College of Science & Mathematics

Biology - Graduation Requirements


BA BIO Catalog Description

The requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology consist of the following Biology and related courses plus a course of study plan written by each candidate and his or her program advisor.  Study plan guidelines and procedures will be published by the Division of Science and Mathematics from time to time.  The study plan must be approved by the faculty of the Biology Program and will be submitted to the Enrollment Management Office.  Course numbering reflects the year by which courses should be completed.  The course of study plan must include at least one plant-based* and one animal-based course.  Any change in the study plan must be approved by the advisor and the program prior to course registration.

 

A. Required Courses in Biology (24 credit hours):                                                                                           

 

BIO 141-142   General Biology I-II                

BIO 245   Genetics                                               

BIO 223   Ecology                                                 

BIO 360**   Cell and Molecular Biology I   

BIO 397,398   Junior Science Seminar I,II                                                                                                           

BIO 497,498   Senior Science Seminar I,II                                                                                                           

 

B. Required Courses in Related Fields (22-24 credit hours):                                                                     

 

CHE 151-152   General Chemistry I-II       

 

MAT 241   Introduction to Calculus and Analytic Geometry I                                                                     

NOTE: There is an error in the 2002-3 catalog here. Both semesters of calculus are not required. Either one semester of calculus or one semester of statistics is required.

     or

MAT 235   Introductory Statistics with Applications

 

PHY 211-212   Introduction to Physics I-II                                                                                                           

     or

PHY 241-242   General Physics I-II            

     or

PHY 241-212   General Physics I – Introduction to Physics II                                                                  

                                                       

 

C. Science Electives: An additional 18 credit hours minimum are required from the following:                 

 

BIO 220, Marine Invertebrate Zoology      

BIO 224, Population Biology                            

BIO 295, Responsible Conduct in Research                                                                                                      

BIO 339, Vertebrate Structure

BIO 342, Animal Physiology

BIO 349*, Aquatic Plant Biology

BIO 350*, Terrestrial Plant Biology

BIO 352*, Plant Physiology

BIO 353, Developmental Biology

BIO 355-356, Biology of Microorganisms I-II

BIO 361, Bioinformatics

BIO 370, Evolution

BIO 430,Coral Reef Biology

BIO 460***, Cell and Molecular Biology II

BIO 465- 466, Selected Topics in Biology

BIO 495 (maximum 6 credits), Directed Independent Research in Biology

BIO 496 (maximum 4 credits), Internship/Field Studies

Any MBI or MSC course

Any 200, 300, or 400 level Chemistry, Math, or Physics Course

SCI 100 (if taken as a freshman), The Caribbean: The Natural World

Any CSC course except 111 or 119

 

* *Students matriculated before 2002 may substitute BIO 346 for BIO 360

*** Students matriculated before 2002 may substitute BIO 421 for BIO 460

****Depending on content, a Selected Topics in Biology may count as plant or animal based course.

 


 

Graduation Requirements - All B.A. Degrees

 

To qualify for a bachelor of arts degree, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credits (exclusive of physical education) including the general education requirements, the required courses in the major field, and such additional courses as they may select with the assistance of their faculty advisors to meet the requirements of the major.

 

The General Education requirements for graduation in the bachelor of arts degree programs are listed below.   Specific guidance about the courses that are available to meet these new General Education requirements will be provided to students in advance of registration.  Students are required to meet with their advisors in the selection of their courses.

