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    Feb 01, 2025  
Missouri Baptist University 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Missouri Baptist University 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Biology, BS


CIP Code: 26.0101

This degree is recommended for students planning to pursue careers in biology, fields related to biology, or medical sciences. Students considering post-graduate education should evaluate prerequisites required for those programs to ensure timely progress and graduation. 

Students pursuing a B.S. in Biology will complete the Biology core curriculum and will then select one of two concentrations: Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences or Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Plant Sciences.

Students who desire certification to teach biology in high school (grades 9-12) are required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to complete specific courses both in education and the sciences. For more information, see the Biology Education major under the School of Teacher Education  section of this catalog.

For other degree options, MBU undergraduate programs in biology can lead to a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Southwest Baptist University. See D.P.T. in Physical Therapy under the Academic Programs  page for more information.

General Education Requirements   

Bachelor of Science   

Biology Major Requirements


Students pursuing a B.S. in Biology will complete the Biology core curriculum and will then select one of two concentrations: Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences or Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Plant Sciences.

Required Biology (BIOL) Courses


Total: 16 Hours


Required Chemistry (CHEM) Courses


Total: 15 Hours


Required Mathematics (MATH) Courses


Total: 6-8 Hours


Total: 8 Hours


Selection of Biology Concentration


1. Concentration in Biomedical Sciences


Two of the following:

Total: 21-22 Hours

Concentration Electives

Hours used to fulfill the concentration electives may not be used to fulfill other requirements3

Total: At Least 9 Hours

2. Concentration in Ecology and Plant Biology


Required Courses

Total: 16 Hours

Concentration Electives

Total: At Least 18 Hours

Total: 77-80 Hours


Note(s)


* Hours applied to general education requirements

** Hours applied to degree requirements

Students interested in pursuing post-graduate education should consult prerequisites for those programs to determine if calculus is required.

Physics requirements may also be fulfilled with General Physics I and II, with laboratories (PHYS 211+213 and PHYS 221+223, prerequisites apply). Students interested in pursuing post-graduate education should consult prerequisites for those programs to determine which physics track is appropriate.

Hours used to fulfill the concentration electives may not be used to fulfill other requirements.

Elective hours for the concentration should be used to ensure satisfaction of the 120-hour and the 42-hour upper-division graduation requirements.

Organic chemistry II and laboratory is recommended for students planning to pursue clinical post-graduate education. Students should determine if the second semester of organic chemistry is a prerequisite.

Students wishing to use courses not listed to fulfill elective hours for the concentration will need to petition the advisor, program director, and division chair for approval.

  • At least six hours of major and three hours of minor must be earned at Missouri Baptist University
  • A grade of D is not acceptable in courses taken to fulfill the requirements for a major or minor 
  • If a substitution has been made, attach a copy of the signed approval and indicate the course number and title following the catalog requirement. Please include the date of the substitution. 
     

Requirements for degree conferral:

  • At least 24 of the last 32 hours taken at Missouri Baptist University

  • Cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on a 4.00 scale (those seeking certification must achieve a GPA of 2.75)

  • At least 42 hours of Upper Division (54 for a dual degree)

  • At least 120 total credit hours (144 for a dual degree)