Course Requirements

Review course options below for each of our majors. For major descriptions and career outlook, please visit our degree programs page.

On campus

Biological Sciences

Biomedical Sciences

Major Core

Complete the following courses:

Note: Once you start a General BIO sequence, you must complete the full sequence (BIO 181 & 182 OR BIO 281 & 282)

BIO 181 General Biology I (4) or BIO 281 Conceptual Approaches to Biology for Majors I (4)
BIO 182 General Biology II (4) or BIO 282 Conceptual Approaches to Biology for Majors II (4)
BIO 340 General Genetics or MBB 347 Molecular Genetics: From Genes to Proteins (4)
BIO 345 Evolution (3)

Major Concentration Courses

Complete the following courses:

BIO 312/PHI 320 Bioethics or BIO 416/HPS 410 Biomedical Research Ethics (3)
BIO 353 Cell Biology (3)
BIO 360 Animal Physiology (3)

Major Elective Concentration Courses

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete two of the following:

BIO 351 Developmental Biology (3)
BIO/MIC 420 Immunology: Molecular and Cellular Foundations (3)
BIO/MBB 440 Functional Genomics (3)
BIO 462 Endocrine Physiology (3)
BIO 467 Neurobiology (3)

Biomedical Research and Medicine in Society

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete at least six credit hours. One course must be from each list: Biomedical Research and Medicine in Society.

Biomedical Research Course List

BIO 342 General Genetics Laboratory (2)
BIO/MBB 343 Genetic Engineering and Society (4)
BIO 352 Laboratory in Vertebrate Developmental Anatomy (2)
BIO/MBB/MAT 355 or CPI 480 Introduction to Computational Molecular Biology (3)
BIO 357 Cell Biology Laboratory (2)
BIO 361 Animal Physiology Laboratory (2)
BIO 370 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BIO 415 Biometry (4)
BIO 435 Research Techniques in Animal Behavior (3)
BIO 450 Advanced Developmental Biology (3)
BIO 451 Cell Biotechnology Laboratory (4)
BIO 455/BMI 465 Introduction to Comparative Genomics (3)
BIO 475 Advanced Human Anatomy (3)
BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 495 Undergraduate Research or BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 484 Internship or BIO/MIC/MBB 492 Honors Directed Study (1-3)
MIC 421 Experimental Immunology (2)
MIC 425 Advanced Immunology (3)
MIC/MBB 446 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics Lab (2)

Medicine in Society Course List

ASB/SSH/HST 301 Global History of Health (3)
ASB 443/SSH 403 Cross-Cultural Studies in Global Health (3-6)
ASB 452/SSH 402 Community Partnerships for Global Health (3-9)
ASM 345 Disease and Human Evolution (3)
ASM 414 Urban and Environmental Health (3)
BIO 302 Cancer – Mother of All Diseases (3)
BIO 311/HPS 340 Biology and Society (3)
BIO 318/HPS 331 History of Medicine (3)
BIO 394 Healing Traditions of Latino America (3)
BIO 394 Spanish for Biomedical Sciences (3)
BIO/ASM 403 Evolutionary Medicine and Global Health (3)
BIO 408 Advanced Evolutionary Medicine (3)
SSH 401/ASM 401 Health and Human Biology (3-4)
SSH 404/ASB 462 Medical Anthropology: Culture and Health (3)

Biomedical Sciences Laboratory

The Biomedical Research courses from above will fulfill major lab check.

Requirements in Related Fields

General Chemistry

Take both courses:

CHM 113 General Chemistry I (4)
CHM 116 General Chemistry II (4)

Organic Chemistry

CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry (3)
CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1)

---- or ----

Pre-health sequence:

CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHM 238 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

Biochemistry

BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry or BCH 461/462 General Biochemistry (3)
BCH 367 Elementary Biochemistry Laboratory (1) or BCH 467 Analytical Biochemistry Lab (3)

Physics

PHY 101 Introduction to Physics (4)

---- or ----

Pre-health sequence:

PHY 111 General Physics I (3)
PHY 112 General Physics II (3)
PHY 113 General Physics Laboratory I (1)
PHY 114 General Physics Laboratory II (1)

Math

Complete one of the following:

