Undergraduate Bulletin > Department of Biology > Major-B.A.

Biology Major (BIOL)

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Required: 122 semester hours, to include at least 36 hours at or above the 300 course level

AOS Code: U117

The Department offers a full range of courses leading to the B.A. degree. The degree may lead to further study in graduate school, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, medical technology, biotechnology, and environmental biology. See also the descriptions of pre-professional programs concerning their requirements. Both study and laboratory facilities are available to advanced undergraduates.

Program Requirements

I General Education Core Requirements (GEC)

See complete GEC requirements and approved course listings for all categories.

Core Category	S.H.
Students may select courses for:
Literature (GLT)	3
Fine Arts (GFA)	3
Philosophical, Religious, Ethical Principles (GPR)	3
Historical Perspectives on Western Culture (GHP)	3
Reasoning and Discourse (GRD) ENG 101 or FMS 115 or RCO 101, and one additional GRD course	6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSB)	6

Department specifies courses for:
One additional GLT course (student may select)	3
Mathematics (GMT) required: MAT 151 or 191	3
Natural Sciences (GNS) required: BIO 111 and CHE 111	7

II General Education Marker Requirements

See details and courses. It is possible to meet all GE Marker Requirements while completing the GE Core requirements or courses required by the major/concentration.

Students may select courses for:

Global/Global Non-Western Perspectives (GL/GN)
four (4) courses carrying GL/GN markers, at least one of which must carry the GN marker

One Speaking Intensive (SI) Course
In addition to this SI Marker requirement, students must also complete a second SI course within the major. All programs have identified at least one course among their major requirements that is taught as Speaking Intensive.

One Writing Intensive (WI) Course
In addition to this WI Marker requirement, students must also complete a second WI course within the major. All programs have identified at least one course among their major requirements that is taught as Writing Intensive.

III College of Arts and Sciences Additional Requirements (CAR)

See requirements and approved courses.

Category	S.H.
Historical Perspectives on Western Culture either a GHP/GPM or GMO course	3
Natural Sciences (GNS/GLS) required: BIO 112/112L	4
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSB) one additional GSB course	3
Foreign Language (GFL) intermediate-level proficiency in one language, demonstrated by placement test, or completion of course work through course number 204	0–12
Writing Intensive Courses (WI) a total of four WI courses

IV Major Requirements

Biology majors must complete BIO 111 and 112, and a minimum of 30 semester hours of Biology courses above the 100 level. A maximum of four hours at the 200 level may be counted toward the major. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.0 in Biology courses completed at UNCG.

Biology Core Courses

In meeting this requirement for hours above the 100 level, all B.A. in Biology majors must complete the following core courses; completion of at least four of these requirements is strongly recommended prior to enrollment in courses numbered 400 and higher.

Ecology: BIO 301
Cell Biology: BIO 355
Genetics: BIO 392
Diversity: one of the following: BIO 322, 341, 354, or 370
At least two of the following core laboratory courses: BIO 302, 356, or 393

V Related Area Requirements

Biology majors are required to take the following related area courses or their approved equivalents:

CHE 111, 112, 114, 115
MAT 151 or 191

The department highly recommends the following courses in addition to the required courses listed above:

CHE 351, 352, 354
MAT 191, 292
STA 271, or 571 and 571L
PHY 211, 212

See B.A. in Biology with Concentration in Environmental Biology.