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Biology - B.S.

Our Biology B.S. program provides you with a solid foundation in the fundamental principles of biology, as well as advanced knowledge in specialized areas of the discipline. With state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology and experienced faculty, you'll gain the skills needed to succeed in the fast-paced world of biology. 

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Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Biology is for students who are interested in pursuing an in-depth specialization as a biologist or wish to pursue a medical or health care career.

The Biology major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Molecular and Cellular Biology concentration is the study of biological processes within and between individual cells, allowing for a better understanding of biological principles in normal and diseased states. The focus of this program includes concepts related to the genetic basis of life, regulation of gene expression and cellular functions.
  • The Organismal Biology concentration allows students to examine organisms in their natural environment and address fundamental principles of survival and adaptation in discrete micro-environments and entire ecosystems. While basic concepts of biological and chemical functions are covered, the focus of this concentration is comprehensive aspects of the whole organism.
  • The Pre-Medicine/Pre-Podiatry/Pre-Dentistry concentration prepares students for careers in medicine and health care. The curriculum provides the courses necessary for admission to advanced degree programs in healthcare and biomedical science professions. 
Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Understand the fundamental biological principles.
  2. Acquire the fundamental skills necessary for laboratory and field investigations.
  3. Conduct proper experimental design, analyze biological data and communicate research results.
  4. Know and appreciate the role that biology plays in societal issues, such as those related to the environment, biodiversity, ethics, human health and disease. 
Coursework
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Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
BSCI 10110BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 10120BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 30156ELEMENTS OF GENETICS 3
BSCI 40163EVOLUTION 3
BSCI 40600WRITING IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (WIC) 11
CHEM 10060GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10061GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 10063GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
CHEM 20481BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I 3-4
or CHEM 30481 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
MATH 12002ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
MATH 12003ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II 3-5
or MATH 30011 BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)8
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours)10
Concentrations
Choose from the following:50
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Organismal Biology
Pre-Medicine/Pre-Podiatry/Pre-Dentistry
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Molecular and Cellular Biology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
BSCI 30140CELL BIOLOGY 4
BSCI 40158MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 3
CHEM 20482BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 11-3
or CHEM 30475 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or CHEM 30482 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives, choose from the following: 231
Biology (BSCI) Electives 2
CHEM 20482
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 1
or CHEM 30482
 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
CHEM 30475
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
CHEM 30476
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
PHY 13001
& PHY 13021
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)
or PHY 23101
 GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB)
PHY 13002
& PHY 13022
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
or PHY 23102
 GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
General Electives5
Minimum Total Credit Hours:50
1

CHEM 20482 may be substituted with CHEM 30284 with faculty advisor approval.

2

Students should select their electives in consultation with an advisor. To fulfill this elective list, students must select a minimum of one from the following courses: BSCI 30105, BSCI 40191, BSCI 40192, BSCI 40196, BSCI 40199. However, they may only select a maximum of 6 credit hours of any combination of these courses (with no more than 4 credit hours S/U graded). Enrollment in these courses must be determined with a faculty advisor.

Organismal Biology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CHEM 20482BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 11-3
or CHEM 30475 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or CHEM 30482 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
Organismal Core Electives, choose from the following:7-8
BSCI 30171
GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
BSCI 30270
GENERAL PLANT BIOLOGY
BSCI 30275
LOCAL FLORA (ELR)
BSCI 30360
GENERAL ECOLOGY
BSCI 30560
INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
BSCI 30580
ENTOMOLOGY
BSCI 40272
PLANT ANATOMY
BSCI 40430
ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
BSCI 40556
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives, choose from the following: 230
Biology (BSCI) Electives 2
CHEM 20482
BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 1
or CHEM 30482
 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
CHEM 30475
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
CHEM 30476
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
PHY 13001
& PHY 13021
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)
or PHY 23101
 GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB)
PHY 13002
& PHY 13022
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
or PHY 23102
 GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
General Electives6
Minimum Total Credit Hours:50
1

CHEM 20482 may be substituted with CHEM 30284 with faculty advisor approval.

2

Students should select their electives in consultation with an advisor. To fulfill this elective list, students must select a minimum of one from the following courses: BSCI 30105, BSCI 40191, BSCI 40192, BSCI 40196, BSCI 40199. However, they may only select a maximum of 6 credit hours of any combination of these courses (with no more than 4 credit hours S/U graded). Enrollment in these courses must be determined with a faculty advisor.

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Podiatry/Pre-Dentistry Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
BSCI 30105CAREER PATHWAYS IN BIOLOGY 1
BSCI 30130HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 3
or BSCI 40430 ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
BSCI 30140CELL BIOLOGY 4
BSCI 30171GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY 4
CHEM 20482BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 12-3
or CHEM 30482 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
CHEM 30284INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 4
or CHEM 40245 BIOCHEMICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE
CHEM 30475ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR) 1
CHEM 30476ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II 1
PSYC 11762GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
SOC 12050INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
Biology (BSCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 214
Physics Electives, choose from the following:10
PHY 13001
& PHY 13002
& PHY 13021
& PHY 13022
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
PHY 23101
& PHY 23102
GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB)
and GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB)
Minimum Total Credit Hours:50
1

Students must stay within a single organic chemistry series. CHEM 20482 is required if CHEM 20481 is selected in the major core; CHEM 30482 is required if CHEM 30481 is selected in the major core.

