Biology, BS

General College Requirements (see Curriculum section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major

The following are recommended for all students and are required by most graduate and professional schools.

A minimum of 16 credit hours in upper-level biology courses is required, excluding Laboratory Teaching Assistant (BIOL 307), Internship (BIOL 398, BIOL 498), and Independent Study (BIOL 399, BIOL 499). The second four credit hours of a St. Mary’s Project in biology (BIOL 494) may be counted toward the total 16 credit hours. Of the 16 credit hours, at least eight, not including the St. Mary’s Project, must include a laboratory component. At least eight of the 16 upper-level credits as well as the St. Mary’s Project must be taken at the College.

Every biology major must complete a St. Mary’s Project.

This project may be in biology or in another major discipline or a study area. The guidelines established in the elected area apply. The project must be proposed to a mentor and to the chair of the Department of Biology at least three weeks before the last day of classes of the second semester of the student’s junior year, and it must be approved by the mentor and the department chair.

Students must earn a grade of C in CHEM 103 and a C- or better in all other chemistry courses listed under Physical Science Courses. Students must earn a grade of C or better in each biology course taken to fulfill the major.

At least half of the credits required for the major must be taken at the College.

A liberal arts education in biology should include both the breadth of the subject and its depth. While students may wish to focus on one particular area of biology, such as aquatic biology or plant biology, we strongly advise them to be sure that their advanced coursework includes at least one course from each of three levels of biological organization: population/community/eco-system, organismal and cellular/biochemical levels. Please note, though, that these categories are somewhat artificial because many of our courses are designed to integrate material from more than one level of organization or taxonomic kingdom. For example, microbiology bridges ecology and molecular biology of bacteria, and genomics discuss the genetics of organisms from several kingdoms along the genetic interactions with the environment and organisms addressing questions at all three levels of organization. Such courses may be especially useful in helping students gain an integrated view of biology that will enable them to pose and solve complex or interdisciplinary questions. In addition, students should expose themselves to biodiversity by taking care not to concentrate solely on one group of organisms: for example, plants or animals.

The following sequence of courses is a typical model for the fulfillment of the requirements for the major:

*optional but recommended course requirements for teacher certification

A Master of Arts in Teaching program is available at St. Mary’s College of Maryland after completion of the baccalaureate degree. Students who are interested in becoming teachers should contact the chair of the Department of Educational Studies or an education adviser in their major field of study for suggested coursework in educational studies and their specific major. These consultations should take place during the first semester of the sophomore year.