Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology
Biology Major
Biology, the study of life, is the most all-encompassing of the sciences. Understanding basic life processes requires working in many areas in an integrated way. Students who major in Biology engage in a curriculum that explores the breadth of the biological sciences. They develop hands-on laboratory skills and have the opportunity to participate in laboratory and field research projects, under the direction of a faculty mentor.
The biology program provides a solid foundation in basic scientific knowledge. Every student will take a common set of core classes providing this initial set of core competencies that will be built upon and reinforced as you progress through intermediate level courses. Once the core is complete, students can enter into one of the three advisory tracks to complete the remaining credits required for the major that are designed to assist in course selection based on individual career goals and needs.
These tracks are:
- General Biology
The General Biology track offers a broad foundation in the biological sciences, ideal for students seeking flexibility in their career paths. While many graduates pursue advanced degrees in healthcare, others go on to graduate studies or careers in research, education, or biotechnology. This track provides a strong scientific core with the freedom to explore diverse areas of biology.
- Pre-Health
Designed specifically for students preparing for medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, or other professional health programs, the Pre-Health track includes all prerequisite coursework required by most healthcare schools. This rigorous curriculum ensures students are well-prepared for entrance exams and competitive application processes.
- Environmental Biology
The Environmental Biology track focuses on the intersection of biology and environmental science. Students take specialized courses such as Introduction to Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change and can tailor their degree with electives from an approved list of environmental biology courses. This track is ideal for those passionate about conservation, ecology, and environmental policy.
Our interdisciplinary approach to teaching encourages students to make connections across scientific, social, and economic domains. In particular, we emphasize the growing intersection between health and business—an essential consideration in today’s healthcare landscape. This perspective equips students to understand and navigate the broader context in which scientific and medical decisions are made.
With our multiple track program, Biology majors are prepared for a wide array of opportunities including careers in the health sciences, biomedical research, physical therapy, biotechnology, pharmaceutical science, environmental biology, food science, and industrial research.
The Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professional Advisor provides guidance and resource materials for all students interested in medical school, physician assistant programs, dental school, nursing, veterinary or other biomedical professional programs. Those students will follow the pre-health advisory track and will get assistance with the application process from the pre-health advisor.
Biology majors engage in a challenging and rewarding program that is tailored to fit individual student needs by customizing upper-level course selection. Biology majors at Bryant gain a strong foundation in the science of biology and develop the abilities required to engage in thoughtful consideration of complex biological issues from multiple perspectives.
Students in the Biology major will:
- Demonstrate understanding of the processes of science, the scientific method, and the relationship between scientific research and established knowledge.
- Express biological scientific literacy in oral and written communication.
- Demonstrate content knowledge in biology.
- Demonstrate fundamental lab skills.
- Evaluate biological data, draw reasonable conclusions, recognize the ethical implications of these conclusions, and apply these conclusions to personal, community, and scientific problems.
Bachelor of Science Degree with a Biology Major Requirements:
General Education Requirements (Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (Biology Majors are required to take MATH 121. It can be used for the GEN Ed Math requirement of MATH 110)
Biology Major Curriculum Requirements
| Biology Degree Core Requirements | ||
| SCI 251 & SCI L251 | Biology I Principles of Biology and Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 253 & SCI L253 | Biology II Organismal Biology and Biology II Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 264 & SCI L264 | Physics I Introductory Physics and Physics I Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 265 & SCI L265 | Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 267 & SCI L267 | Introductory Chemistry II and Introductory Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| Choose one of the following tracks: | ||
| Track 1: General Biology | ||
| Biology Core plus the following General Biology Required Course: | ||
| SCI 365 & SCI L365 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| Choose 4 of the following courses plus one lab, at least one course must be at the 400-level | ||
| SCI 351 & SCI L351 | Ecology and Ecology Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 352 & SCI L352 | Exercise Physiology and Exercise Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 354 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 3 |
