Biological Sciences BS
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Minimum Required Credits: 125.0
Co-op Option(s): Three Co-op, Two Co-op, One Co-op, No Co-op
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1029
About the Program
The biological sciences major resides in the Department of Biology. Students earn a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences and are prepared for technical careers in research or commercial laboratories, or for professional schools (i.e., medical school, dental school) or graduate study.
The biological sciences encompass many areas of study. Biologists study structures and functions of living organisms, the genes, proteins and other macromolecules that affect the structures and functions of living organisms, and how living organisms can interact and affect each other. Discoveries in the biological sciences influence many aspects of our daily lives and have become the foundation of many new developments in biotechnology, health, medicine, and genomics. Biologists can pursue a variety of options including careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or other health-related areas; in research or commercial laboratories at pharmaceutical companies, medical research laboratories, biotechnology companies or in government agencies; and in teaching. In fact, more than 100 different occupations have been listed for biologists. Graduates in the biological sciences are in demand and enjoy a high placement rate with competitive salaries.
The biological sciences major is designed to provide a sound basis for careers in the private sector, government and research laboratories, and for advanced study in graduate and professional programs in medicine, other health related areas, or in teaching. The curriculum has a focus on experiential learning to best prepare students for future work and learning.
As part of the biological sciences major, students will take required support courses in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and the social sciences in addition to courses in biology. With elective options, students can complete a minor in another field. Students are encouraged to consult frequently with their academic advisor for curriculum planning.
In addition to the core requirements, students select one of five concentrations in a field of interest:
- Cell/Molecular Biology/Genetics/Biochemistry
- General Biology
- Genetics and Genomics
- Pathobiology
- Pre-Med
- Cell and Gene Therapy
Co-Op
Through Drexel Co-op, biological sciences majors gain on-the-job experience — exploring their career options, strengthening their résumés and building a professional network in the process. This experience is crucial for biology majors interested in pursuing advanced degrees and gives graduates a competitive edge for their careers.
Additional Information
For more information about this program, please visit the Department of Biology web page.
Degree Requirements
| University Requirements | ||
| EXP 1001 | Introduction to Experiential Learning | 3.0 |
| WRIT 1100 | Composition and Rhetoric I | 3.0 |
| or WRIT 1110 | English Composition I | |
| WRIT 1200 | Composition and Rhetoric II | 3.0 |
| or WRIT 1210 | English Composition II | |
| Introductory Core Competencies | 6.0 | |
| Select one course from each of the three categories | ||
Introductory: Inquire and Analyze | ||
Introductory: Collaborate and Integrate | ||
Introductory: Apply and Engage-satisfied by AS-I 1007 in the College Requirements below | ||
| Free Electives | 15.0 | |
| College Degree Requirements | ||
| AS-I 1007 | Journeys in Arts and Sciences | 3.0 |
| AS-I 1008 | Data Fluency | 3.0 |
| AS-I 1009 | Interdisciplinary Ethics | 3.0 |
| Program Requirements | ||
| BIO 1141 | Majors Biology | 4.0 |
| BIO 1142 | Journeys in Biology Laboratory | 2.0 |
| BIO 2219 | Techniques in Molecular Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 2241 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4.0 |
| BIO 2242 | Inquiries in Biology Laboratory | 2.0 |
| BIO 2243 | Careers and Applications in Biology | 1.0 |
| BIO 2311 | Biochemistry: Metabolism | 3.0 |