MAT 251 Calculus for Life Sciences (3)
MAT 210 Brief Calculus (3)

Statistics

Complete one of the following:

STP 231 Statistics for Biosciences (3)
STP 226 Elementary Statistics (3)

Biology and Society

Conservation Biology and Ecology

Major Core

Complete the following:

Note: Once you start a General BIO sequence, you must complete the full sequence (BIO 181 & 182 OR BIO 281 & 282)

BIO 181 General Biology I (4) or BIO 281 Conceptual Approaches to Biology for Majors I (4)
BIO 182 General Biology II (4) or BIO 282 Conceptual Approaches to Biology for Majors II (4)
BIO 340 General Genetics (4)
BIO 345 Evolution (3)

Concentration Core

Complete the following:

BIO 320 Fundamentals of Ecology (3)
BIO 322 Conservation of Biodiversity (3)

Human Dimensions of Conservation and Ecology

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete one of the following:

BIO 304/ENV 302 Plants and Civilization (3)
BIO 324/PHI 310 Environmental Ethics (3)
BIO 412 Conservation in Practice (3)
BIO 434 People and Nature: Ecosystem Services (3)
BIO/MIC/MBB 495 Undergraduate Research - maximum of 6 credits from 495 can be applied to major requirements

Conservation Biology and Ecology Field Methods

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete one of the following:

BIO 405 Sonoran Desert Field Botany (3)
BIO 407 Novel Ecosystems (3)
BIO 410 Techniques in Conservation Biology and Ecology (3)
BIO 484 Internship (1-6) (must receive faculty approval to use as major credit)
BIO 494 Discovering Biodiversity: Field to Database (3)

Advanced Ecology

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete one of the following:

BIO/SOS 421 Landscape Ecology (3)
BIO 422 Ecosystem Ecology (3)
BIO 423 Population & Community Ecology (3)

Advanced Ecology, Biodiversity, Field or Research

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete one of the following:

ABS 376 Wildlife Ecology (3)
ABS 380 Restoration and Wildlife Plants (3)
ABS 470 Life History of Mammals (3)
ABS 476 Big Game Habitat Management (3)
ABS 481 Riparian and Wetland Restoration (3)
ASM 443 Primatology (3)
BIO 303 Plant Diversity and Evolution (4)
BIO 325 Oceanography (3)
BIO 331 Animal Behavior (3)
BIO 370 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BIO 385 Comparative Invertebrate Zoology (4)
BIO 386 General Entomology (4)
BIO 410 Techniques in Conservation Biology and Ecology (3)
BIO 419 Physiological Plant Ecology (3)
BIO 421 Landscape Ecology (3)
BIO 461 Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
BIO/MIC/MBB 484 Internship (1-6) (must receive faculty approval to use as major credit)
BIO/MIC/MBB 492 Honors Directed Study
BIO/MIC/MBB 495 Undergraduate Research - maximum of 6 credits from 495 can be applied to major requirements

Advanced Human Dimensions of Conservation and Ecology

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete one of the following:

BIO 304/ENV 302 Plants and Civilization (3)
BIO 324/PHI 310 Environmental Ethics (3)
BIO 434 People and Nature: Ecosystem Services (3)
JUS/FIS 444 Environment and Justice (3)
REL/SOS/JST 349 Nature, Sustainability and Religion
SOS 310 Equity, Justice and Sustainability (3)
SOS 321 Policy and Governance in Sustainable Systems (3)
SOS 325 The Economics of Sustainability (3)

Requirements in Related Fields

General Chemistry

Take both courses:

CHM 113 General Chemistry I (4)
CHM 116 General Chemistry II (4)

Physical Sciences

Complete one of the following:

CHM 231 and CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry (4)
GIS 205 Geographic Information Science I (3)
GIS 211 Geographic Information Science II (4)
GLG 101 and GLG 103 Introduction to Geology I (4)
GPH 111 Introduction to Physical Geography (3)
PHY 101 Introduction to Physics (4)

-or-

PHY 111 and 113 General Physics I (4)
PHY 112 and 114 General Physics II (4)

Quantitative and Spatial Analysis

Complete one of the following:

