Bachelor of Science in Biology
All life sciences careers are rooted in an understanding of biology. By earning a biology degree with Salem International University, you can lay the foundation for further education in:
- Veterinary science
- Exercise science
- Organic chemistry
- Health sciences and medicine
Our Bachelor of Science in Biology program teaches the scientific knowledge and skills to pursue science career opportunities or advance to graduate-level study. This 40-month, 120-credit degree program is only available at our West Virginia campus.
Objectives of This Program
Our 40-month accelerated Bachelor of Science in Biology degree program covers general knowledge, scientific principles, and laboratory skills. The goal is to help you graduate with the skills you need to pursue a variety of career opportunities in research or continue to graduate or professional study in a biology-related field.
You also have the option to pursue a concentration in Exercise Science. Click here to read more about the Bachelor of Science in Biology – Exercise Science program.
When you earn your Bachelor of Science in Biology with us, you’ll be prepared to pursue entry-level career opportunities in:
- Health care
- Research laboratories
This program’s main focus is to prepare you for further professional study in a life-sciences related field.
Program of Study
In our biology degree program, you’ll develop a general knowledge base designed to hone your critical thinking skills, along with scientific theory and laboratory skills in biology, chemistry, and physics.
General Education Courses:
- UNV100 Student Success & Orientation
- ENG101 Written English
- ENG102 Written English 2
- ENG200 Technical Writing
- COM104 Principles of Human Communication
- ECO252 Macroeconomics
- ECO253 Microeconomics
- PSY100 Introduction to Psychology
- SOC110 Introduction to Sociology
- IT105 Computer Applications
- HIS153 U.S. History
- HIS154 U.S. History 2
- MAT109 College Algebra
- MAT140 Statistics
- HED120 Core Concepts of Personal Health
- PSC100 American Government & Society
International Focus Courses:
- ENG203 Multicultural Literature
- HIS125 World Civilizations
- HIS126 World Civilizations 2
- HIS210 World Geography
- HIS215 Society and the Individual
Core Biology Curriculum:
- BIO110 General Biology
- BIO111 General Biology 2
- BIO112 General Biology Lab
- BIO210 Anatomy & Physiology
- BIO211 Anatomy & Physiology 2
- CHM110 General Chemistry
- CHM111 General Chemistry 2
- CHM112 General Chemistry Lab
- CHM210 Organic Chemistry
- CHM211 Organic Chemistry 2
- CHM212 Organic Chemistry Lab
- CHM350 Biochemistry
- CHM351 Biochemistry 2
- PHY110 General Physics
- PHY111 General Physics 2
- PHY112 General Physics Lab
- BIO499 Senior Capstone Project
Students also complete an additional five courses (or 15 credits) in the exercise science concentration. It takes ten consecutive academic semesters of 12 semester credit hours each or 3 credit hours per month to complete the program—40 months in total.
SIU offers the Bachelor of Science in Biology on campus in West Virginia. We offer you:
- A professionally-focused curriculum and accelerated course sequence
- Experienced faculty who support your goals
- A diverse learning community
- Comprehensive preparation for graduate-level study in life sciences or the job market
UNV100 – Student Success & Orientation (3 Credits)
This course introduces new students to tools for success in and out of the classroom. Students learn about college life, academic success, and intercultural communication to help with their transition to Salem International University. Prior learning is assessed for each student. Students will focus on the skills needed for successful completion of the general education curriculum and their major.
ENG101 – Written English (3 Credits)
Helps students develop the skills necessary for effective written communication. Instruction centers in exemplary nonfiction prose and in writing expository paragraphs and essays.
ENG102 – Written English 2 (3 Credits)
This course builds on Written English I to emphasize objective, public forms of exposition including description, analysis, and argument, the conventions of formal written English and basic scholarly research skills. The development of creative, critical, and analytical thinking skills are emphasized. Prerequisite: ENG101.
ENG200 – Technical Writing (3 Credits)
Teaches clarity and directness in writing for business and the professions. Students use a problem-solving model of goal and audience analyses in producing reports, organizational correspondence, and instructions.
COM104 – Principles of Human Communication (3 Credits)
An introduction to intra-personal, interpersonal, small group, and public communication skills.
