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2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Biology, B.A.
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About the Degree
A Bachelor’s degree in Biology prepares students in the major areas of the life sciences as well as in the cognate areas of Chemistry, Mathematics, and/or Physics.
Faculty advisors work closely with each student to plan a series of required and electives courses based on individual interests and career goals.
A core of basic science courses includes general biology, evolution and population biology, reading and writing in biology, comparative anatomy and physiology, genetics. A range of electives covers animal behavior, aquatic biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell biology, conservation biology, developmental biology, histology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology, pathophysiology and more…
Laboratory sections generally have smaller enrollments than lecture and thus are especially good for interaction with faculty and other students and for integrative, collaborative and inquiry-based learning.
It is the policy of the Biology Department that General Biology I and II must be taken in the Biology Department at Arcadia or transferred in from an accredited four- or two-year college. The Biology Department will accept AP credit with an exam score of 4 or 5 to count as General Biology I/General Biology I Lab (BI101/BI101 Lab) and BI186. These students may transfer 8 credits as BI101/BI101L and BI186. We will also accept a score of 3 to transfer as BI185 but these students must take BI101 + BI101 Lab. All students must take General Biology II/General Biology II Lab (BI102/BI102L). Students enrolled in the Biology major at Arcadia are expected to take their biology courses at Arcadia or at an approved study abroad site.
Part of promoting excellent biology teaching is instruction that develops and fosters an understanding of biological concepts. The biology major at Arcadia University requires the examination and dissection of animal tissues, organs, and bodies and the use of animals in biological research. Animal use is a cornerstone of biology instruction. We follow all federal and state statutes in labs to fulfill clearly-defined educational objectives. Ethical treatment of animals used in teaching and research is ensured by oversight by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
Study of Biology can be a major, minor, or concentration in another field, such as Business, Chemistry, or Psychology.
The Bachelor’s degree in Biology has the greatest degree of overlap with the Pre-Physical Therapy program requirements and the Pre-Physician Assistant program requirements of any major in the University (See assured admission requirements for these programs).
Two Cognate Courses
For a Bachelor of Arts: Two cognate courses in Mathematics (MA 141 , MA 201 , MA 202 , or MA 203 ), or Chemistry (CH 201 or higher), or Physics (PH 201 , PH 202 , PH 211 , or PH 212 ). For some career goals, students may need to take more than two cognate courses.
Four Biology electives
Four Biology electives at the 300 level, at least one of which must be a Molecular, Cell and Organismal biology elective (BI 317 , BI 318 , BI 325 , BI 327 , BI 333 , BI 335 , BI 336 , BI 337 , BI 338 , BI 339 , BI 340 , BI 345 ) and at least one of which must be an Ecology, Evolution, and Population biology elective (BI 322 , BI 326 , BI 328 , BI 329 , BI 330 , BI 331 , BI 332 , BI 334 , BI 341 , BI 355 ). One course from the Molecular, Cell, and Organismal grouping and one course from the Ecology, Evolution, and Population biology grouping must have a lab. These courses must be taken at Arcadia University or an approved study abroad course may be substituted.
Note: Students completing both BI 205 /Human Anatomy and BI 206 /Human Physiology, will have the option to count these two courses as one of the four required 300-level electives in Biology. Students would still be required to take one lab based course from each elective area (Molecular, Cell, and Organismal w/ lab AND Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology w/ lab).
Internship or Independent Research
Practical experience in the form of BI 370 Internship in Biology, BI 380 Faculty Sponsored Research, or BI 389 Independent Study is encouraged, but cannot be used to meet the requirements for four 300 level elective courses.
Biology Concentrations
Students who want certain career paths may choose to specialize in one of the following concentrations. For some career goals, additional coursework may be required.
Additional recommendations:
Conservation Ecology Concentration
Required Biology electives
At least two of the following Biology elective courses
Additional recommendations
At least two of the following Biology elective courses:
Additional Recommendations
Courses related to job interests.
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Concentration
At least one of the following Biology elective courses depending on career interests
Additional recommendations
2. Applied Track
In Development for Fall, 2022
Pre-Professional Programs
3+2 M.S. in Forensic Science with a B.A. or B.S. in Biology
(Accelerated)
Students completing the 3+2 B.A. or B.S. in Biology and the M.S. in Forensic Science will complete all degree requirements in five years. Eligible students will be invited to apply for admission to this accelerated program when they apply for admission to Arcadia University. Currently, enrolled undergraduates at Arcadia University are ineligble for this program.
4+2 M.S. in Forensic Science Assured Admission Program
This program entails four years of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, plus two years of graduate study leading to the Master of Science in Forensic Science degree from Arcadia University. Students choosing the 4+2 option must pursue an undergraduate major in Biology or Chemistry. This program will ensure that students meet all required prerequisite and recommended coursework for the master’s program in Forensic Science. In the fourth year, students have the option of taking FS515 (Research Methods) with approval of the Director of the Forensic Science program and the Chair of the Biology Department. Assured admission into Arcadia’s master’s program in forensic science is available for select qualified students from the 4+2 program each year.
See the catalog sections on Forensic Science for additional information.
4 + 2 Occupational Therapy program
This program offers four competitive seats in the 2-year full-time Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program at Salus University to students who meet the criteria, according to agreement between the two universities. Additional Arcadia applicants will be considered along with all other non-Arcadia applicants for admissions to the MSOT program.
Occupational Therapy is based on the principle that people can improve their health and well-being by engaging in a self-directed, personally-initiated, goal-directed and organized dynamic process.
Adviser: Dr. John Daley
Degrees
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science from Arcadia University.
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Salus University. For information about the MSOT program, see Salus University website.
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