Biology, B.S.

(39 - 43 credit hours)

Sweet Briar’s Biology program provides students with a sound foundation in biological principles in both human and environmental biology with students engaging in hands-on learning both in and outside the classroom and laboratory. Sweet Briar’s 2,840-acre campus serves as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom for fieldwork.

What Can You Do With a Degree in Biology?

~ Conservation or Marine Biology

~ Museums, zoos, or aquaria

~ Agriculture or Forest Science

~ Biotechnology

~ Teaching and Research

~ Clinical professions (vet, med, allied and public health)

Required

The following requirements are needed to complete the major in biology (39-43 hours):

Program Core

Complete all of the following courses (18 hours):

BIOL 111 - Introduction to Organisms CR: 4
BIOL 112 - Introduction to Cells CR: 3
BIOL 113 - Introductory Laboratory Techniques CR: 1
BIOL 210 - Evolution CR: 3
BIOL 305 - Genetics CR: 3
CHEM 131 - General Chemistry CR: 3
CHEM 141 - General Chemistry Laboratory CR: 1

Mathematics

Choose one course from the following (3 hours):

MATH 123 - Calculus I CR: 3
MATH 205 - Applied Statistics CR: 3
PSYC 219 - Statistics for Behavioral Sciences CR: 4

Biology Electives

Choose three additional BIOL courses at the 200-level or above (9-12 hours):

Additional STEM Credits

Choose 6 additional STEM credits in chemistry, engineering, mathematics (except MATH 103 , MATH 211 , MATH 213 ), physics (except PHYS 113 ), psychology, or environmental science (except ENVR 215 ).

Culminating Experience:

Choose 1 of the following courses or lecture/lab combinations for the culminating experience in biology:

BIOL 324 - Ecology CR: 4
BIOL 326 - Comparative Animal Physiology CR: 4
BIOL 351 - Independent Research CR: 3
BIOL 342 - Cell and Molecular Biology CR: 3 AND
BIOL 344 - Experimental Laboratory in Cell and Molecular Biology CR: 1

Note(s):

A maximum of 3 credits of BIOL 377 may be counted towards the major.