Biology, BA

General Education Requirements

Competencies

Competencies must be completed within the student’s first 30 credits.

♣ General Education Categories (34-35 credits total)

FYS, W-I, and OC courses must be completed within the student’s first 30 credits. Courses used to satisfy the general education requirements of the university must be taken from a minimum of six different academic disciplines. First Year Seminar and Level I Written Communications courses are exempt from this restriction.  Courses may not be used to fulfill both major discipline and general education requirements. 

 ‡ Written Communication (Level II and Level III) and Diversity, Power Dynamics and Social Justice

Courses taken for Written Communication Level II, Level III and Diversity, Power Dynamics and Social Justice may be used to satisfy requirements anywhere else in a student’s program of study where they may apply.  Credits will be counted in the area where they apply.

♥       Students may choose to use support courses to satisfy general education categories, but may not be required to do so.  Note:  If a course is used to satisfy two or more requirements (for example, a support course and Scientific Reasoning requirement), the credits are counted in only one place.  Using a course to satisfy more than one requirement does not reduce the credit total required for graduation.  

♣       Courses used to satisfy the general education requirements of the university must be taken from a minimum of six different academic disciplines.  First Year Seminar and Level I Written Communications courses are exempt from this restriction.  Courses may not be used to fulfill both major discipline and general education requirements.

#       These Scientific Reasoning General Education Category courses do not have to be a sequence or be from the same discipline.

‡        Level II and Level III Written Communications courses and Diversity, Power Dynamics and Social Justice may be used to satisfy requirements anywhere else in a student’s program of study where they may apply.  The credits are counted only in one area.

♦        General Education categories to be completed with the first 30 credits. Exceptions in the timing of these courses will be made for transfer students.

Courses in Major (42-45 credits total)

♥ Required Math Support Courses (3-4 credits)

• MAT 150 Precalculus

• OR

• MAT 220 Calculus I

♥ Required Chemistry Support Courses (12 Credits)

• CHE 130 General Chemistry I
• CHE 131 General Chemistry II
• CHE 212 Organic Chemistry I

Foreign Language (0-12 credits total)

• ____ 101   Foreign Language -  Level I
• ____ 102   Foreign Language -  Level II
• ____ 201   Foreign Language  - Level III
• ____ 202   Foreign Language  - Level IV

¶► Free Electives (12 credits minimum)

May be necessary to take additional credits to attain the minimum 120 credits required for graduation depending on choices made for general education or minor selection.

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~ Minor (Optional):

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Additional Information and Notes

† One Biology elective must be chosen from each group (Population/Ecosystems, Organismal/Physiology, Cellilar/Molecular) and then any two more 300-400 level electives.  At least two of these must have a lab.

∞  The Capstone Elective can include certain courses (BIO300 Botany, BIO313 Molecular Biology, BIO323 Fish Biology, BIO325 Behavioral Ecology, BIO345 Introduction to Aquaculture, BIO407 Directed Study, BIO408 Research in Biology, BIO416 Biology Internship), independent studies, internships, study abroad, service learning and other courses – approval required by the chairperson of Biology.

∞ The Portfolio Seminar is a one-credit hybrid class where students reflect on their capstone experience and that ensures all portfolio requirements are met.

~  It is recommended that students complete CHE213 and earn a Chemisty minor.

¶ Free Electives can be any course, including Biology ones, offered by Salem State university.

►B.A. Biology majors are strongly urged to elect a Computer Science course and one year of Physics.

Total credits for graduation: 120