2

Students should select their upper-division biology electives in consultation with an advisor. The following courses are not required, but highly recommended for this major: BSCI 30518, BSCI 40174, BSCI 40433, BSCI 40434, BSCI 40517. In addition, students may take the following (maximum 6 credits total, maximum 4 credit hours S/U graded) for biology electives, but are not required to do so: BSCI 40191, BSCI 40192, BSCI 40196, BSCI 40199.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

The following Biological Sciences (BSCI) courses may NOT be used in the elective category for majors or minors in the Department of Biological Sciences:

BSCI 10001HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) 3
BSCI 10002LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) 3
BSCI 10003LABORATORY EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
BSCI 10005ANATOMY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS 5
BSCI 11010FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) 3
BSCI 11020FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) 3
BSCI 16001HORTICULTURAL BOTANY 3
BSCI 20019BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION 4
BSCI 20021BASIC MICROBIOLOGY 3
BSCI 20022BASIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 1
BSCI 21010ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 21020ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II 4
BSCI 26002ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF PEST MANAGEMENT 3
BSCI 26003PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I 3
BSCI 26004PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II 3
BSCI 30050HUMAN GENETICS 3
BSCI 40020BIOLOGY OF AGING 3
 

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.S.

  • Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.1 
  • The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science is exempt from this requirement.2
  • Minimum Elementary I and II of the same language
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8 credit hours and two courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science exemption exists under another college policy (Three-Plus-One Programs).

Roadmap
On This Page

Roadmaps

Molecular and Cellular Biology Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!BSCI 10120 BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10061 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10063 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
!BSCI 30140 CELL BIOLOGY 4
!CHEM 20481
or CHEM 30481
 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
3-4
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30475
or CHEM 30482
 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
0-3
!MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
!Biology, Chemistry, Physics Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Four
!BSCI 30156 ELEMENTS OF GENETICS 3
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30475
or CHEM 30482
 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
0-3
!MATH 12003
or MATH 30011
 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II
or BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
3-5
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 9
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Six
BSCI 40158 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 3
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 8
Foreign Language 4
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
BSCI 40163 EVOLUTION 3
BSCI 40600 WRITING IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (WIC) 1
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 8
General Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
Semester Eight
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Elective 3
General Electives 11
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
 

Organismal Biology Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!BSCI 10120 BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10061 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10063 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
!CHEM 20481
or CHEM 30481
 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
3-4
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30475
or CHEM 30482
 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
0-3
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 4
Organismal Core Electives 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!BSCI 30156 ELEMENTS OF GENETICS 3
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30475
or CHEM 30482
 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR)
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
0-3
!MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
!MATH 12003
or MATH 30011
 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II
or BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
3-5
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 9
Foreign Language 4
 Credit Hours16
Semester Six
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 7
Organismal Core Electives 3-4
Foreign Language 4
 Credit Hours14
Semester Seven
BSCI 40163 EVOLUTION 3
BSCI 40600 WRITING IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (WIC) 1
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives 7
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Eight
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Elective 3
General Electives 13
 Credit Hours16
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
 

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Podiatry/Pre-Dentistry Concentration 

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!BSCI 10120 BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
!CHEM 10061 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
!CHEM 10063 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
SOC 12050 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
!BSCI 30140 CELL BIOLOGY 4
CHEM 20481
or CHEM 30481
 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
3-4
CHEM 30475 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (ELR) 1
!MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Four
!BSCI 30105 CAREER PATHWAYS IN BIOLOGY 1
!BSCI 30156 ELEMENTS OF GENETICS 3
BSCI 40600 WRITING IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (WIC) 1
CHEM 20482
or CHEM 30482
 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
or ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
2-3
CHEM 30476 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II 1
MATH 12003
or MATH 30011
 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II
or BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
3-5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
!BSCI 30130
or BSCI 40430
 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
or ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
3
Biology (BSCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 4
Physics Electives 5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
!BSCI 30171 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY 4
CHEM 30284
or CHEM 40245
 INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
or BIOCHEMICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE
4
Biology (BSCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Physics Electives 5
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
BSCI 40163 EVOLUTION 3
Biology (BSCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Foreign Language 4
General Electives 4
 Credit Hours14
Semester Eight
Biology (BSCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 4
Foreign Language 4
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Biological science teachers, postsecondary

9.3%

much faster than the average

64,700

number of jobs

$85,600

potential earnings

Biological scientists, all other

2.2%

slower than the average

44,700

number of jobs

$85,290

potential earnings

Biological technicians

4.9%

about as fast as the average

87,500

number of jobs

$46,340

potential earnings

Life scientists, all other

4.6%

about as fast as the average

7,000

number of jobs

$82,000

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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