| BIO 4998 | Capstone in Biology I | 3.0 |
| BIO 4999 | Capstone in Biology II | 3.0 |
| or BIO 4989 | Thesis in Biology | |
| CHEM 1040 | General Chemistry I | 4.0 |
| CHEM 1042 | General Chemistry II | 4.0 |
| CHEM 2410 | Organic Chemistry I | 4.0 |
| CHEM 2412 | Organic Chemistry II | 4.0 |
| MATH 1001 | Mathematical Tools and Techniques | 4.0 |
| or MATH 1201 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 1801 | Scientific Data Analysis | 3.0 |
| PHYS 1101 | Physics I | 4.0 |
| PHYS 1102 | Physics II | 4.0 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose 6 credits from the list below: | 6.0 | |
| Introductory Arabic I | ||
| Introductory Arabic II | ||
| Intermediate Arabic I | ||
| Intermediate Arabic II | ||
| Introductory Chinese I | ||
| Introductory Chinese II | ||
| Intermediate Chinese I | ||
| Intermediate Chinese II | ||
| Principles of Communication | ||
| Introductory French I | ||
| Introductory French II | ||
| Intermediate French I | ||
| Intermediate French II | ||
| Introductory Korean I | ||
| Introductory Korean II | ||
| Intermediate Korean I | ||
| Intermediate Korean II | ||
| Introductory German I | ||
| Introductory German II | ||
| Intermediate German I | ||
| Intermediate German II | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Diversity | ||
| Becoming Global: Language and Cultural Context | ||
| Understanding Global: Markets and Governance | ||
| Introduction to Hebrew | ||
| Introductory Hebrew II | ||
| Intermediate Hebrew I | ||
| Intermediate Hebrew II | ||
| History of Modern Biology | ||
| Medicine Before Germs | ||
| History of Modern Medicine | ||
| Introductory Italian I | ||
| Introductory Italian II | ||
| Intermediate Italian I | ||
| Intermediate Italian II | ||
| Introductory Japanese I | ||
| Introductory Japanese II | ||
| Intermediate Japanese I | ||
| Intermediate Japanese II | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Neuroethics | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Environmental Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy of Medicine | ||
| Philosophy of Technology | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society | ||
| Medicine, Technology, and Society | ||
| Addiction and Society | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Medicine, Technology and Society | ||
| Sociology of Health and Illness | ||
| Sociology of Health Professions | ||
| Introductory to Spanish | ||
| Introductory Spanish II | ||
| Spanish for Healthcare Professionals I | ||
| Intermediate Spanish I | ||
| Intermediate Spanish II | ||
| Spanish for Healthcare Professionals II | ||
| Concentration | ||
| Select one concentration from the lists below | 24.0-25.0 | |
| Total Credits | 125.0-126.0 | |
Cell/Molecular/Genetics/Biochemistry Concentration
| Required Courses | ||
| BIO 3215 | Techniques in Cell Biology | 3.0 |
| or BIO 3306 | Biochemistry Laboratory | |
| BIO 3244 | Genetics | 3.0 |
| or BIO 4444 | Human Genetics | |
| BIO 3374 | Developmental Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 4433 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
| or BIO 4447 | Advanced Genetics and Molec Bio | |
| or BIO 4404 | Advanced Biochemistry | |
| ESS 2012 | Evolution | 4.0 |
| Elective courses | ||
| Select three of the following courses: | 9.0 | |
| Genetics 1 | ||
or BIO 4444 | Human Genetics | |
| Pharmacology | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Stem Cell Research | ||
| Neuroscience: From Cells to Circuits | ||
or BIO 4462 | Biology of Neuron Function | |
| Histology | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry 1 | ||
| Genomics | ||
| Virology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Cell Biology of Disease | ||
| Advanced Cell Biology 1 | ||
| Advanced Genetics and Molec Bio 1 | ||
| Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration | ||
| Neurobiology of Disease | ||
| Research | ||
| Molecular Ecology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Total Credits | 25.0 | |
- 1
If BIO 3244, BIO 4404, BIO 4433, BIO 4444, or BIO 4447 is taken as the required course, it cannot be used for an elective.
