Biology Department // Northern Michigan University

General Biology Major

Note: This is only a rough outline, the program guidelines are always changing. Please visit the Advising Center for more current listings.

This major provides an opportunity for a diversified background in biology, applicable to a wide range of introductory positions of employment in business and industry, hospitals, universities, the military, and government at the local, state and federal levels. It also provides excellent preparation for graduate work in biology or related sciences.

Liberal Studies: 40 cr.
All programs in Biology require students to complete courses to fulfill the Liberal Studies requirement. To meet this requirement, students must complete a total of 40 credits in six divisions. These divisions, and the number of credits required for each, are listed below.

General Biology I. Composition 8 cr.
II. Humanities 8 cr.
III. Natural Sciences 8 cr.
IV. Social Sciences 8 cr.
V. Formal Communication 4 cr.
VI. Visual and Performing Arts 4 cr.

Students cannot use courses taught in the department of their first majors or first minors to meet Liberal Studies requirements in divisions II, III, IV, V, or VI.

Health Promotion: 2 cr.
Required Courses in Major: 44 cr.
BI 111 Introductory Biology: Principles 4 cr.
BI 112 Introductory Biology: Diversity 4 cr.
BI 210 Principles of Ecology 4 cr.
BI 218 Introduction to cell and Molecular Biology; 4 cr.

Choose one course of following: 4cr.
BI 222 Animal Physiology
BI 313 Cell Biology
BI 431 Plant Physiology
BI 312 Genetics 4 cr.
BI 315 Evolution 4 cr.

Choose one course of following: 4cr.
BI 230 Plant Kingdom,
BI 231 Plant Taxonomy,
BI 430 Plant Anatomy
BI 434 Plant Ecology

Choose one course of following: 3-4cr.
BI 221 Comparative Anatomy
BI 321 Embryology
General Biology BI 421 Invertebrate Zoology
BI 422 Vertebrate Zoology
BI 423 Parasitology
BI 424 General Entomology
BI 427 Ecological Animal Physiology,
BI 460 Ichthyology
BI 461 Herpetology
BI 462 Ornithology
BI 463 Mammalogy
BI 465 Aquatic Insects

Choose one course of following: 5 cr.
BI 203 Medical Microbiology
BI 303 General Microbiology

Biology electives
Any BI courses at 200 level or above except for BI 206 and BI 305: 3-4 cr.

Other Required Courses: 28 cr.
CH111 General Chemistry I 5cr.
CH 112 General Chemistry II 5 cr.
Chemistry electives numbered 215 or above 8 cr.
PH 201, 202 College Physics I and II or 10 cr.
PH 220, 221 Introductory Physics I and II

General Electives: 10 cr.
Total Required for Degree: 124 cr

Download the RTF file of the advising sheet for this major.