)5,223CHEM F44922,253
Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed3PHIL F322X (*)11,253
Concentration Course - Upper Division3General Elective - Upper Division3
General Elective3General Elective3
 General Elective3
 16 15
Total Credits 123-124

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

Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F115X174BIOL F116X174
CHEM F105X74CHEM F106X74
LS F101X151General Education Requirement - Humanities3
WRTG F111X13Complete one of the following:13
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3
 
 
 15 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F260204BIOL F36022,253
PHYS F123X or F211X204PHYS F124X, F212X, CS F103, or CS F201224
Complete one of the following:63-4General Education Requirement - Arts3
General Elective3
Complete one of the following:163
Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 14-15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM F32120,254CHEM F32522,254
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3Degree Requirement - Ethics253
Concentration Course - Upper Division3Concentration Course - Upper Division3
Complete one of the following:223-8Concentration Course - Upper Division3
General Elective3
 
 
 
 13-18 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F48120,254BIOL F40020,21,250
CHEM F45022,253CHEM F44922,253
General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3Concentration Course - Upper Division3
Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed3General Elective - Upper Division3
General Elective2General Elective - Upper Division3
 General Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits 118-124

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

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F115X174BIOL F116X174
CHEM F105X74CHEM F106X74
LS F101X151General Education Requirement - Humanities3
WRTG F111X13Complete one of the following:13
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3
 
 
 15 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F260204PHYS F124X, F212X, CS F103, or CS F201204
PHYS F123X or F211X204General Education Requirement - Arts3
Complete one of the following:63-4General Elective3
General Elective3
Complete one of the following:163
Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 14-15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F37122,254PHIL F322X (*)11,253
CHEM F32120,254Concentration Course - Upper Division3
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3General Elective3
General Elective2Complete one of the following:22,253-8
Complete one of the following:22,254
 
 Complete one of the following:22,253-4
 
 
 17 15-21
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F48120,254BIOL F40020,21,250
General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3Concentration Course - Upper Division3
Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed3Concentration Course - Upper Division3
Concentration Course3Concentration Course3
General Elective3General Elective - Upper Division3
 16 12
Total Credits 119-126

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

Physiology Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F115X174BIOL F116X174
CHEM F105X74CHEM F106X74
LS F101X151General Education Requirement - Humanities3
WRTG F111X13Complete one of the following:13
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3
 
 
 15 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F260204BIOL F36022,253
PHYS F123X or F211X204PHYS F124X, F212X, CS F103, or CS F201224
Complete one of the following:63-4General Education Requirement - Arts3
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3
Complete one of the following:163
Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 14-15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM F32120,254Concentration Course - Upper Division3
PHIL F322X (*)11,253Concentration Course - Upper Division3
Concentration Course - Upper Division3General Elective1
Concentration Course - Upper Division4Complete one of the following:22,253-4
General Elective2
 
 
 
 Complete one of the following:22,253-4
 
 
 16 13-15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL F40020,21,250BIOL F48120,254
General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3Concentration Course - Upper Division3
Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed3General Elective - Upper Division3
Concentration Course3General Elective3
General Elective4 
General Elective3 
 16 13
Total Credits 117-120

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

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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
  • Communicate biological subject matter effectively in 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 creative and critical thinking skills by designing, conducting, interpreting and communicating a capstone research project