DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BSC)

Professor Martha J. Powell, Chairperson
Office: 319 Biology Building

The Department of Biological Sciences offers undergraduate programs of study in biology, microbiology, and medical technology, and an honors program for biology and microbiology majors.

Requirements for the biology major. Students majoring in biology complete the biology core, which includes BSC 114:115, BSC 116:117, BSC 300, BSC 315, BSC 385, BSC 450, and additional biological sciences courses (including two laboratory courses) numbered above 250 to total a minimum of 36 hours. The following courses may be applied to the laboratory requirement: BSC 252, BSC 310, BSC 313, BSC 325, BSC 326, BSC 350, BSC 362, BSC 371, BSC 373, BSC 376, BSC 386, BSC 390, BSC 396, BSC 397, BSC 400, BSC 413, BSC 414, BSC 416, BSC 425, BSC 428, BSC 432, BSC 436, BSC 439, BSC 455, BSC 464, BSC 472, BSC 475, BSC 476, BSC 481, BSC 489, and BSC 490. A minimum of 12 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus.

In addition, biology majors must complete 8 hours of general physics; mathematics through one semester of analytic geometry and calculus; and chemistry through 8 hours of organic chemistry (students are encouraged to begin inorganic chemistry in the first semester). Students may take any of the remaining hours in the major beyond the biology core requirements in marine science (MS) courses (see p. 300).

Specialized tracks in biology. In addition to the biology core described above, the department suggests a number of specialized tracks for students wishing to concentrate in specific areas of biology. In all specialized tracks, students complete the biology core and select courses as indicated to total at least 36 hours in biological sciences.

The Molecular Biology Track consists of BSC 439, BSC 441, BSC 450, and BSC 451. Additional hours may be selected from the following: BSC 311, BSC 313, BSC 350, BSC 400, BSC 424, BSC 435, BSC 436, BSC 495, and BSC 496.

The Ecology and Systematics Track consists of BSC 360 or BSC 371; BSC 373 or BSC 376; and one of the following: BSC 303, BSC 320, BSC 350, BSC 412, BSC 415, BSC 416, BSC 417, BSC 419, BSC 420, BSC 434, BSC 456, BSC 480, BSC 481, BSC 482, BSC 490, and BSC 496.

Both of the above tracks, especially the Molecular Biology Track, are suitable for preprofessional students. However, the department suggests an alternative track for students not wishing to follow the Molecular Biology Track or Ecology and Systematics Track. The Premedical, Predental, Preoptometry Track requires students to complete the biology major with work chosen from the following list of courses recommended for preprofessional students: BSC 310, BSC 311, BSC 313, BSC 325, BSC 326, BSC 350, BSC 397, BSC 400, BSC 403, BSC 404, BSC 409, BSC 410, BSC 424, BSC 425, BSC 431, BSC 432, BSC 435, BSC 436, BSC 439, BSC 441, BSC 444, BSC 450, BSC 451, BSC 458, BSC 460, BSC 465, and BSC 495.

The Marine Science/Biology Double Major consists of the biology core and appropriate biological sciences electives to total 36 hours, plus the courses in the interdisciplinary marine science program. See "Marine Science Program" on p. 88 for requirements.

Requirements for the biology minor. For the minor in biology, a minimum of 22 hours of biological sciences courses is required, including BSC 114:115, BSC 116:117, and at least 6 hours of advanced courses (300- and 400-level) as prescribed by an adviser. A minimum of 6 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus. Students may take any of the remaining hours in the minor beyond the biology core requirements in appropriate marine science (MS) courses (see p. 300).

Requirements for the microbiology minor. The minor in microbiology requires 20 hours. A minimum of 6 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus. The following courses are required: BSC 310, BSC 311, BSC 313, BSC 431, BSC 450, and BSC 451.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Biology Major
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
BSC 114	3		BSC 116	3
BSC 115	1		BSC 117	1
EN 101	3		EN 102	3
MATH 112	3		MATH 113	3
CH 101	4		CH 102	4
GS 101	1		Social and behavioral sciences1	3
	------			------
	15			17
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
BSC 300 or BSC 315	3		BSC 300 or BSC 315	3
EN 225	3		EN 226 or EN 227	3
CH 231	3		CH 232	3
MATH 125	4		CH 237	2
History1	3		History or social and behavoioral sciences1	3
			Fine arts1	3
	------			------
	17			17
JUNIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
BSC 4503	3		Biological sciences elective	6-7
PH 101	4		PH 102	4
BSC 385	3		Computer science or foreign language	3-4
Computer science or foreign language	3-4		Minor	3
Minor	3
	------			------
	16-17			16-17
SENIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
Biological sciences elective	3-4		Biological sciences elective	4-5
Biological sciences elective	3-4		Minor	6
Minor	6		Humanities1	3
Social and behavioral sciences1	3		Computer science or elective	3
	------			------
	15-17			16-17
Total: At least 128

