Course variations

Course summary

Students may select study from a variety of emphasis areas. Aside from these program areas, they can graduate under the general biology curriculum and custom select courses to meet their interests. The choices can lead to a variety of possible biology careers or graduate training based on their interests. Within the Biology Major, there are nine emphases to choose from. The Field Biology emphasis is a survey of ecology and plant and animal biology, and is less specialized than the other emphases. Career opportunities include wildlife technician, field biology writer, field biology consultant, field biologist, professor of field biology.

Program modules

The modules include Basic Skills 12, General Education Electives 26-32, Sciences 0, Social Studies 3, Political Studies 3, Producing and Consuming 5-6, Fine Arts and Aesthetic Studies 2-3, Cultural Studies 3-5, Health and Well-Being 4-6, Human Heritage 6, BIOL 211 Principles of Biology I 4, BIOL 212 Principles of Biology II 4, BIOL 311 Cell Biology 3, BIOL 322/323 Genetics/Laboratory 5, BIOL 330 Principles of Ecology 3, BIOL 371/372 General Microbiology/Laboratory 5, BIOL 685/686 Plant Physiology/Laboratory 5, BIOL 699 Senior Seminar and Assessment 1, BIOL 304 Soils 3, BIOL 313 Principles of Conservation 3, Choose 18 hours from the following (at least 3 hours must be taken from each group) Group 1 Animals covers BIOL 534 Herpetology 3, BIOL 535 Ornithology 3, BIOL 536 Mammalogy 3, BIOL 561 General Entomology 3, Group 2 Plants covers BIOL 538 Aquatic Plants 2, BIOL 548 Taxonomy of Vascular Plants 3, BIOL 641 Identification of Woody Plants 2, BIOL 642 Identification of Grasses and Sedges 2, BIOL 744 Identification of Mosses, Liverworts and Ferns 3, BIOL 781 Freshwater Algae 3, BIOL 788 Mycology 3, Group 3 Ecology covers BIOL 515 Stream Ecology 3, BIOL 633 Limnology 3, BIOL 634 Fisheries Management 5, BIOL 635 Wildlife Ecology and Management 3, BIOL 639 Terrestrial Field Ecology 3, Group 4 Environment covers BIOL 502 Topics in Environmental Biology 3, BIOL 615 Environmental Protection 3, BIOL 617 Environmental Health 3, CHEM 215/216 General Chemistry I/Laboratory 5, CHEM 320/326 Introductory Organic Chemistry/Laboratory 5, PHYS 160/165 Physical Geology/Laboratory 4, Minor (physical science recommended) and other electives 11-17.

Entry requirement for international students

Students should have completed high school or have an equivalent qualification. A minimum CGPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent in high school is required for admission. Students, whose native language is not English, must also have a minimum TOEFL score of 520 (paper) or 190 (computer) or 68 (internet). Institutional TOEFL scores are not accepted. For IELTS, overall band of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each band of the IELTS is required.

Qualification

Bachelor degree

Awarding body

Pittsburg State University

Department name

College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology