Life Science (BA)
Program Description
The Life Science major is designed for students with a general interest in the biological sciences. This degree provides flexibility for those who want to focus on particular areas of biology that may complement other career options.
Entering and Completing the Major
In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, so if you change your mind about a major, or want to include an additional program, you are able to do so, as outlined below.
Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen major(s) as soon as you have determined it and are eligible to join it, especially by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a major within their first two quarters at SPU.
- If this is your first quarter at SPU and you identified a major in this department as your first choice on your application for admission to the University, you have gained entry to the major. To change or add a major, follow these instructions.
- If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a major in this department.
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major.
- You must complete the major requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the major.
Life Science (BA)
73 Credits Minimum, Including 24 Upper Division (UD)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Core Requirements | ||
| BIO 2101 | General Biology | 5 |
| BIO 2102 | General Biology | 5 |
| BIO 2103 | General Biology | 5 |
| BIO 4615 | Bioethics | 3 |
| Section Credits Required | 18 | |
| Supporting Courses | ||
| CHM 1211 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHM 1212 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| MAT 2360 | Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences | 5 |
| Section Credits Required | 15 | |
| Biology Electives | ||
| Select 30 credits of the following: 1, 5 | 30 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Biological Anthropology | ||
| Geographic Information Systems in Biology | ||
| Coral Reef Ecology | ||
| Evolutionary Ecology in the Galapagos Islands | ||
| Oceanography of the Galapagos Archipelago | ||
| Marine Restoration Ecology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Immunology | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| Biodiversity: Vertebrate Biology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Biodiversity: Plant Identification and Taxonomy | ||
| Women in Science | ||
| Scientific Literature | ||
| Environmental Physiology | ||
| Principles of Development | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Evolutionary Mechanisms | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| Human Physiology | ||
| Animal Physiology | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Neurobiology | ||
| Medical Virology | ||
| Biodiversity: Parasites and Pests | ||
| Marine Botany | ||
| Marine Ecology | ||
| Aquatic Ecology | ||
| Forest Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Chemical Ecology | ||
| Independent Study in Biology | ||
| Biology Practicum | ||
| Internship in Biology | ||
| Special Studies in Biology | ||
| Research Methods in Biology | ||
| Biological Research Proposal | ||
| Biological Research | ||
| Advanced Biological Research | ||
| Section Credits Required | 30 | |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select 10 credits of the following: 2 | 10 | |
| Oceanography | ||
| General Chemistry III | ||
| Survey of Organic Chemistry 3 | ||
| Inorganic Qualitative Analysis | ||
| Organic Chemistry I 3 | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Organic Chemistry III | ||
| Human Nutrition | ||
| Survey of Calculus 4 | ||
| Calculus I 4 | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| Global Climate Change: Scientific, Social and Moral Implications | ||
| Section Credits Required | 10 | |
| Total Credits | 73 | |
- 1
21 UD, 20 credits must include lab or field experience.
- 2
Extra UD from Bio Electives apply.
- 3
Cannot count both CHM 1330 Survey of Organic Chemistry and CHM 3371 Organic Chemistry I.
- 4
Cannot count both MAT 1221 Survey of Calculus and MAT 1234 Calculus I.
- 5
BIO 3436 Behavioral Ecology may be used as Biology Elective if BIO 3434 Animal Behavior not taken.
Suggested Course Sequence
This suggested course sequence is a potential plan for how to complete the major within four years. Please consult with a departmental faculty advisor for course advisement.
- Students should take Chemistry Placement test (available in Canvas) prior to New Student Advising.
- A Chemistry Placement score >35 is a pre-requisite for BIO 2101 General Biology and CHM 1211 General Chemistry I.
- Students who score <35 on the Chemistry Placement test, or who would benefit from an introduction to Chemistry, should take CHM 1000 Preparation for General Chemistry in Autumn quarter, then take BIO 2101 General Biology and CHM 1211 General Chemistry I in Winter quarter.
Four-Year Plan: >35 on Chemistry Placement Test
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Credits | |
| CHM 1211 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| UCOL 1000 | University Colloquium | 1 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Winter | ||
| BIO 2101 | General Biology 1 | 5 |
| CHM 1212 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 2102 | General Biology | 5 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Any Quarter | ||
| WRI 1000 | Academic Inquiry and Writing Seminar | 5 |
| WRI 1100 | Disciplinary Research and Writing Seminar | 5 |
| UFDN 1000 | The Christian Faith | 5 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIO 2103 | General Biology | 5 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Any Quarter | ||
| MAT 2360 | Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences | 5 |
| Select ten credits of Restricted Electives in years 2-4 (see catalog for list). | 10 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Any Quarter | ||
| Select fifteen credits of Biology Electives (see catalog for list). | 15 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIO 4615 | Bioethics | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Any Quarter | ||
| Select fifteen credits of Biology Electives (see catalog for list). | 15 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 89 | |
- 1
Students who test at Math Placement Level B and who either score >45 on the Chemistry Placement Test or transfer in the complete General Chemistry sequence may take BIO 2103 General Biology in Autumn 2024.
Freshman Notes
- Take Math Placement Test (in Canvas) if you are at Math Level 0 or A at time of admission.
- Math Level B is a prerequisite for BIO 2102 General Biology, BIO 2103 General Biology, CHM 1212 General Chemistry II and MAT 2360 Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences.
- Students who test into Level 0 or A should plan to take MAT 0144 College Readiness Math I and/or MAT 0145 College Readiness Math II to achieve Math Level B.
Sophomore Notes
- MAT 2360 Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences is a pre-requisite for several upper-division Biology electives.
- 30 credits of Biology courses 2129 or higher may be taken during years 2-4; 21 credits must be upper-division and 20 credits must include a lab. Consult with your faculty advisor to determine which courses are most appropriate for your career goals.
Junior Notes
- Check the time schedule, as most upper division courses are offered only in certain quarters.
- Ensure that you will have sufficient upper-division credits to meet the 60 minimum required for graduation.
Senior Notes
- Ensure you have ≥8 credits of "W" courses (can be any course, not just in major).
Four-Year Plan: <35 on Chemistry Placement Test
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Credits | |
| CHM 1000 | Preparation for General Chemistry | 2 |
| UCOL 1000 | University Colloquium | 1 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Winter | ||
| BIO 2101 | General Biology | 5 |
| CHM 1211 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 2102 | General Biology | 5 |
| CHM 1212 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Any Quarter | ||
| WRI 1000 | Academic Inquiry and Writing Seminar | 5 |
| WRI 1100 | Disciplinary Research and Writing Seminar | 5 |
| UFDN 1000 | The Christian Faith | 5 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIO 2103 | General Biology | 5 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Any Quarter | ||
| MAT 2360 | Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences | 5 |
| Select ten credits of Restricted Electives in years 2-4 (see catalog for list). | 10 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Any Quarter | ||
| Select fifteen credits of Biology Electives (see catalog for list). | 15 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| BIO 4615 | Bioethics | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Any Quarter | ||
| Select fifteen credits of Biology Electives (see catalog for list). | 15 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 91 | |
Freshman Notes
- Take Math Placement Test (in Canvas) if you are at Math Level 0 or A at time of admission.
- Math Level B is a prerequisite for BIO 2102 General Biology, BIO 2103 General Biology, CHM 1212 General Chemistry II and MAT 2360 Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences.
- Students who test into Level 0 or A should plan to take MAT 0144 College Readiness Math I and/or MAT 0145 College Readiness Math II to achieve Math Level B.
Sophomore Notes
- MAT 2360 Introduction to Statistics for the Sciences is a pre-requisite for several upper-division Biology electives.
- 30 credits of Biology courses 2129 or higher may be taken during years 2-4; 21 credits must be upper-division and 20 credits must include a lab. Consult with your faculty advisor to determine which courses are most appropriate for your career goals.
Junior Notes
- Check the time schedule, as most upper division courses are offered only in certain quarters.
- Ensure that you will have sufficient upper-division credits to meet the 60 minimum required for graduation.
Senior Notes
- Ensure you have ≥8 credits of "W" courses (can be any course, not just in major).