¹A maximum of 6 hours in any one department may be applied to the humanities, literature, and fine arts (HU, L, FA) and history and social and behavioral sciences (HI, SB) requirements.

²Six hours in courses designated W must be included in the junior or senior year. A minimum of 33 hours in 300- and 400-level courses must be completed, including 12 hours in the major and 6 hours in the minor.

³Students with credit for CH 461 may request a substitution for BSC 450.

Requirements for the microbiology major. The microbiology curriculum stresses the sciences of chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics essential to the study of microbiology, and has sufficient flexibility to allow preparation for graduate study or for employment in microbiological and allied fields. In addition, the requirements for entrance into medical, dental, medical technology, or other professional programs may be met by the curriculum for the bachelor of science in microbiology degree.

The microbiology major requires the following courses in the biological sciences: BSC 114:115, BSC 116:117, BSC 310, BSC 311, BSC 313, BSC 431, BSC 432, BSC 439, BSC 450, and BSC 451. Additional biological sciences electives may be selected from BSC 391, BSC 397, BSC 435, BSC 436, BSC 444, BSC 456, BSC 457, BSC 464, and BSC 472 to total at least 44 hours in biological sciences. The microbiology major also requires the following courses in the physical sciences, chemical sciences, and mathematics: CH 101:102, CH 223, CH 231, CH 232, CH 237; PH 101 or PH 105; PH 102 or PH 106; and mathematics through MATH 125.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Bachelor of Science in Microbiology Degree
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
EN 101	3		EN 102	3
MATH 1122	3		MATH 113	3
CH 101	4		CH 102	4
BSC 114:115	4		BSC 116:117	4
Electives3	0-2		Electives3	0-3
GS 101	1			------
	------			14-17
	15-17
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
CH 231	3		BSC 310	5
MATH 125	4		CH 232:237	5
Electives3	9-10		Electives3	6-7
	------			------
	16-17			16-17
JUNIOR YEAR3
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
BSC 311 and BSC 313	6		BSC 431	3
BSC 4501	3		BSC 432	3
CH 223	3		BSC 4511	3
Electives3	4-5		BSC 439	3
	------		Electives3	4-6
	16-17			------
				16-18
SENIOR YEAR3
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
Biological sciences electives4	3-6		Biological sciences
PH 1015	4		electives4	3-6
Electives3	7-10		PH 1025	4
	------		Electives3	8-11
	16-17			------
				15-18
Total: At least 128

¹Students with credit for CH 461:462:463 may request a substitution for BSC 450:451:439.

²Students admitted to MATH 125 by placement examination may enroll in MATH 125 without having earned credit for MATH 112, MATH 113, or MATH 115.

³Six hours of writing-designated (W) courses must be included in the junior or senior year. Electives must include 3 hours of literature (L); 3 hours of history (HI); 3 hours of fine arts (FA); 6 hours of other fine arts (FA), literature (L), or humanities (HU) courses; 9 hours of other history (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) courses; and either 6 hours of computer science (C) or two semesters of foreign language (FL). Each student must complete a 6-hour sequence in either history or literature. To satisfy the purposes of general education, a maximum of 6 hours in any one department may be applied to L, FA, HU, HI, and SB requirements.

⁴At least 9 hours of biological sciences electives must be chosen from the following: BSC 391, BSC 397, BSC 435, BSC 436, BSC 444, BSC 456, BSC 457, BSC 464, BSC 472. A 2.0 or higher grade point average for all microbiology courses (or permission of the department chairperson) is a prerequisite for these electives.

⁵Students who may apply to medical or optometry school should take PH 101 and PH 102 prior to the senior year, in preparation for the MCAT or OAT.

