Major in Biology

If you’re fascinated by the origins and functions of animals, plants and microbes, a B.A. or B.S. in biology is a great choice for you.

A major in biology provides an excellent foundation for careers in everything from medicine to public health to environmental and industrial applications.

At Elmhurst, you’ll learn to solve problems and make discoveries. In collaboration with Ph.D.-level faculty, you’ll conduct cutting-edge research, present at national conferences and even co-author papers that contribute to scientific knowledge. And you’ll graduate as a broadly trained biologist.

Choose Your Bachelor’s Degree

Biology majors at Elmhurst choose between the bachelor of science (B.S.) degree and the bachelor of arts (B.A.).

  • The B.S. incorporates more coursework in science and math, making it a good choice for students who plan to pursue graduate work in biology or a career in the health sciences.
  • The B.A. offers more flexibility in choosing electives.

Preparing for Professional and Graduate School

If you plan to go on to medical school, dental school or another professional or graduate program, we’ll help you choose elective courses best suited to your goals. See your faculty advisor for details. In addition, students interested in entering a health profession can meet with the health professions advisor.

Major Requirements

To earn a bachelor of arts degree in biology, you will need to complete the following course requirements.

Core Biology Courses

(Required.)

  • BIO 200 General Biology I
  • BIO 201 General Biology II
  • BIO 315 Genetics
  • BIO 498 Capstone Seminar

Electives

Five elective courses at the 300/400 level, including at least one from each of the following categories (the remaining electives are chosen at your discretion after meeting with an academic advisor):

Evolution

  • BIO 330 Comparative Chordate Anatomy
  • BIO 333 Paleontology
  • BIO 334 Invertebrate Zoology
  • BIO 351 Conservation Biology
  • BIO 355 Evolution of Vertebrates
  • BIO 356 Evolution and Population Genetics
  • BIO 410 Bioinformatics
  • BIO 413 Molecular Genetics
  • BIO 430 Principles of Anatomy
  • BIO 450 Animal Physiological Ecology
  • BIO 451 Microbial Ecology
  • BIO 453 Systematics and Phylogenetics

Information Flow

  • BIO 331 Developmental Biology
  • BIO 341 Immunology
  • BIO 342 Molecular & Cellular Biology of Cancer
  • BIO 356 Evolution and Population Genetics
  • BIO 410 Bioinformatics
  • BIO 413 Molecular Genetics
  • BIO 441 Plant Physiology
  • BIO 442 Principles of Physiology
  • BIO 444 Neurobiology
  • BIO 445 Stem Cell Biology
  • BIO 453 Systematics and Phylogenetics

Structure/Function

  • BIO 321 General Microbiology
  • BIO 330 Comparative Chordate Anatomy
  • BIO 331 Developmental Biology
  • BIO 332 Plant Anatomy and Morphology
  • BIO 333 Paleontology
  • BIO 334 Invertebrate Zoology
  • BIO 341 Immunology
  • BIO 342 Molecular & Cellular Biology of Cancer
  • BIO 430 Principles of Anatomy
  • BIO 441 Plant Physiology
  • BIO 443 Advanced Cell Physiology
  • BIO 450 Animal Physiological Ecology

Systems

  • BIO 330 Comparative Chordate Anatomy
  • BIO 331 Developmental Biology
  • BIO 332 Plant Anatomy and Morphology
  • BIO 334 Invertebrate Zoology
  • BIO 341 Immunology
  • BIO 350 General Ecology
  • BIO 351 Conservation Biology
  • BIO 355 Evolution of Vertebrates
  • BIO 413 Molecular Genetics
  • BIO 442 Principles of Physiology
  • BIO 443 Advanced Cell Physiology
  • BIO 444 Neurobiology
  • BIO 445 Stem Cell Biology
  • BIO 454 Aquatic Ecosystems

Transformation of Energy and Matter

  • BIO 321 General Microbiology
  • BIO 333 Paleontology
  • BIO 350 General Ecology
  • BIO 355 Evolution of Vertebrates
  • BIO 441 Plant Physiology
  • BIO 442 Prinicples of Physiology
  • BIO 450 Animal Physiological Ecology
  • BIO 451 Microbial Ecology
  • BIO 454 Aquatic Ecosystems

Courses in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics/Statistics

(Required.)

  • CHM 211 Chemical Principles I
  • CHM 212 Chemical Principles II
  • CHM 311 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHM 312 Organic Chemistry II
  • One term of math chosen from MTH 132 Elementary Functions, MTH 151 Calculus I or MTH 152 Calculus II
  • One term of statistics chosen from MTH 345 Elementary Statistics, MTH 346 Statistics for Scientists or PSY 355 Statistics for Scientific Research

We strongly encourage you to complete mathematics and statistics requirements by the end of your second year.

Note: Students may count BIO 352/452 Special Topics in Biology as no more than one of the 300/400-level biology electives required for completion of the degree. (See department chair for requirements.)

Students may also be eligible to count two terms of Independent Research (BIO 492 or BIO 495) as a single upper-level elective. (See department chair for requirements.)

To earn a bachelor of science degree in biology, you will need to complete the following course requirements.

Core Biology Courses

(Required.)

