Biology, Pre-Optometry Concentration, B.S. (CIP 26.0101/51.1108)

Degree Requirements

In addition to the requirements of the academic major, students must comply with the General Academic Regulations for Graduation and Undergraduate Academic Policies . As part of these policies, students must complete the General College Curriculum , which is based on the degree.

Biology and the General College Curriculum

Students may use biology or environmental science courses to fulfill four to eight semester hours of the general college science requirement. (See General College Curriculum for details.) Science courses without laboratories do not meet the science requirement of the General College Curriculum.

Major Requirements

A major in biology (B.S. degree) may be obtained within a general curriculum or one which follows specific guidelines for pre-physician assistant, pre-physical therapy, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-optometry, pre-veterinary, and pre-graduate school (preparation for graduate or professional schools) and teacher licensure studies. The student majoring in biology must complete a minimum of 39 hours in biology, and these must include credit for

BIOL 111 - Basic Biology (4)
BIOL 201 - Cellular & Molecular Biology (4)
BIOL 202 - Botany (4)
BIOL 203 - Zoology (4)
BIOL 205 - Introduction to Research and Scientific Literature (3)
BIOL 327 - Ecology (4)
BIOL 342 - Genetics (4)
BIOL 451 - Seminar (1)

And One of the Following:

Biology elective requirements

Take a minimum of 7 hours of BIOL electives (“biology elective requirements”). Note: some restrictions apply. See below.

Human A&P Credit:

A maximum of 8 credit hours of Human A&P credit can be used toward the biology elective requirements in the Biology major.

General Microbiology:

A maximum of 4 credit hours of general Microbiology can be used towards the biology elective requirements in the Biology major.

Note:

Students are encouraged to complete more than the minimum number of hours in biology.

Ancillary Requirements:

Ancillary requirements include

MATH 112 - Trigonometry (3)
or
MATH 122 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4)
MATH 160 - Elementary Statistics (3)
CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 113 - General Chemistry II (4)
CHEM 227 - Organic Chemistry I (4)
PHYS 221 - General Physics I (4) and
PHYS 222 - General Physics II (4)
or
PHYS 251 - Fundamentals of Physics I (4) and
PHYS 252 - Fundamentals of Physics II (4)

Pre-Optometry Concentration Requirements

A major in Biology may be obtained which follows specific guidelines for entering post-baccalaureate studies in optometry and related disciplines. In addition to the requirements for a major in biology, the student following this track in biology must also complete

Note:

Pre-Optometry students should tailor their biology electives and open electives to meet the requirements of their specific professional area of focus, in consultation with their academic adviser. The Pre-Optometry Concentration requires students to earn a grade of “C” or higher in all science courses (biology, chemistry, and physics.)