Pre-Med Concentration
| Required Courses | ||
| BIO 2201 | Human Physiology I | 3.0 |
| BIO 2203 | Human Physiology II | 3.0 |
| BIO 3386 | Gross Anatomy | 3.0 |
| BIO 3387 | Gross Anatomy Laboratory I | 3.0 |
| BIO 4426 | Immunology | 3.0 |
| or BIO 2221 | Microbiology | |
| or BIO 4420 | Virology | |
| or BIO 3323 | Parasitology | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select three of the following courses: | 9.0 | |
| Microbiology 1 | ||
| Evolutionary Biology and Human Health | ||
| Biology of Stress | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Pharmacology | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Microbial Pathogenesis | ||
| Parasitology 1 | ||
| Neuroscience: From Cells to Circuits | ||
or BIO 4462 | Biology of Neuron Function | |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Histology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Gross Anatomy Laboratory II | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry | ||
| Virology 1 | ||
| Immunology 1 | ||
| Cell Biology of Disease | ||
| Immunobiology of Disease | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Neurobiology of Autism Disorders | ||
| Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Neurobiology of Disease | ||
| Research | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Total Credits | 24.0 | |
- 1
If BIO 4426 BIO 2221, BIO 4420, or BIO 3323 is taken as the required course, it cannot be used for an elective.
Pathobiology Concentration
| Required courses | ||
| BIO 2221 | Microbiology | 3.0 |
| BIO 2222 | Microbiology Laboratory | 3.0 |
| BIO 3323 | Parasitology | 3.0 |
| or BIO 4420 | Virology | |
| BIO 4426 | Immunology | 3.0 |
| ESS 2012 | Evolution | 4.0 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select three of the following courses: | 9.0 | |
| Human Physiology I | ||
| Human Physiology II | ||
| Evolutionary Biology and Human Health | ||
| Biology of Stress | ||
| Pharmacology | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Microbial Pathogenesis | ||
| Neuroscience: From Cells to Circuits | ||
or BIO 4462 | Biology of Neuron Function | |
| Virology 1 | ||
or BIO 3323 | Parasitology | |
| Cell Biology of Disease | ||
| Immunobiology of Disease | ||
| Neurobiology of Autism Disorders | ||
| Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration | ||
| Neurobiology of Disease | ||
| Research | ||
| Total Credits | 25.0 | |
General Biology Concentration
| Required Courses | ||
| Select any 8 non-required BIO (Bioscience & Biotechnology) courses 2000-level or above | 24.0 | |
| Total Credits | 24.0 | |
Cell & Gene Therapy Concentration
| Required courses | ||
| BIO 3215 | Techniques in Cell Biology | 3.0 |
| or BIO 3331 | Bioinformatics | |
| BIO 3244 | Genetics | 3.0 |
| or BIO 4413 | Genomics | |
| BIO 4420 | Virology | 3.0 |
| BIO 4426 | Immunology | 3.0 |
| ESS 2012 | Evolution | 4.0 |
| Elective courses | ||
| Select three of the following courses: | 9.0 | |
| Evolutionary Biology and Human Health | ||
| Techniques in Cell Biology 1 | ||
| Genetics 2 | ||
| Pharmacology | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Bioinformatics 3 | ||
| Stem Cell Research | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Genomics 4 | ||
| Cell Biology of Disease | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Research | ||
| Population Genetics | ||
| Total Credits | 25.0 | |
- 1
If BIO 3215 is taken as the required course, it cannot be used for an elective.
- 2
If BIO 3244 is taken as the required course, it cannot be used for an elective.
- 3
If BIO 3331 is taken as the required course, it cannot be used for an elective.
- 4
If BIO 4413 is taken as the required course, it cannot be used for an elective.
Genetics & Geonomics Concentration
| Required courses | ||
| BIO 3244 | Genetics | 3.0 |
| BIO 3331 | Bioinformatics | 3.0 |
| BIO 4413 | Genomics | 3.0 |
| BIO 4444 | Human Genetics | 3.0 |
| ESS 2012 | Evolution | 4.0 |
| Elective courses | ||
| Select three of the following courses: | 9.0 | |
| Evolutionary Biology and Human Health | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Stem Cell Research | ||
| Neuroscience: From Cells to Circuits | ||
or BIO 4462 | Biology of Neuron Function | |
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Virology | ||
| Advanced Genetics and Molec Bio | ||
| Neurobiology of Autism Disorders | ||
| Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration | ||
| Neurobiology of Disease | ||
| Research | ||
| Molecular Ecology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Population Genetics | ||
| Total Credits | 25.0 | |