HIS153 – U.S. History (3 Credits)
From the European colonization of North America to independence, the Civil War, and the industrial revolution, this course analyzes the social, economic, and political forces behind the United States’ rise to world power by the latter half of the nineteenth century.
HIS154 – U.S. History 2 (3 Credits)
By describing the domestic and foreign policies of the United States throughout the twentieth century, the course analyzes the reasons behind its rise to superpower status by the turn of the twenty-first century. At the same time, it sketches the causes and effects behind the labor, African-American, and women’s right movements.
IT105 – Computer Applications (3 Credits)
This course will provide students with basic computing concepts and applications, and will offer a useful foundation upon which students can develop skills necessary to become effective users of operating systems, application software, and utility software. The primary focus of this course will be on productivity software applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, the Internet and presentation software.
MAT109 – College Algebra (3 Credits)
This course provides a review of the real number system and algebraic expressions, linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, complex numbers, graphing, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations, and basic matrix algebra. This course meets part of the mathematics general education requirement for graduation.
MAT140 – Statistics (3 Credits)
This course provides development of basic concepts in statistics including descriptive statistics, probability, central tendency measures, distributions, correlation, and hypothesis testing. This course meets part of the mathematics general education requirement for graduation.
PSC100 – American Government and Politics (3 Credits)
Survey of American government and politics, including federal, state, and local governments, with consideration of the constitutions, civil liberties, partisan voting behavior, and functions of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of our government.
PSY100 – Principles of Psychology (3 Credits)
This course consists of the study of the mind, behavior, biopsychology, psychological development, sensation, perception, learning, remembering, cognitive processing, emotion, motivation, stress, personality, intelligence, social psychology, psychopathology, and therapies for mental disorders.
SOC110 – Introduction to Sociology (3 Credits)
This course is designed to give a broad overview of the field of sociology. It focuses on all aspects of society: culture, social interaction, institutions, group processes, social control, diversity and inequality based on race, ethnicity, class, gender, and all causes and the nature of social stability and social change.
HED120 – Core Concepts of Personal Health (3 Credits)
Designed to acquaint students with concepts of health including total fitness and evaluation, nutrition, stress management, and current health topics.
ECO252 – Macroeconomics (3 Credits)
The examination of macroeconomic theory, the law of supply and demand, market equilibrium, operations of the market system, basic money transactions, and circular flow of money. Study of economic institutions and the methods and tools used to balance the economy as a whole.
ECO253 – Microeconomics (3 Credits)
An analysis of the microeconomic theory. Topics include the investigation of individual businesses, consumers and small segments of the economy; the study of price and output decisions in competitive, monopolistic, and oligopolistic market conditions; and an examination of wage policies and unions, urban and farm problems, and antitrust regulations. The role of international trade and specialization is emphasized.
ENG203 – Multicultural Literature (3 Credits)
Living in the twenty-first century is living in a multicultural world. Reading and discussing literature form many different cultures helps students develop understanding of those cultures. To this end, students in this class will read and discuss the works of authors from many different cultures, past and present, in the light of background information about the lives of those authors and about their cultures. Prerequisite: ENG101.
HIS125 – World Civilization (3 Credits)
The course deals with the origin and development of early civilizations throughout the world from earliest times until the seventeenth century. Special attention will be given to the political, economic, social, and cultural forces still existing today.
HIS126 – World Civilization 2 (3 Credits)
History 126 deals with the development of the various aspects of modern civilizations around the world. Special consideration will be given to the interaction between other cultures and modern America.
HIS210 – World Geography (3 Credits)
Global geography and climate and their influences upon the economy, political structure, and general culture of the nations of the world.
BIO110 – General Biology (3 Credits) | BIO111 – General Biology 2 (3 Credits)
This series is an introduction to the structure and composition of living organisms at the cellular and macromolecule levels. An overview of the chemistry of life includes the properties of water and a survey of biological macromolecules. The organization and function of prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells are compared, followed by consideration of the energy pathways central to metabolism in plants, animals, and bacteria. The cell cycle, mitosis, and meiosis are introduced in discussions of cellular reproduction.
