Whether you’re passionate about ecosystems, fascinated by genetics, planning for medical school, or drawn to the power of chemistry, Blackburn’s Biology Department offers a course of study tailored to your goals. With five distinct academic tracks—All Things Biology (General), Environmental Biology & Wildlife Sustainability, Molecular Biology & Lab Science, the Pre-Professional Health Pathway, and Chemistry & Chemical Science—you’ll find a focused, hands-on curriculum that blends scientific exploration with real-world application. No matter which path you choose, you’ll gain the skills, experience, and mentorship to thrive in graduate school, professional programs, or the workforce.
For more information, please visit Blackburn’s Course Catalog.
Requirements for a General Biology Major (All Things Biology)
- Biology (BI)
- 201. Introductory Zoology
- 202. Introductory Botany
- 203. Evolution
- 205. Cell Biology
- 299. Communication in Biological Sciences
- 301. Genetics
- 307. Ecology
- 499. Biology Seminar (taken twice)
- Biology (BI)
- 402. Animal Physiology or 413. Plant Physiology OR 251. Human Anatomy & Physiology and 252. Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- Three additional courses selected from:
- Biology (BI)
- 305. Animal Behavior, 312. Microbiology, 314. Immunology, 318. Introduction to Mycology, 320. Human Reproductive Biology, 324. Wildlife Biology and Management, 331. Molecular Biology, 372. Plant Morphology, 374. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, 402. Animal Physiology, 404. Development, 408. Field Biology, 413. Plant Physiology
- Chemistry (CH)
- 101. General Chemistry, 102. General Chemistry II
- Math (MA)
- 122. Introductory Statistics, 140. Precalculus, or 254. Calculus
- Biology (BI)
TOTAL: 42-48 semester hours in Biology, plus 11 hours from the additional courses listed above.
Requirements for a Biology Major–Environmental Track (Environmental Biology, Wildlife, & Sustainability)
- Biology (BI)
- 201. Introductory Zoology
- 202. Introductory Botany
- 203. Evolution
- 205. Cell Biology
- 208. Environmental Science
- 299. Communication in Biological Sciences
- 301. Genetics
- 307. Ecology
- 408. Field Biology
- 499. Biology Seminar (taken twice)
- Three additional courses selected from:
- Biology (BI)
- 305. Animal Behavior, 312. Microbiology, 318. Introduction to Mycology, 324. Wildlife Biology and Management, 372. Plant Morphology, 374. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, 402. Animal Physiology, 413. Plant Physiology
- Chemistry (CH)
- 101. General Chemistry, 102. General Chemistry II
- Math (MA)
- 122. Introductory Statistics
- Biology (BI)
TOTAL: 48 semester hours in Biology, plus 11 hours from the additional courses listed above.
Requirements for a Biology Major–Molecular Track
- Biology (BI)
- 201. Introductory Zoology
- 202. Introductory Botany
- 203. Evolution
- 205. Cell Biology
- 299. Communication in Biological Sciences
- 301. Genetics
- 307. Ecology
- 312. Microbiology
- 314. Immunology
- 331. Molecular Biology
- 404. Development
- 499. Biology Seminar (taken twice)
- Biology (BI)
- 374. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, 402. Animal Physiology or 413. Plant Physiology OR 251. Human Anatomy & Physiology and 252. Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- Chemistry (CH)
- 101. General Chemistry
- 102. General Chemistry II
- 241. Organic Chemistry
- 312. Biochemistry
- Math (MA)
- 122. Introductory Statistics or 254. Calculus
TOTAL: 48-52 semester hours in Biology, plus 20 hours from the additional courses listed above.
Requirements for a Biology Major–Pre-Med and Other Health Professions Track (Medical and Health Professions Pathway)
- Biology (BI)
- 201. Introductory Zoology
- 202. Introductory Botany
- 203. Evolution
- 205. Cell Biology
- 299. Communication in Biological Sciences
- 301. Genetics
- 307. Ecology
- 314. Immunology
- 499. Biology Seminar (taken twice)
- Biology (BI)
- 402. Animal Physiology OR 251. Human Anatomy & Physiology and 252. Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- Two additional courses selected from:
- Biology (BI)
- 312. Microbiology, 318. Introduction to Mycology, 320. Human Reproductive Biology, 331. Molecular Biology, 374. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, or 404. Development
- Chemistry (CH)
- 101. General Chemistry, 102. General Chemistry II, 241. Organic Chemistry, 242, Organic Chemistry II
- Math (MA)
- 254. Calculus
- Physics (PH)
- 201. General College Physics, 202. General College Physics II
- Biology (BI)
TOTAL: 42–48 semester hours in Biology, plus 29 hours from the additional courses listed above.
*BI 404 is recommended for Pre-Med students.
Requirements for a Secondary Science Education Major
- Biology (BI)
- 201. Introductory Zoology
- 202. Introductory Botany
- 205. Cell Biology
- 301. Genetics
- 307. Ecology
- 499. Biology Seminar (taken twice)
- Biology (BI)
- 132. Plants, Humanity, and Life or 208. Environmental Science; 251. Human Anatomy & Physiology and 252. Human Anatomy & Physiology II OR 402. Animal Physiology.
- Chemistry (CH)
- 101. General Chemistry, 301. Astronomy and Earth Science
- Physics (PH)
- 201. General College Physics, 202. General College Physics II
- Education (ED)
- 100. Introduction to Teacher Education
- 110. Introduction to Field Experience
- 200. Diversity in Teacher Education
- 240. Educational Psychology: Human Development and Learning
- 280. Introduction to English Language Learners
- 290. Introduction to Clinical Practice
- 304. Curriculum, Philosophy, and Instructional Methods of Teaching in the Middle Grades
- 318. Methods for Teaching Science in Middle Grades and Secondary School
- 330. Educating Children with Exceptional Needs
- 350. Reading Methods
- 391. Application and Analysis of Clinical Practice
- 400. Professionalism in Education
- 422. Reading and Writing in the Academic Disciplines
- 470. Education Seminar
- 491. Student Teaching Seminar
- 492. Student Teaching
TOTAL: 41-45 semester hours, plus 53 hours in professional education courses required for certification
Chemistry & Chemical Science (minor)
- Chemistry (CH) courses to total 21 semester hours, excluding:
- 100. Contemporary Chemistry, 110. Process and Principles of Physical Science, 301. Astronomy and Earth Science, 399. Chemical Problems
- Chemistry courses from the hospital-based coursework (regardless of prefix) can be counted towards the minor for Medical Laboratory Science students
TOTAL: 21 semester hours