Biology, B.A.
Biology is a dynamic science aimed at understanding living organisms and how they interact with the environment. 抖阴pro's biology program offers courses that emphasize concepts over facts and aim to provide a foundation for careers in the life sciences, health professions, K-12 education and advanced post-graduate study in various disciplines. The B.A. in Biology at 抖阴pro provides maximum flexibility in selecting upper-division courses and is favored by students seeking double majors. SLU also offers a B.S. in Biology.听
- SLU's biology program is enriched by interactions with the School of Medicine, Missouri Botanical Garden, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Saint Louis Zoo and a growing number of St. Louis-based life science companies. Research experiences and internships provide students with opportunities to study biology beyond the classroom.
- SLU's Department of Biology has a field station that provides unique opportunities for students to explore ecology, conservation and environmental science in an Ozark forest ecosystem. The field station offers students opportunities to take a summer class, conduct undergraduate research and participate in a semester-long program of field biology coursework.
- Biology students at SLU are encouraged to participate in co-curricular activities. Groups such as Beta Beta Beta, the biology honorary society, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-professional honor society, are social and academic organizations that further students鈥� interest in biology while exposing them to its relationship with other scientific disciplines.
Curriculum Overview
The undergraduate curriculum in the Department of Biology is diverse and will meet a variety of interests in the rapidly expanding fields of the biological sciences. It is also designed to provide an intensive educational experience for students in other disciplines who are interested in biology. In addition to courses in Macelwane Hall, the department offers courses at the University鈥檚 Reis Biological Station, located by the Huzzah Creek in the Missouri Ozarks.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in biology provides flexibility in selecting upper-level courses and is favored by students interested in double majors.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
The benefits of SLU's biology program include several internship and career opportunities. Advanced undergraduate students with good academic records are encouraged to apply for teaching or learning assistant positions. In addition to a stipend, students gain teaching experience and the opportunity to help others become interested in biology.
Biology majors can enroll in courses that provide credit for structured internships through collaborations with various local organizations, including the Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis Zoo, Sigma-Aldrich, Bayer and firms in the growing biotechnology field.
Careers
SLU's biology major develops strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills that provide excellent preparation for professional schools, such as:
- Medical school
- Veterinary science school
- Dental school
- Optometry school
- Graduate school in a broad range of disciplines
The skills biology majors gain also open the door to a wide variety of career options in health care, biotechnology, environmental management, conservation, education and the pharmaceutical industry.
Recent biology majors have been awarded grants from Sigma Xi and the National Science Foundation and prestigious fellowships from the National Science Foundation, Fulbright Scholar Program, Mayo Clinic, Smithsonian Institution, NeuroSURF and the American Society for Microbiology.
Admission Requirements
抖阴pro also accepts the Common Application.
Freshman
All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant鈥檚 file.
To be considered for admission to any 抖阴pro undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.听
Transfer
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.
Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must听submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).
In reviewing a transfer applicant鈥檚 file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student鈥檚 academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student鈥檚 ability to meet the academic rigors of 抖阴pro. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.
International Applicants
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Proof of financial support must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at 抖阴pro
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken post-secondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Tuition | $54,760 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a 抖阴pro education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
抖阴pro makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Graduates will be able to effectively apply core biological concepts to solve problems.
- Graduates will be able to critically evaluate scientific information from multiple sources, including that from the primary literature.
- Graduates will be able to apply biological principles to global societal issues.
- Graduates will be able to draw valid conclusions from quantitative data.
- Graduates will be able to formulate hypotheses that address research questions.
- Graduates will be able to correctly perform common laboratory and/or field techniques.
Biology students must complete a minimum total of 48 credits听for the major, 25 of which must be in BIOL subject code at the 3000 level or above.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Undergraduate Core | 32-35 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| 叠滨翱尝听1240 &补尘辫;听叠滨翱尝听1245 | General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution and Principles of Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| 叠滨翱尝听1260 &补尘辫;听叠滨翱尝听1265 | General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter and Principles of Biology II Laboratory | 4 |
| 叠滨翱尝听3010 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| 叠滨翱尝听3020 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| 叠滨翱尝听3030 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| 叠滨翱尝听3040 | Cell Structure & Function | 3 |
| 叠滨翱尝听3070 | General Ecology | 3 |
| 颁贬贰惭听1110 &补尘辫;听颁贬贰惭听1115 | General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| 颁贬贰惭听1120 &补尘辫;听颁贬贰惭听1125 | General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| 惭础罢贬听1510 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Statistics Course | ||
| 惭础罢贬听1300齿 | Elementary Statistics with Computers | 3 |
| 辞谤听叠滨翱尝听4790 | Biometry | |
| Biology Elective Courses | 10 | |
| Choose a minimum of 10 credits of upper division elective courses (numbered 叠滨翱尝听3060-叠滨翱尝听4980), including one structured laboratory course. | ||
| General Electives | 37-40 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Independent Research
A total of 3 credits of听叠滨翱尝听4960 Independent Research (1-3 cr),听叠滨翱尝听4970 Library Project (1-3 cr), and/辞谤听叠滨翱尝听4980 Advanced Independent Study (1-4 cr)听can be counted toward the B.A. degree. These courses do not count as structured lab courses.
