Offered by Department of Biology

Biology Major

Molecular Biology Comprehensive
Bachelor of Science

• General Studies Program Hours = 45
  including General Studies coursework required by major
  • Foundational Core (Written, Math, Oral, Democracy) = 12 including:
    • MATH 102GS*, College Algebra - 3 hours
    • *The Molecular Biology degree requires a minimal mathematical competency at the level of calculus. Students with sufficient preparation may enter the mathematics program at a higher level, reducing the total hours needed. See advisor for math placement.
  • Portal = 3
  • Distribution = 27
    • Aesthetics minimum = 3
    • Humanities minimum = 6
    • Social Sciences minimum = 6
    • Natural Sciences minimum = 9 including:
      • BIOL 105GS, Biology I - 4 hours
      • PHYS 205GS, General Physics I - 4 hours
      • PHYS 205LGS, Physics I Laboratory - 1 hour
    • Analytical and Quantitative Thought minimum = 0
    • Wellness minimum = 0
  • Capstone = 3
• BS Science-related course requirements = 8
  • CHEM 160GS, General Chemistry - 3 hours
  • CHEM 160LGS, General Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour
  • CHEM 161GS, General Chemistry - 3 hours
  • CHEM 161LGS, General Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour
• Major Option = 50
• Minimum total hours required coursework = 103
• Unrestricted electives in 120 hour program = 17
• Minimum total hours required for BS in Molecular Biology Comprehensive = 120
• All UNK degrees require a minimum of 120 hours. Forty (40) of the hours required for all UNK degrees must be upper division hours, which are courses numbered 300 or above taken at a 4-year college or university.

A minimum 2.5 GPA is required in all courses counting toward this major.

1. Molecular Biology Comprehensive Core Requirements (29 hours required)
   • Take all of the following:
     • BIOL 106GS, Biology II - 4 hours
     • BIOL 201, Fundamental Tools for Biological Studies - 2 hours
     • BIOL 290, Evolution - 3 hours
     • BIOL 309, Cellular Biology - 4 hours
     • BIOL 360, Genetics - 4 hours
     • BIOL 375, Scientific Communication - 2 hours
     • BIOL 450, Molecular Biology - 3 hours
     • BIOL 452, Techniques in Molecular Biology - 3 hours
   • Take 2 hours from ONE of the following courses:
     • BIOL 420, Biology Research - 1-5 hours
     • BIOL 421, Senior Seminar in Biology - 1 hour
   • Take 2 hours from the following:
     • BIOL 482, Seminar in Molecular Biology - 1 hour
2. Biology Comprehensive Supporting Course Requirements (21 hours required)
   • Take ONE of the following options:
     • Take 2 courses:
       • CHEM 250, Elementary Organic Chemistry - 4 hours
       • CHEM 250L, Elementary Organic Chemistry Lab - 1 hour
     • OR take 4 courses:
       • CHEM 360, Organic Chemistry - 4 hours
       • CHEM 360L, Organic Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour
       • CHEM 361, Organic Chemistry - 4 hours
       • CHEM 361L, Organic Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour
   • Take:
     • CHEM 351, Biochemistry - 3 hours
     • CHEM 351L, Biochemistry Laboratory - 1 hour
   • Take 1 course from:
     • MATH 115, Calculus I with Analytic Geometry - 5 hours (Prereq: MATH 103GS OR Math ACT score of 23 or greater and 4 years of high school mathematics including 2 years of algebra and 1 year of geometry and a senior level pre-calculus course)
     • MATH 123GS, Applied Calculus I - 3 hours
   • Take 9-12 hours from the following:
     • BIOL 305, BioStatistics - 3 hours
     • BIOL 400, Microbiology - 4 hours
     • BIOL 401, Principles of Immunology - 4 hours (Prereq: either BIOL 211GS or BIOL 400 AND either BIOL 309 OR CHEM 351 and CHEM 351L OR permission of instructor)
     • BIOL 404, Developmental Biology - 3 hours
     • BIOL 440, Infectious Diseases - 4 hours (Prereq: BIOL 211GS or BIOL 400 or permission)
     • BIOL 461, Human Genetics - 3 hours
     • BIOL 465, Physiology - 3 hours
     • CHEM 352, Biochemistry II - 3 hours
     • CHEM 352L, Biochemistry II Laboratory - 1 hour