 

I.               General Education Requirements for the BA

 

A. FRESHMAN DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR (FDS)*  (0-1 credit hour)                                                                                  

 

B. HUMANITIES (36 credit hours)                                                                                       

COM 119   Interpersonal Communication and Leadership                                                        

COM 120   Public Speaking                                                                                                                                         

ENG 120   English Composition                                                                                                              

ENG 201   Research and Applied Writing                                                                                          

ENG 261-262   World Literature I-II                                                                                                                          

SPA/FRE 131-132-231   Functional, Elementary and Intermediate French/Spanish                                      

HUM 115   Introduction to Humanities                                                                                                  

PHI 200    Critical Thinking                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

NOTES:

COM 101 -> SPE 120

COM 102 -> ENG 120

COM 201 -> ENG 201

Since previous catalog, SPE119, ENG261-2 and PHI200 added, electives dropped

 

 

C. MATHEMATICS           (6-8 credit hours)                                                                                                                                                                    

MAT 140   College Algebra with Applications

     OR

MAT 143  Precalculus Algebra

 

    AND one of the following:

MAT 142  College Trigonometry

MAT 232  Calculus for Business and Social Sciences

MAT 235  Introductory Statistics with Applications

 

     OR

For students with advanced preparation beyond the above levels, a minimum of six (6) credits of higher level mathematics courses                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

D. NATURAL SCIENCES               (6-9 credit hours)                                                                      

SCI  100*   The Caribbean: The Natural World

 

And either

SCI  200   Changes in the Natural World

SCI  301   Application of Principles from the Natural World

    OR

Any two laboratory courses in the Natural Sciences

NOTE: No need to take SCI 200 or SCI 301 as all the other lab course you take will fulfill your Natural Science requirements.

 

 

 

E. SOCIAL SCIENCES                    (6-9  credit hours)              

SSC 100*   An Introduction to the Social Sciences: A Caribbean Focus        

 

   and

Two other course in the Social Sciences:

Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology

                                                                                     

TOTAL CREDITS               54-63

 

* Requirements of the Freshman Year Program for all students matriculating into the university with fewer than 24 credits.

 

                                                                                                             

II. OTHER REQUIREMENTS for the BA in Biology

Students are required to take 0.5 credit hour in Physical Education for every semester they are full-time students up to the required two (2) credit hours. PLS 200 may also be used to meet this requirement.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Students must earn at least 30 of the last 36 credits at the University of the Virgin Islands.  This particular requirement may be waived by the Chancellor only in cases where the student must complete the final year(s) of studies in another institution recognized by the University of the Virgin Islands.  Course work more than ten years old must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine its appropriateness to the current University course requirements.  Appeals should be directed to the Chancellor.  In order to graduate, students must earn at least two times as many quality points as registered credits in all their courses as well as in the courses of their major.

 

1.        English Proficiency Exam (EPE)

2.        Computer Literacy Requirement (CLE)


 

BS BIO Catalog Description

The requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology consist of the following Biology and related courses plus a course of study plan written by each candidate and his or her program advisor.  Study plan guidelines and procedures will be published by the Division of Science and Mathematics from time to time.  The course of study plan must be approved by the faculty of the Biology Program and will be submitted to the Enrollment Management Office.  Course numbering reflects the year by which courses should be completed.  The course of study plan must include at least one plant* based and one animal  based course.  Any change in the study plan must be approved by the advisor and the faculty of the Biology Program prior to course registration.  In addition to fulfilling the general education requirements for a bachelor of sciences degree, students must pass a Science Comprehensive Examination following completion of formal academic coursework and prior to graduation.

 

A. Required Courses in Biology (24 credit hours):

BIO 141-142   General Biology I-II

BIO 245   Genetics                                

BIO 223   Ecology                                  

BIO 360**   Cell and Molecular Biology I

BIO 397,398   Junior Science Seminar I,II

BIO 497,498   Senior Science Seminar I,II

 

 

B. Required Courses in Related Fields (36-38 credit hours):

CHE 151 and 152   General Chemistry

CHE 253 and 254   Organic Chemistry                                                                             

MAT 241 and 242   Introduction to Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II         

 

PHY 211-212   Introduction to Physics I-II

     or

PHY 241-242   General Physics I-II

     or

PHY 241-212   General Physics I – Introduction to Physics II

                                                     

 