BIO 411 Quantitative Methods in Conservation and Ecology (4)
BIO 415 Biometry (4)
GIS 311 Geographic Information Science III (4)
GIS 470 Advanced Statistics for Geography and Planning (3)
GIS 471 Spatial Statistics for Gepgraphy and Planning (3)
SOS 212 Systems, Dynamics and Sustainability (3)

Math

Complete one of the following:

MAT 251 Calculus for Life Sciences (3)
MAT 210 Brief Calculus (3)

Statistics

Complete one of the following:

STP 231 Statistics for Biosciences (3)
STP 226 Elementary Statistics (3)

Genetics, Cell & Developmental Biology

Medical Microbiology

The Microbiology Diagnostic Exam is used to determine whether you have adequate background from an existing microbiology class (MIC 205) to skip MIC 220 and still be competitive in upper division microbiology classes. If you successfully pass this exam, you may take any course that has MIC 220 as a prerequisite and utilize MIC 205 as the prerequisite instead.

The diagnostic exam consists of multiple-choice questions and is broken into eight subject areas, each of which can be taken independently as time permits. Each section contains ten questions, which must be answered in one sitting.

To start, contact your advisor to enroll you in the Canvas course. We highly recommended that you review the practice exam, which will give you an idea about the questions and testing format in the diagnostic test.

Once you complete all eight sections of the exam, let your advisor know you have completed the test.

Questions?

Undergraduate Advising (480) 727-6277

Major Core

Complete the following courses:

Note: Once you start a General BIO sequence, you must complete the full sequence (BIO 181 & 182 OR BIO 281 & 282)

BIO 181 General Biology I (4) or BIO 281 Conceptual Approaches to Biology for Majors I (4)
BIO 182 General Biology II (4) or BIO 282 Conceptual Approaches to Biology for Majors II (4)
BIO 340 General Genetics (4) or MBB 347 Molecular Genetics: From Genes to Proteins (4)
MIC 220 Biology of Microorganisms & MIC 206 Microbiology Lab (4)
MIC 401 Research Paper (1)

MIC 401 is the Microbiology Research Paper course that requires permission before enrolling. Please consult with an advisor at least a semester prior to enrolling to verify course requirements.

Major Concentration Courses

Complete the following courses:

BIO 312/PHI 320 Bioethics or BIO 416/HPS 410 Biomedical Research Ethics (3)
BIO 353 Cell Biology (3)
BIO/MIC 420 Immunology: Molecular and Cellular Foundations (3)

Major Elective Concentration Courses

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete five credit hours, two courses total:

BIO 360 Animal Physiology (3)
HPS 331/BIO 318 History of Medicine (3)
MIC/SSH 314 HIV/AIDS: Science, Behavior & Society (3)
MIC 481 Bacterial Pathogenesis (3)
MIC 421 Experimental Immunology (2)

Microbes and Biomedicine Courses

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete at least six credit hours. One course must be chosen from each list below: microbes and biomedicine.

Microbes Course List

MIC 302 Advanced Bacteriology Lab (2)
MIC 360 Bacterial Physiology (3)
MIC 379 Medical Bacteriology (3)
MIC 425 Advanced Immunology (3)
MIC 441 Bacterial Genetics (3)
MIC 442 Bacterial Genetics Laboratory (1)
MIC 485 General Virology (3)
MIC 494/598 - Topic: Novel Models for Host-Microbe Interactions (4)
MIC 494 Special Topics: Emerging Infectious Diseases (3)
MIC 498 Viral Pathogenesis and Host Defense (1-7)
BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 495 Undergraduate Research or BIO/MIC/MBB 492 Honors Directed Study (1-3)

Biomedicine Course List

BIO 302 Cancer - Mother of All Diseases (3)
BIO/MBB 343 Genetic Engineering and Society (4)
BIO 345 Evolution (3)
BIO 351 Developmental Biology (3)
BIO 451 Cell Biotechnology Laboratory (4)
MIC/MBB 445 Techniques in Molecular Biology (3)
MIC/MBB 446 Techniques in Molecular Biology Laboratory (2)
SSH 404/ASB 462 Medical Anthropology: Culture and Health (3)

Medical Microbiology Laboratory

The following courses from the microbes and biomedicine lists will count as major lab check:

MIC 302 Advanced Bacteriology Lab (2)
MIC 442 Bacterial Genetics Laboratory (1)
BIO/MBB 343 Genetic Engineering and Society (4)
BIO 451 Cell Biotechnology Laboratory (4)
MIC/MBB 446 Techniques in Molecular Biology Laboratory (2)
BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 495 Undergraduate Research or BIO/MIC/MBB 492 Honors Directed Study (1-3)

Requirements in Related Fields:

General Chemistry

Take both courses:

CHM 113 General Chemistry I (4)
CHM 116 General Chemistry II (4)

Organic Chemistry

CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry (3)
CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1)

---- or ----

Pre-health sequence:

CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHM 238 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

Biochemistry

BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry (3) or BCH 461/462 General Biochemistry (3)
BCH 367 Elementary Biochemistry Laboratory (1) or BCH 467 Analytical Biochemistry Lab (3)

Physics

PHY 101 Introduction to Physics (4)

---- or ----

Pre-health sequence:

PHY 111 General Physics I (3)
PHY 112 General Physics II (3)
PHY 113 General Physics Laboratory I (1)
PHY 114 General Physics Laboratory II (1)

Math

Complete one of the following:

MAT 251 Calculus for Life Sciences (3)
MAT 210 Brief Calculus (3)

Statistics

Complete one of the following:

STP 231 Statistics for Biosciences (3)
STP 226 Elementary Statistics (3)

Microbiology

The Microbiology Diagnostic Exam is used to determine whether you have adequate background from an existing microbiology class (MIC 205) to skip MIC 220 and still be competitive in upper division microbiology classes. If you successfully pass this exam, you may take any course that has MIC 220 as a prerequisite and utilize MIC 205 as the prerequisite instead.

The diagnostic exam consists of multiple-choice questions and is broken into eight subject areas, each of which can be taken independently as time permits. Each section contains ten questions, which must be answered in one sitting.

To start, contact your advisor to enroll you in the Canvas course. We highly recommended that you review the practice exam, which will give you an idea about the questions and testing format in the diagnostic test.

Once you complete all eight sections of the exam, let your advisor know you have completed the test.

Questions?

Undergraduate Advising (480) 727-6277

Major Core

Complete the following courses:

Note: Once you start a General BIO sequence, you must complete the full sequence (BIO 181 & 182 OR BIO 281 & 282)

BIO 181 General Biology I (4) or BIO 281 Conceptual Approaches to Biology for Majors I (4)
BIO 182 General Biology II (4) or BIO 282 Conceptual Approaches to Biology for Majors II (4)
BIO 340 General Genetics (4)
MIC 220 Biology of Microorganisms & MIC 206 Microbiology Lab (4)
MIC 302 Advanced Bacteriology Lab (2)
MIC 360 Bacterial Physiology (3)
MIC 401 Research Paper (1)

MIC 401 is the Microbiology Research Paper course that requires permission before enrolling. Please consult with an advisor at least a semester prior to enrolling to verify course requirements.

Additional Major Requirements

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete six credit hours:

BIO/MIC 420 Immunology: Molecular & Cellular Foundations (3)
MIC 421 Experimental Immunology (2)
MIC 441 Bacterial Genetics (3)
MIC 442 Bacterial Genetics Laboratory (1)
MBB/MIC 445 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics (3)
MBB/MIC 446 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics Lab (2)
MIC 481 Bacterial Pathogenesis (3)
BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 495 Undergraduate Research OR BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 484 Internship OR BIO/MIC/MBB 492 Honors Directed Study - may be substituted for one lab course (1-3)

Major Microbiology/Immunology Electives

*Please see an advisor if courses are not offered in the term you wish to take them
Complete at least three credits:

MIC 379 Medical Bacteriology (3)
MIC 421 Experimental Immunology (2)
MIC 425 Advanced Immunology (3)
MIC 441 Bacterial Genetics (3)
MIC 442 Bacterial Genetics Laboratory (1)
MBB/MIC 445 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics (3)
MBB/MIC 446 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics Lab (2)
BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 484 Internship (1-6)
MIC 485 General Virology (3)
MIC 494 Topic: Novel Models for Host-Microbe Interactions (4)
MIC 498 Viral Pathogenesis and Host Defense (1-7)

