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BIOLOGY

Our traditional major offers a thorough grounding in the biological sciences and prepares students for a variety of career paths, including graduate studies and employment in areas such as veterinary medicine and animal care, conservation biology and wildlife management.

Students are at the center of all that we do at OCU Biology. Our focus is to help you succeed in and out of the classroom and guide you through your curricular paths and career preparation. All of our faculty members serve as advisors for undergraduate biology majors and welcome undergraduates interested in research. Our students enjoy small class sizes in a variety of traditional, online, hybrid and field-trip formats.

A deep understanding of the principles of biology delivers a foundation for any career in the life and health sciences. The majority of our students come to OCU knowing that they will continue on after graduation to attend medical school, dental school, pharmacy school, physician assistant school or one of the many other health profession programs, with 85% of our students accepted into their preferred graduate or professional program.

Students must earn 40-42 credit hours in biology, including 27 credit hours of core courses plus 14 credit hours of upper division (junior and senior level) biology courses.

An additional 18-19 credit hours of chemistry and physics courses are required. Because of its flexible design, this major will prepare you for a variety of career paths, including medical studies, graduate studies and secondary science teaching.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (REQUIRED BIOLOGY HOURS: 25)CREDIT  HOURS: 59 (60)
BIOL 1101 ORIENTATION TO BIOLOGY1
BIOL 1214 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY4
BIOL 2214 GENERAL BOTANY4
BIOL 2414 GENERAL ZOOLOGY4
BIOL 3003 GENETICS3
BIOL 3103 INTRODUCTORY BIOCHEMISTRY3
BIOL 3114 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY4
BIOL 4052 ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE2
BIOL 4502 BIOLOGY CAPSTONE2

Elective Biology hours: 14

Any combination of 3000- and/or 4000-level BIOL-prefix courses. No more than 6 credit hours total may be in BIOL-prefix directed study, research and/or internship courses.

REQUIRED ANCILLARY HOURS18 (19)
CHEM1104 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I4
CHEM 1141 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LAB1
CHEM 1204 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II4
CHEM 1241 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LAB1
CHEM 3103 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I3
CHEM 3141 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I LAB1
PHYS 1503 GENERAL PHYSICS I or3
PHYS 2104 UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I(4)
PHYS 1541 GENERAL PHYSICS I LAB or1
PHYS 2141 UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I LAB(1)

Fall semester: freshman year

  • Orientation to Biology (BIOL 1101)
  • Fundamentals of Biology with lab (BIOL 1214)
  • General Chemistry I + Lab (CHEM 1104, 1141)
  • English Composition I (ENGL 1113)
  • Liberal Arts Seminar (LAS 1063)

16 credit hours

Spring semester: freshman year

  • General Zoology with lab (BIOL 2414) or General Botany with lab (BIOL 2214)
  • General Chemistry II + lab (CHEM 1204, 1241)
  • English Composition II (ENGL 1213)
  • College Algebra (MATH 1503)

15 credit hours

Fall semester: sophomore year

  • Genetics (BIOL 3003) or
  • General Microbiology with lab (BIOL 3114)
  • Organic Chemistry I + lab (CHEM 3103, 3141)
  • General Education classes to total 15-16 credit hours

Spring semester: sophomore year

  • General Zoology with lab (BIOL 2414) or General Botany with lab (BIOL 2214)
  • [Optional: Organic Chemistry II + lab (CHEM 3203, 3241)]1

General Education classes to total 15-16 credit hours

Fall semester: junior year

  • Genetics (BIOL 3003) or General Microbiology with lab (BIOL 3114)
  • General Physics I + lab (PHYS 1503, 1541)

General Education classes to total 15-16 credit hours

Spring semester: junior year

  • Introductory Biochemistry (BIOL 3103)
  • Upper-level Biology Elective2
  • [Optional: General Physics II+ lab (PHYS 1603, 1641)]1

General Education classes to total 15-16 credit hours

Fall semester: senior year

  • Biology Capstone (BIOL 4502)

Upper-level Biology Elective(s) credit hours

Spring semester: senior year

  • Upper-level Biology Elective(s)2

General Education classes to total 15-16 credit hours

124 total credit hours

1Organic Chemistry II + lab, and General Physics II + lab are not required for this degree plan. However, they are necessary courses for some students in order to fulfill prerequisites for certain graduate degree programs.

214 CH of 3000- and/or 4000-level BIOL-prefix courses are required for the degree. No more than six credit hours may be BIOL- prefix Directed Study, Research and/or Internship courses.

The Biology major is ideal if you're interested in pursing an advanced degree or career in traditional medicine or veterinary medicine. Be sure to consult with your admissions counselor for advice on selecting your major based on your goals and future plans.

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