Bachelor of science in medical technology degree. The Department of Biological Sciences offers a curriculum leading to the B.S. in medical technology degree. The medical technology curriculum emphasizes courses in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. It prepares students for graduate study, entrance into medical, dental, and optometry schools, or for employment in fields of basic science and laboratory medicine. The collegiate requirements for schools of medical technology accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science and the requirements as established by the agency granting certification for medical technologists in the state of Alabama are met by the B.S. in medical technology degree program.

Students who choose to declare a major in medical technology should do so by the beginning of the sophomore year in order to ensure eligibility for admission to the senior-year (clinical) program. It is recommended that students complete two academic years (64 semester hours) in the medical technology curriculum on this campus prior to the professional phase of the program. Exceptions to this stipulation will be granted only to those who have completed all requirements as stated in this curriculum.

Requirements for the B.S. in medical technology. The degree requires the following courses in the biological sciences: BSC 114:115, BSC 116:117, BSC 310, BSC 313, BSC 424, BSC 431, and BSC 432. The following courses in the physical and chemical sciences and mathematics are also required: CH 101:102, CH 223, CH 231, CH 232, and CH 237; PH 101 or PH 105; PH 102 or PH 106; and mathematics through MATH 125. The following courses in computer science and statistics are also required: CS 102 and CS 202; and ST 250.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology Degree
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
EN 101	3		EN 102	3
MATH 1121	3		MATH 113	3
CH 101	4		CH 102	4
BSC 114:115	4		BSC 116:117	4
Electives2	0-2		Electives2	0-3
GS 101	1			------
	------			14-17
	15-17
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
CH 231	3		BSC 310	5
PH 101	4		CH 232:237	5
MATH 125	4		PH 102	4
Electives2	5-6		Electives2	2-3
	------			------
	16-17			16-17
SUMMER
Course	Hours
CS 102 or CS 110	3
BER 345, PY 211, or ST 250	3
	------
	6
JUNIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
BSC 313	3		BSC 431	3
BSC 424	3		BSC 432	3
Electives2	3-5		CH 223	3
	------		Electives2	7-9
	9-11			------
				16-18

PROFESSIONAL PHASE

The professional phase of the medical technology curriculum involves clinical education and practicum experience in the School of Medical Technology at the Alabama Reference Laboratory (ARL) in Montgomery, Alabama. Enrollment in the medical technology curriculum at The University of Alabama for three years does not ensure admission to the ARL program. A grade point average of 2.5 or higher and a recommendation from the Department of Biological Sciences are required. The application deadline is February 15. Applications received after February 15 are considered if spaces remain available.

The following courses are taken at ARL: Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Microbiology, Immunology, Immunohematology, Laboratory Management, Hematology, Hemostasis, and Urinalysis. Clinical practice is also obtained in these areas.

¹Students admitted to MATH 125 by placement examination may enroll in MATH 125 without having earned credit for MATH 112, MATH 113, or MATH 115.

²Six hours of writing-designated (W) courses must be included in the junior or senior year. Electives must include 3 hours of literature (L); 3 hours of history (HI); 3 hours of fine arts (FA); 6 hours of other fine arts (FA), literature (L), or humanities (HU) courses; 9 hours of other history (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) courses; and either 6 hours of computer science (C) or two semesters of foreign language (FL). Each student must complete a 6-hour sequence in either history or literature. To satisfy the purposes of general education, a maximum of 6 hours in any one department may be applied to L, FA, HU, HI, and SB requirements.

Honors program in biological sciences. Biology majors and microbiology majors are eligible for consideration for the honors program in biological sciences after completing a minimum of 16 hours in biological sciences with a grade point average of 3.4 in biological sciences and 3.4 overall. Admission into the program requires the approval of the Honors Program Committee and acceptance of the student by primary advisers and co-advisers. Requirements for the program include 4-8 hours of BSC 390 Honors Thesis Research; an acceptable honors thesis; attendance in BSC 407 Honors Seminar in Biological Sciences; completion of the advanced portion of the Graduate Record Examination; and maintenance of a 3.4 GPA in biological sciences courses and a 3.4 overall GPA. Additional details are available in the office of the Department of Biological Sciences.

Graduate programs. The Department of Biological Sciences offers programs leading to the master of science degree in biology and marine science and the doctor of philosophy degree in biology. The requirements for these degrees are stated in the University of Alabama graduate catalog.