| SCI 356 | Introduction to Biotechnology | 3 |
| SCI 359 | Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare | 3 |
| SCI 360 & SCI L360 | Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I (*) | 4 |
| SCI 363 & SCI L363 | Genetics and Genetics Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 366 | Coastal Environments | 3 |
| SCI 367 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| SCI 368 | Elements of Forensic Science | 3 |
| SCI 374 & SCI L374 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 376 | GIS for Health, Business, and the Environment | 3 |
| SCI 377 & SCI L377 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 379 | Emergency Medical Technician I | 3 |
| SCI 380 & SCI L380 | Anatomy and Physiology II and Anatomy and Physiology Lab II (*) | 4 |
| SCI 381 & SCI L381 | Human Kinesiology and Kinesiology Lab | 4 |
| SCI 382 | Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| SCI 383 | Human Health and Disease | 3 |
| SCI 387 | Functional Musculoskeletal Anatomy | 3 |
| SCI 390 | Research Methods in Science | 3 |
| SCI 402 | Current Topics in Nutrition | 3 |
| SCI 457 | Environmental Toxicology and Human Health | 3 |
| SCI 466 | Global Health Challenges | 3 |
| SCI 470 | Immunity and Disease | 3 |
| SCI 490 | Research Directed Study in Science | 3 |
| Track 2: Pre-Health | ||
| Biology core plus the following Pre-Health Required courses: | ||
| SCI 274 & SCI L274 | Physics II Biological Physics and Physics || Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 360 & SCI L360 | Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I | 4 |
| SCI 365 & SCI L365 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 374 & SCI L374 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| or SCI 367 | Biochemistry | |
| SCI 380 & SCI L380 | Anatomy and Physiology II and Anatomy and Physiology Lab II | 4 |
| **Choose 3 of the following course plus one lab, one course must be at the 400 level | ||
| HS 390 | Research Methods in Health Sciences | 3 |
| SCI 352 & SCI L352 | Exercise Physiology and Exercise Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 354 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 3 |
| SCI 359 | Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare | 3 |
| SCI 363 & SCI L363 | Genetics and Genetics Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 367 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| SCI 374 & SCI L374 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 376 | GIS for Health, Business, and the Environment | 3 |
| SCI 377 & SCI L377 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 379 | Emergency Medical Technician I | 3 |
| SCI 381 & SCI L381 | Human Kinesiology and Kinesiology Lab | 4 |
| SCI 382 | Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| SCI 383 | Human Health and Disease | 3 |
| SCI 387 | Functional Musculoskeletal Anatomy | 3 |
| SCI 390 | Research Methods in Science | 3 |
| SCI 401 & SCI L401 | Fundamentals of Strength and Conditioning and Fundamentals of Strength and Conditioning Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 402 | Current Topics in Nutrition | 3 |
| SCI 457 | Environmental Toxicology and Human Health | 3 |
| SCI 466 | Global Health Challenges | 3 |
| SCI 470 | Immunity and Disease | 3 |
| SCI 471 & SCI L471 | Exercise Testing and Prescription and Exercise Testing and Prescription Lab | 4 |
| SCI 490 | Research Directed Study in Science | 3 |
| *Recommended to be taken with the lab. | ||
| Suggested Open Electives for the Pre-Health Track | ||
| SCI 252 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| SCI 275 | Introduction to Healthcare: Clinical and Business Perspectives | 3 |
| Track 3: Environmental Biology | ||
| Biology Core plus Environmental Science Required Course: | ||
| SCI 268 | Introduction to Environmental Sustainability | 3 |
| SCI 269 & SCI L269 | Climate Change and Climate Change Laboratory | 4 |
| Choose 1 additional course: | ||
| SCI 262 & SCI L262 | Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 351 | Ecology | 3 |
| Choose 4 of the following courses plus one lab, at least one course must be at the 400 level | ||
| SCI 351 & SCI L351 | Ecology and Ecology Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 355 | Energy Strategies for a Sustainable World | 3 |
| SCI 365 & SCI L365 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 366 | Coastal Environments | 3 |
| SCI 371 & SCI L371 | Human Impact on the Global Environment and Human Impact on the Global Environment Lab | 4 |
| SCI 376 | GIS for Health, Business, and the Environment | 3 |
| SCI 377 & SCI L377 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| SCI 392 | Real World Applications for Sustainability and Climate Action | 3 |
| SCI 403 | Innovations for Sustainable Futures | 3 |
| SCI 455 | Environmental Policy: Decision Making and Problem Solving | 3 |
| SCI 457 | Environmental Toxicology and Human Health | 3 |
| SCI 463 | Issues in Environmental Science | 3 |
| SCI 466 | Global Health Challenges | 3 |
| SCI 490 | Research Directed Study in Science | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirements: | ||
| MATH 121 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I ((Biology Majors are required to take MATH 121. It can be used for the GEN Ed Math requirement of MATH 110)) | 3 |
**General Track requires 37 credits for the major. Pre-Health Track requires 50 credits, Environmental Track requires 43/44 credits
A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for graduation.
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