C. Science Electives: An additional 30 credit hours minimum are required from the following:

BIO 220, Marine Invertebrate Zoology                                                                                                

BIO 224, Population Biology                                                                                                                      

BIO 295, Responsible Conduct in Research                                                                                    

BIO 339, Vertebrate Structure                                                                                                                

BIO 342, Animal Physiology                                                                                                                    

BIO 349*, Aquatic Plant Biology                                                                                                              

BIO 350*, Terrestrial Plant Biology                                                                                                                           

BIO 352*, Plant Physiology                                                                                                                        

BIO 353, Developmental Biology                                                                                                                                               

BIO 355-356, Biology of Microorganisms I-II        

BIO 361, Bioinformatics                                                                           

BIO 370, Evolution                                                                                                                                                            

BIO 460***, Cell and Molecular Biology II                                                                                           

BIO 430, Coral Reef Biology

BIO 465- 466, Selected Topics in Biology****                                                                                  

BIO 495 (maximum 6 credits), Directed Independent Research in Biology

BIO 496 (maximum 4 credits), Internship/Field Studies

Any MBI or MSC course

Any 200, 300, or 400 level Chemistry, Math, or Physics Course

SCI 100 (if taken as a freshman), The Caribbean: The Natural World

Any CSC course except 111 or 119

 

* *Students matriculated before 2002 may substitute BIO 346 for BIO 360

*** Students matriculated before 2002 may substitute BIO 421 for BIO 460

****Depending on content, a Selected Topics in Biology may count as plant or animal based course.
Graduation Requirements - All B.S. Degrees

 

To qualify for a bachelor of science degree, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credits (exclusive of physical education) including the general education  requirements,  the required courses in the major field, and such additional courses as they may select with the assistance of their faculty advisors to meet the  requirements of the major.

 

 

General Education Requirements for the BS

The General Education requirements for graduation in the bachelor of science degree programs are listed below.  Specific guidance about the courses that are available to meet General Education requirements will be provided to students in advance of registration.  Students are required to meet with their advisors in the selection of their courses.

 

I. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS      

A   FRESHMAN DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR          (0-1 credit hour)                                    

B.  HUMANITIES                (18 credit hours)

NOTE: No courses are REQUIRED, but ENG201 is a pre-requisite to the EPE, so it and its pre-requisite, ENG120, are recommended. See list of Humanities in the FAQ.

 

C.  MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE           (16 credit hours)                 

NOTE: Don’t worry about these, as the requirements within the Biology program covers these credits.

 

SCI 100*   The Natural World: The Caribbean *      

 

MAT 140   College Algebra with Applications

   or

MAT 143   Precalculus Algebra **                                                                                        

 

 

D.  SOCIAL SCIENCES (9-12 credit hours)             

SSC 100*              An Introduction to the Social Sciences: A Caribbean Focus

 

* Requirement of the Freshman Year Program for all students matriculating into the university with fewer than 24 credits.

 

 ** A student exempted from College Algebra with Applications or Precalculus Algebra by a qualifying examination must take one semester of a more advanced mathematics course.

 

 

II. Other Requirements

Students are required to take 0.5 credit hour in Physical Education for every semester they are

full-time students up  to the required two credit hours.  PLS 200 may also be used to meet this requirement.

 

Students must earn at least 30 of the last 36 credits at the University of the Virgin Islands.  This particular requirement may be waived by the Provost only in cases where the student must complete the final year(s) of studies in another institution recognized by the University of the Virgin Islands.  Course work more than ten years old must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine its appropriateness to the current University course requirements.  Appeals should be directed to the Provost.  In order to graduate, students must earn at least two times as many quality points as registered credits in all their courses as well as in the courses of their major.

 

Additionally, students must successfully pass the following examinations:

 

1)       English proficiency examination (EPE)

2)       Computer Literacy Examination (CLE)

 

NOTE: The 2002-3 catalog does not have an EPE or CLE for BS majors listed. This may be an error as these tests have been required in the past.



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