  • BIO 200 General Biology I
  • BIO 201 General Biology II
  • BIO 315 Genetics
  • BIO 498 Capstone Seminar (note prerequisite)

Electives

Five elective courses at the 300/400 level, including at least one from each of the following categories (the remaining two electives are chosen at your discretion after meeting with an academic advisor):

Evolution

  • BIO 330 Comparative Chordate Anatomy
  • BIO 333 Paleontology
  • BIO 334 Invertebrate Zoology
  • BIO 351 Conservation Biology
  • BIO 355 Evolution of Vertebrates
  • BIO 356 Evolution and Population Genetics
  • BIO 410 Bioinformatics
  • BIO 413 Molecular Genetics
  • BIO 430 Principles of Anatomy
  • BIO 450 Animal Physiological Ecology
  • BIO 451 Microbial Ecology
  • BIO 453 Systematics and Phylogenetics

Information Flow

  • BIO 331 Developmental Biology
  • BIO 341 Immunology
  • BIO 342 Molecular & Cellular Biology of Cancer
  • BIO 356 Evolution and Population Genetics
  • BIO 410 Bioinformatics
  • BIO 413 Molecular Genetics
  • BIO 441 Plant Physiology
  • BIO 442 Principles of Physiology
  • BIO 444 Neurobiology
  • BIO 445 Stem Cell Biology
  • BIO 453 Systematics and Phylogenetics

Structure/Function

  • BIO 321 General Microbiology
  • BIO 330 Comparative Chordate Anatomy
  • BIO 331 Developmental Biology
  • BIO 332 Plant Anatomy and Morphology
  • BIO 333 Paleontology
  • BIO 334 Invertebrate Zoology
  • BIO 341 Immunology
  • BIO 342 Molecular & Cellular Biology of Cancer
  • BIO 430 Principles of Anatomy
  • BIO 441 Plant Physiology
  • BIO 443 Advanced Cell Physiology
  • BIO 450 Animal Physiological Ecology

Systems

  • BIO 330 Comparative Chordate Anatomy
  • BIO 331 Developmental Biology
  • BIO 332 Plant Anatomy and Morphology
  • BIO 334 Invertebrate Zoology
  • BIO 341 Immunology
  • BIO 350 General Ecology
  • BIO 351 Conservation Biology
  • BIO 355 Evolution of Vertebrates
  • BIO 413 Molecular Genetics
  • BIO 442 Principles of Physiology
  • BIO 443 Advanced Cell Physiology
  • BIO 444 Neurobiology
  • BIO 445 Stem Cell Biology
  • BIO 454 Aquatic Ecosystems

Transformation of Energy and Matter

  • BIO 321 General Microbiology
  • BIO 333 Paleontology
  • BIO 350 General Ecology
  • BIO 355 Evolution of Vertebrates
  • BIO 441 Plant Physiology
  • BIO 442 Prinicples of Physiology
  • BIO 450 Animal Physiological Ecology
  • BIO 451 Microbial Ecology
  • BIO 454 Aquatic Ecosystems

Courses in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics/Statistics

(Required.)

  • CHM 211 Chemical Principles I
  • CHM 212 Chemical Principles II
  • CHM 311 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHM 312 Organic Chemistry II
  • One term of math chosen from MTH 151 Calculus I or MTH 152 Calculus II
  • One term of statistics chosen from MTH 345 Elementary Statistics, MTH 346 Statistics for Scientists or PSY 355 Statistics for Scientific Research
  • Two terms of physics: either PHY 111 Introductory Physics I and PHY 112 Introductory Physics II, or PHY 121 General Physics I and PHY 122 General Physics II

We strongly encourage you to complete mathematics and statistics requirements by the end of your second year.

Note: Students may count BIO 352/452 Special Topics in Biology as no more than one of the 300/400-level biology electives required for completion of the degree. (See department chair for requirements.)

Students may also be eligible to count two terms of Independent Research (BIO 492 or BIO 495) as a single upper-level elective. (See department chair for requirements.)

Should You Get Your B.S. Degree?

Students planning on a career in the health sciences are strongly recommended to earn the B.S. degree and take additional coursework in biochemistry and psychology.

Students planning to pursue graduate work in biology are strongly encouraged to earn the B.S. degree and take additional coursework in biochemistry and computer science.

  • BID 100 Water and Energy: Resources for a Sustainable Future
  • BID 106 Forensic Science
  • BID 109 Astrobiology: Life in the Universe
  • BIO 100 Principles of Biology
  • BIO 104 Human Biology
  • BIO 105 Environmental Biology
  • BIO 107 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BIO 108 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • BIO 221 Microbiology for Health Professionals
  • BIO 300 Human Genetics and Society
  • BIO 301 Plagues of Nations
  • BIO 449 Pathophysiology

Biology majors interested in careers in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine can apply for early admission to select programs the University has agreements with.

Students interested in these tracks will pursue a biology major along with other requirements for these fields (academic and co-curricular). Information about each affiliation and the requirements can be found on the Health Professions Advising pages and in the 2023-2024. In addition, students must meet with their biology faculty advisor and the health professions advisor to discuss all requirements and to determine their eligibility to apply.

Some affiliations require specific majors, GPAs, and entrance exam scores and limit transfer credit. Admission to Elmhurst University does not guarantee admission to an affiliate partner.

  • Dentistry: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Medicine: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Veterinary Medicine: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Suggested Course Sequence

  • First year: BIO 200 and BIO 201, CHM 211 and 212
  • Sophomore year: BIO 315 and one biology elective, CHM 311 and 312, mathematics, statistics
  • Junior year: Two biology electives, one year of physics (for B.S.)
  • Senior year: Two biology electives, BIO 498

Minor in Biology

A minor in biology provides an excellent foundation for a career in education, pharmaceuticals, health care businesses and much more.

Many students choose a biology minor as a complement to a science-related major, like chemistry or nursing. It’s also a great choice for students in unrelated majors who simply want to pursue an interest in plant and animal life.

The minor consists of five courses with a grade of C- or better in each course:

  • BIO 200
  • BIO 201
  • Three electives at the 300 or 400 level

At least three of the five courses must be taken at Elmhurst University. BIO 100, 104, 105, 107, 108, 221, 300, 301 and 449 may not be applied toward the minor. One year of chemistry (CHM 101 and CHM 103, or CHM 211 and CHM 212) is also recommended.

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