Biology Degree

USAO's biology curriculum provides the student with both an introduction to and a competency in the study of living organisms and encourages the student to develop the skills of independent and critical thought. It also seeks to provide a flexible program to meet the needs of students wishing to enter any of the numerous careers open to them as biology majors. A student may pursue the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology. A minor in biology is also available.

Bachelor of Science in Biology 

Required Biology Core (77 Hours):

Course	Title	Hours Required
BIOL 1014	General Botany	4
BIOL 1114	General Zoology	4
BIOL 1222	Biological & Medical Terminology	2
BIOL 2004	Oklahoma Plants*	4
BIOL 2204	Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy	4
BIOL 2254	Human Anatomy*	4
BIOL 2880	Special Topics*	1-4
BIOL 2900	Workshop*	1-4
BIOL 2990	Tutorial*	1-4
BIOL 3014	Taxonomy of Vascular Plants	4
BIOL 3104	Principles of Evolution*	4
BIOL 3124	Human Physiology*	4
BIOL 3204	Vertebrate Embryology*	4
BIOL 3334	General Genetics	4
BIOL 3404	Principles of Ecology	4
BIOL 3815	Basic Microbiology	5
BIOL 3913	Immunology*	3
BIOL 4800	Biological Projects*	1-3
BIOL 4900	Workshop*	1-6
BIOL 4990	Tutorial*	1-4
	*Elective biology courses (choose 12 hours)

and
CHEM 1111	General Chemistry Lab I	1
CHEM 1113	General Chemistry I	3
CHEM 1121	General Chemistry Lab II	1
CHEM 1123	General Chemistry II	3
CHEM 3211	Intermediate Laboratory	1
CHEM 3303	Organic Chemistry I	3
and
MATH 1513	College Algebra	3
MATH 1613	Trigonometry	3
MATH 2203	Elementary Statistics	3
and
PHYS 1301	General Physics Lab I	1
PHYS 1401	General Physics Lab II	1
PHYS 2114	General Physics I	4
PHYS 2124	General Physics II	4

Required Additional Science Electives (15 hours):

· 4 hours chemistry (must be approved by the department)

· 11-12 hours of biology (must be approved by the department)

Exit requirement:

A. The biology degree requires an exit portfolio completed in conjunction with enrollment in colloquium (NSCI 2700 or NSCI 2701) each fall and spring trimester. 

B. Completion of exam (see item "d" under general graduation requirements, pg. 49).

Minor in Biology

21 hours, including BIOL 1014, BIOL 1114, BIOL 3815, plus 8 hours of biology to be selected with approval of biology advisor.

COURSE LISTINGS in BIOLOGY

1014 GENERAL BOTANY
Survey of plant kingdom, including algae, fungi and higher plants with emphasis on structure, life processes and reproduction of higher plants. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. 4 hours.

1114 GENERAL ZOOLOGY
Major biological principles and concepts illustrated in structure and function of animals; emphasis is on vertebrate self-regulatory mechanisms and adaptive significance. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. 4 hours.

1212 BIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 
Basic biological and medical terms; Greek and Latin origins of commonly used prefixes, roots and suffixes; and current uses and interpretations of these terms. One 1-hour lecture and exam per week. 2 hours.  

2204 COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE ANATOMY
Study of anatomy and evolutionary development of vertebrate organ systems. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. 4 hours. Prerequisite: BIOL 1114.

2254 HUMAN ANATOMY
Development and gross morphology of the human body and its systems. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. 4 hours.

2880 SPECIAL TOPICS
Special topics in biology. 1-4 hours (may be repeated for total of 6 hours.

2900 WORKSHOP
Guided study in biology under faculty supervision. Topics and methods of instruction may vary. 1-4 hours (may be repeated for total of 6 hours with change in title and topic).

2990 TUTORIAL
Independent study in biology under faculty supervision. 1-4 hours (may be repeated for total of 9 hours with change in title and content).

2004 OKLAHOMA PLANTS
Study of vascular plants of Oklahoma, including classification and techniques of identification and preservation; special attention to edible, poisonous and medicinal plants in Oklahoma. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week; field trips required. 4 hours.

3014 TAXONOMY OF VASCULAR PLANTS
Classification and identification of flowering plants with emphasis on Oklahoma flora; consideration given to ecological and economic importance of selected plant groups. 4 hours. Two lectures and two 2-hour laboratories per week; field trips required. Prerequisite: BIOL 1014 or 2004.

3104 PRINCIPLES OF EVOLUTION
Processes of evolution with emphasis on differentiation, speciation, natural selection within populations, the nature of species, and evolution above the species level. Four lectures per week. 4 hours. Prerequisites: BIOL 1014 and BIOL 1114. 

3124 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
Functions of the organ systems of the human body (e.g., circulation, digestion, respiration, excretion, reproduction, nervous, muscular, endocrine) and basic relationships between these systems (e.g., metabolism and homeostasis). Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. 4 hours. Prerequisites:  BIOL 1114 or BIOL 2254, plus CHEM 1111 and CHEM 1113.

3204 VERTEBRATE EMBRYOLOGY
Development of the vertebrate body from gamete formation through early organ formation; development of frog, chicken, and pig studied in laboratory. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. 4 hours. Prerequisites: BIOL 1114 and an anatomy course. 

3334 GENERAL GENETICS
Principles of inheritance at the gene, chromosome and population levels; nature of genetic material and its involvement in determination of structure and function. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. 4 hours. Prerequisites: BIOL 1014, BIOL 1114, one year of general chemistry (biochemistry is also recommended), MATH 2203 and MATH 1513.

3404 PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY
Relationships of plants, animals and microorganisms to each other and to their physical environments. Study of succession in different community types. Various sampling techniques discussed and used in laboratory and field work. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week; field trips required. 4 hours. Prerequisites: BIOL 1014, BIOL 1114, and either BIOL 2004 or BIOL 3014, and MATH 2203, MATH 1513 and 1 year General Chemistry.

3815 BASIC MICROBIOLOGY
Survey of bacteria, yeasts, molds, viruses, algae and protozoa; cell structure; pure culture methods; isolation techniques and microbial cultivation; microbial growth; microbial ecology; and microbial genetics. Three lectures and two 3-hour laboratories per week. 5 hours. Prerequisites: minimum of 8 hours of biology with laboratory, plus 4 hours of chemistry with laboratory (organic chemistry is strongly recommended). 

3913 IMMUNOLOGY
Theories of host-agent interaction, humoral response, cellular immune response mechanisms, non-specific host defense mechanisms, B&T cells, and information about antigens and antibodies. 3 hours. Prerequisites: BIOL 3815; CHEM 3323 (Biochemistry), CHEM 3303, or CHEM 3313 (Organic Chemistry I or II); plus CHEM 1111, CHEM 1113, CHEM 1121, and CHEM 1123.

4800 BIOLOGICAL PROJECTS
Research and seminar projects; may be taken unlimited number of times. 1-3 hours (credit to be arranged by instructor). Prerequisites: 8 hours of biology and permission of instructor.   

4900 WORKSHOP
Related topics and problems in biology. 1-6 hours (may be repeated for total of 9 hours with change in title and content). Prerequisites: 8 hours of biology and permission of instructor.

4990 TUTORIAL
Independent study in biology under faculty supervision. 1-4 hours (may be repeated for total of 9 hours with change in title and content). Prerequisites: 8 hours of biology and permission of instructor.