BS-BIES - Biology, Environmental Studies track, B.S.

Environmental Studies is a track under the Biology Bachelor of Science degree that will help prepare students for careers in environmental policy. Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary field that draws on courses from the natural sciences, as well as the social sciences and even the humanities. This interdisciplinarity helps address the complex nature of contemporary environmental issues. 

Students in other majors may also earn a Minor in Biology. 

The Biology program requires 120 semester credit hours plus course and one PE activity course for a total of 123 semester credit hours.

• Students should follow their advisor’s recommendations for appropriate selections in Core Curriculum IMPACTS: Communicating in Writing (Area A1 - Communication Outcomes), IMPACTS: Mathematics and Quantitative Skills  (Area A2 - Quantitative Outcomes), and IMPACTS: Technology, Mathematics & Sciences (Area D - Natural Science, Mathematics, and Technology).

• Credit toward graduation not allowed for the following combinations of science courses:

  • Principles of Biology and non-Science Biology courses (see Biology Course Descriptions for specifics),

  • Principles of Chemistry and non-Science Chemistry courses (see Chemistry Course Descriptions  for specifics), and

  • Principles of Physics and non-Science Physics courses (see Physics Course Descriptions for specifics).

• The maximum number of hours that will be awarded for credit for completion of internships is 9 credit hours.

• When a course is authorized in multiple areas of a degree program, students completing the course to meet requirements of one area must take a different course in the subsequent area(s) to meet the requirements of the subsequent area(s) (i.e., No course can be counted multiple times in a degree program).

• A baccalaureate degree program requires at least 21 semester hours of upper division courses in the major field and at least 39 semester hours of upper division work overall. Upper division is defined as 3000- and 4000-level courses.