Continuation Standards
Students must have a minimum of a 2.00 GPA in their major courses (BIOL) and required related credits (chemistry, mathematics and statistics, physics etc.) by the conclusion of their freshman year. Students who fall below a 2.00 GPA will be placed on probation. If a student fails to obtain at least a 2.00 GPA in their major courses (BIOL) and required related credits by the conclusion of their sophomore year they will not be allowed to continue in the program.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
- Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
- Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
- Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
- Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
- Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
- Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through 抖阴pro or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through 抖阴pro or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment听unless otherwise noted. 听
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| 叠滨翱尝听1240 &补尘辫;听叠滨翱尝听1245 |
General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution and Principles of Biology I Laboratory (叠滨翱尝听1240 satisfies 颁翱搁贰听3800) |
4 |
| 颁贬贰惭听1110 &补尘辫;听颁贬贰惭听1115 |
General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory |
4 |
| 颁翱搁贰听1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 2-3 |
| 颁翱搁贰听1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes / Must be taken at SLU) | 1 |
| 颁翱搁贰听1900 | Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication (Should be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 3 |
| General Electives | 1 | |
| 听 | Credits | 15-16 |
| Spring | ||
| Participation in First-year Mentoring Events | 听 | |
| 叠滨翱尝听1260 &补尘辫;听叠滨翱尝听1265 |
General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter and Principles of Biology II Laboratory |
4 |
| 颁贬贰惭听1120 &补尘辫;听颁贬贰惭听1125 |
General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory |
4 |
| CORE听1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| General Electives | 4 | |
| 听 | Credits | 15 |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Participation in Second-year Mentoring | 听 | |
| 叠滨翱尝听3020 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| 惭础罢贬听1510 | Calculus I (satisfies CORE听3200) | 4 |
| CORE听1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| CORE听1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication | 3 |
| General Electives | 2 | |
| 听 | Credits | 15 |
| Spring | ||
| 叠滨翱尝听3040 | Cell Structure & Function | 3 |
| Statistics Elective | 3-4 | |
| CORE听2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation | 0 |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| 听 | Credits | 15-16 |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| 叠滨翱尝听3010 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| CORE听3400 | Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| 听 | Credits | 15 |
| Spring | ||
| 叠滨翱尝听3030 | Principles of Genetics | 0-3 |
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| CORE听3600 | Ways of Thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| CORE听4000 | Collaborative Inquiry | 2-3 |
| General Electives | 7 | |
| 听 | Credits | 15-19 |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Laboratory Elective | 1-5 | |
| CORE听3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| General Electives | 10 | |
| 听 | Credits | 15-19 |
| Spring | ||
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| General Electives | 12 | |
| 听 | Credits | 15 |
| 听 | Total Credits | 120-130 |
- 1
See information in the program notes.
Program Notes
Statistics Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 惭础罢贬听1300齿 | Elementary Statistics with Computers | 3 |
| 叠滨翱尝听4790 | Biometry | 4 |
Laboratory Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 叠滨翱尝听3060 | Cell Structure & Function Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL听3100 | Experiments in Genetics Lab | 1 |
| BIOL听3260 | Biology of Plants & Fungi | 4 |
| BIOL听3420 | Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates | 5 |
| BIOL听3470 | General Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL听4050 | Molecular Techniques Lab | 2 |
| BIOL听4100 | Natural History of Vertebrates | 4 |
| BIOL听4115 | Forest Park Living Lab Field Ecology Techniques | 1 |
| BIOL听4120 | Field Botany | 5 |
| BIOL听4130 | Field Mammalogy | 5 |
| BIOL听4140 | Field Ornithology | 5 |
| BIOL听4160 | Microbial Ecology and Molecular Evolution | 4 |
| BIOL听4200 | Aquatic Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL听4260 | Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles | 4 |
| BIOL听4280 | Biology of Fishes | 4 |
| BIOL听4320 | Cave Biology | 4 |
| BIOL听4330 | Spring Flora of the Ozarks | 4 |
| BIOL听4635 | Immunobiology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL听4370 | Animal Behavior Lab | 1 |
| BIOL听4440 | Vertebrate Histology: Structure and Function of Tissues | 4 |
| BIOL听4650 | General Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution.听