Major General Biology Electives

Complete at least three credits:

BIO 302 Cancer – Mother of All Diseases (3)
BIO 312/PHI 320 Bioethics (3)
BIO 320 Fundamentals of Ecology (3)
BIO/MBB 343 Genetic Engineering and Society (4)
BIO 345 Evolution (3)
BIO 351 Developmental Biology (3)
BIO 353 Cell Biology (3)
BIO 360 Animal Physiology (3)
BIO 416/HPS 410 Biomedical Research Ethics (3)
BIO 451 Cell Biotechnology (4)
BMI 465 Introduction to Comparative Genomics (3)

Major Microbiology/Immunology and General Biology Electives

Any SOLS upper division coursework (300 and 400 level BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB) will count in this area, including BCH 361, that has not already been used in the major area.

Major Microbiology Labs

Complete two lab courses. Credits from labs are accounted for in other areas.

MIC 421 Experimental Immunology Laboratory (2)
MIC 442 Bacterial Genetics Laboratory (1)
MBB/MIC 446 Techniques in Mol Biol/Genetics Lab (2)
BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 495 Undergraduate Research OR BIO/HPS/MIC/MBB 484 Internship OR BIO/MIC/MBB 492 Honors Directed Study may be substituted for one lab course (1-3)

Requirements in Related Fields

General Chemistry

Take both courses:

CHM 113 General Chemistry I (4)
CHM 116 General Chemistry II (4)

Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry

CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry (3)
CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1)
BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry or BCH 461/462 General Biochemistry
BCH 367 Elementary Biochemistry Laboratory (1) or BCH 467 Analytical Biochemistry Lab (3)

--- or ---

Pre-health sequence:

CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHM 238 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

Physics

PHY 101 Introduction to Physics (4)

--- or ---

Pre-health sequence:

PHY 111 General Physics I (3)
PHY 112 General Physics II (3)
PHY 113 General Physics Laboratory I (1)
PHY 114 General Physics Laboratory II (1)

Math

Complete one of the following:

MAT 251 Calculus for Life Sciences (3)
MAT 210 Brief Calculus (3)

Statistics

Complete one of the following:

STP 231 Statistics for Biosciences (3)
STP 226 Elementary Statistics (3)

Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology

Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior

Neuroscience (concurrent degree only)

Prepare for the advising meeting, ways to get involved and other important information

Online

Download PDF of online course sequence: Biological Sciences (BS)

Biological Sciences

Biomedical Sciences

Biology and Society

Conservation Biology and Ecology

Prepare for the advising meeting, ways to get involved and other important information

Novel coronavirus information

Course Requirements

On campus

Biological Sciences

Major Core

Additional Major Requirements

Major Laboratory/Research Courses

Major Electives

Requirements in Related Fields

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

Physics

Math

Statistics

Biomedical Sciences

Major Core

Major Concentration Courses

Major Elective Concentration Courses

Biomedical Research and Medicine in Society

Biomedical Sciences Laboratory

Requirements in Related Fields

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

Biochemistry

Physics

Math

Statistics

Biology and Society

Major Core

Major Concentration Courses

Additional Major Core Electives

Requirements in Related Fields

General Chemistry

Math

Statistics

Conservation Biology and Ecology

Major Core

Concentration Core

Human Dimensions of Conservation and Ecology

Conservation Biology and Ecology Field Methods

Advanced Ecology

Advanced Ecology, Biodiversity, Field or Research

Advanced Human Dimensions of Conservation and Ecology

Requirements in Related Fields

General Chemistry

Physical Sciences

Quantitative and Spatial Analysis

Math

Statistics

Genetics, Cell & Developmental Biology

Major Core

Major Concentration Courses

Additional Major Concentration Courses

Major Laboratory Courses

Major Electives

Requirements in Related Fields

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

Physics

Math

Statistics

Medical Microbiology

Major Core

Major Concentration Courses

Major Elective Concentration Courses

Microbes and Biomedicine Courses

Medical Microbiology Laboratory

Requirements in Related Fields:

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

Biochemistry

Physics

Math

Statistics

Microbiology

Major Core

Additional Major Requirements

Major Microbiology/Immunology Electives

Major General Biology Electives

Major Microbiology/Immunology and General Biology Electives