MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Biology offers a liberal arts based baccalaureate degree in biology. Studies are tailored to meet students' future career needs, including premedical, predental, and preveterinary programs, preparation for graduate studies, or direct entry into careers such as secondary teaching or environmental work. Minor and collateral programs in biology are offered, and courses are provided to support the collateral and minor in environmental studies. A two-semester lecture and laboratory sequence supports general education requirements. The department places a high value on the laboratory and field component of the education of all students. Superior students are encouraged to engage in research projects, directly supervised by members of the faculty. In cooperative programs with other universities, some students initiate study at Francis Marion University in forestry or wildlife biology and later transfer to Clemson University. The Department of Biology also supports the MUSC satellite nursing program, chiefly through introductory biology, anatomy, microbiology, and physiology courses. Some graduate courses are offered to support the Master of Education program.

MAJOR

A major in biology requires the following:

1. Biology 105*, 106, 401, and 499
   *Biology 103 and 104 may substitute for 105 with permission of the department.
2. Biology 301 or 407
3. One course in plant biology (either 206, 207, 208, 303, 307, 310, or 313). Students may select only two courses from the BIOL 206, 207, 208 series.
4. One course in ecology (either 308, 402, 408, or 411)
5. Additional electives in biology to bring the total to 25 semester hours above the 100 level
6. Minor/collateral requirements

   a) two 12-hour collaterals approved by the faculty adviser,

   or

   b) an 18-hour minor approved by the faculty adviser

Other requirements include Chemistry 101, 102, and 201 and either Physics 200, 201 and 202 or Physics 215-216.

The minimum number of semester hours required in major courses for a major in biology is 33. The minimum number of semester hours in all courses (major and nonmajor) required for the major in biology is 120.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in biology, a student must satisfy all requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree and complete a foreign language through 202.

MINOR

A minor in biology requires 18 hours of biology, no more than eight of which are below the 199 level.

COLLATERAL

A collateral in biology requires 12 semester hours of biology, no more than eight of which are below the 199 level.

OTHER INFORMATION

Students planning graduate studies in biology are advised to complete two semesters of organic chemistry, to take introductory courses in calculus, to gain a reading knowledge of a foreign language, and to take two semesters of Biology 497 (one credit hour of reading and planning followed by two credit hours of research).

To advance to higher level biology courses, a student must earn a grade of C or higher in each prerequisite biology course.