An overview of genetics focuses on concepts from organismal heredity down to the nature of a gene. The diversity of life is explored by consideration of its evolutionary origins, phylogenetic relatedness, physiology, and ecological relationships. Evolution topics include natural selection, population genetics, and speciation. Characteristics and representative of all five kingdoms and the major phyla are discussed comparatively. The ecological topics of population dynamics, species interactions, community organization and ecosystem description and function conclude the course. Throughout the year, laboratory sections will be selected to reinforce some of these concepts and to foster the scientific skills of observation and analytical reasoning. This is the required prerequisite biology sequence for biological science majors regardless of the upper division of specialization.
BIO112 – General Biology Laboratory (3 Credits)
This laboratory course is intended to reinforce some of the theoretical concepts addressed during the BIO110-111 sequence and to foster the scientific skills of observation and analytical reasoning. This laboratory course will satisfy part of the laboratory science requirements for the BS degree in Biology.
BIO210 – Anatomy & Physiology (3 Credits) | BIO211 – Anatomy & Physiology 2 (3 Credits)
The series of courses covers the structure and function of human anatomy and physiology. Structure and function will be presented from the subcellular and macromolecular levels to the whole-organ and systems levels. Function will be presented with special emphasis on the interrelationships inherent in the intra- as well as inter-organ feedback systems.
CHM110 – General Chemistry (3 Credits) | CHM111 – General Chemistry 2 (3 Credits)
This is an introduction to the basic calculations and conversions involving the chemical laws and principles of physical chemistry. Also included are modern theories of atomic and molecular structure from quantum chemistry, basic qualitative and quantitative analysis, elementary inorganic chemistry, and some organic chemicals. The laboratory sections help to foster the following scientific skills: observation, analytical reasoning, and the manipulation of glassware, equipment, and chemicals. This is the required prerequisite chemistry sequence for biological science majors regardless of the upper division specialization.
CHM112 – General Chemistry Lab (3 Credits)
The laboratory course provides hands-on experience with the general procedures and fundamental chemical reactions. This laboratory course will satisfy part of the laboratory science requirements for the B.S. degree in Biology.
CHM210 – Organic Chemistry (3 Credits) | CHM211 – Organic Chemistry 2 (3 Credits)
This course addresses the chemistry of carbon-containing compounds. Topics include structure, physical properties, and chemical properties of the common classes of organic compounds and functional groups; basic spectroscopy, including IR, UV, NMR, and MS; functional group preparation and interconversions; and stereochemistry.
CHM212 – Organic Chemistry Lab (3 Credits)
This lab course provides hands-on experience with organic reactions and functional group manipulations.
CHM350 – Biochemistry (3 Credits) | CHM351 – Biochemistry 2 (3 Credits)
This two-course sequence covers all of the fundamentals of biochemistry. Emphasis is placed on the three-dimensional structure of proteins and membranes, and the methodological theories related to their measurement. Topics include protein sequence analysis for evolutionary relationships, enzyme kinetics and mechanisms, carbohydrates, bioenergetics, pathways of intermediary metabolism, metabolic control mechanisms, and the cellular biochemistry of biosynthesis, anabolism, and catabolism.
PHY110 – General Physics (3 Credits) | PHY111 – General Physics 2 (3 Credits)
This two-course sequence presents an algebra-based study of the basic laws of nature and how they describe the fundamental aspects of matter and energy and their interactions. Areas of study include the tools of physics, Newtonian mechanics, waves, sound, and heat and thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, light, and selected elements of modern physics.
PHY112 – General Physics Lab (3 Credits)
This lab course provides exposure to the experimental methods of science through exercises related to selected topics covers in PHY110.
Overview of Admission Requirements
Anyone who wishes to apply to our Bachelor of Science in Biology program must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- High school graduate or equivalent (such as a GED or international secondary institution).
High school transcripts (and/or college transcripts for transfer students) must be provided before the end of the first semester of study. International students will need to provide results of credential evaluation and English language capability.
Earn Your Biology Degree
Set yourself on the path for success in the sciences with your Bachelor of Science in Biology. Talk to a Salem International University admissions advisor for more information today!