Biology Major

Department of Biological Sciences

Undergraduate Programs

The Biology major requires a minimum of 11 courses within the biological sciences with a range of 36 to 50 units, depending upon the concentration and configuration of electives selected. A typical student will complete a minimum of 38 to 40 units in biology. Four courses are required and seven elective courses are selected from within the department to complete a concentration. In addition, six to seven ancillary courses (24–30 units) must be completed in the disciplines of chemistry, mathematics and physics. The program must be completed with a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher in all course work.

Selection of appropriate electives allows students to fulfill the requirements of any of four areas of concentration:

Completion of one of these concentrations is required for a major in Biology. Students are strongly encouraged to plan their programs in consultation with an adviser who is a member of the biology faculty.

FOUNDATION COURSES
Course		Units
BIOL 201	Biology I: Cellular Biology and Genetics	4
BIOL 202	Biology II: Introduction to Ecology and Evolution	4
BIOL 204	Educational and Career Planning for the Biologist	1
BIOL 309	Principles of Genetics	3
Total units		13

BREATH COURSES The following are required for all Biology majors unless indicated differently within the concentration.
Course		Units
BIOL 208 or BIOL 205 and BIOL 207	Biodiversity General Botany General Zoology	4 4 4
BIOL 405 or BIOL 408 or BIOL 409	Molecular Ecology Cell Biology Molecular Biology	4 4 4
BIOL 213 and BIOL 214 or BIOL 325 or BIOL 436	Human Anatomy and Physiology I Human Anatomy and Physiology II Animal Physiology Plant Physiology	4 4 4 4
Total units		12-20

ANCILLARY COURSES The following courses are required for all Biology majors unless indicated differently within the concentration.
Courses		Units
CHEM 331	General Chemistry I Lecture	3
CHEM 331L	General Chemistry I Lab	1
CHEM 332	General Chemistry II Lecture	3
CHEM 332L	General Chemistry II Lab	1
CHEM 330 or CHEM 331 and CHEM 332	Essentials of Organic Chemistry Organic Chemistry I Organic Chemistry II	5 5 5
PHYS 211 and PHYS 212 or PHYS 241 and PHYS 242	General Physics I General Physics II General Physics I Calculus-based General Physics II Calculus-based	4 4 4 4
Total units		21-26

Department of Biological Sciences
Smith Hall, Room 341 (map)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-3042
Fax: 410-704-2405
E-mail: biology@towson.edu

Selecting a concentration is the first step to completing your biology degree.