Biology, B.S.

The Biology major is intended for students seeking careers that require a strong background in biology and chemistry, including health professions (such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, public health, and veterinary medicine), teaching, research, and other professions. This major also prepares students for graduate programs in biology and related disciplines such as organismal and evolutionary biology, ecology, developmental biology, physiology, and neuroscience.

All Biology Department majors require specific support courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and other subjects. Students should be aware that some post-baccalaureate degree programs require physics for admission and should discuss course options with their advisors before making course decisions.

Grade Policy for students majoring in Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science, or minoring in Biology:

1. A grade of C- or higher must be earned in all courses taken for each major or minor.  A grade lower than C- requires that the course be repeated. In the case of an elective course for a major or minor in which a grade below C- was earned, the student may petition to take an alternative course. 

2. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 must be earned in all courses taken for each major or minor.

3. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 must be earned in support courses required for each major.  A grade of D-, D, or D+ in a support course is considered a passing grade, but the cumulative GPA in support courses must be at least 2.0.  

4. A grade of B- or better is required in BL213 to continue with the Cell & Molecular Biology major.

Dismissal Policy  Students who earn a GPA below 2.0 in courses required for their major or minor for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed from their major or minor.

Major and Minor Requirements

Note:  Students may earn a degree in only one of the majors in the Biology Department (Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Studies). Double and triple majors in biology are not permitted. A maximum of 3 credits of BL 295, BL 398 and BL 399 combined will be accepted for any of the biology majors. Transfer students majoring in Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science must complete a minimum of 17 credit hours in the Department of Biology at John Carroll University. To receive a minor in biology, students must complete a minimum of 13 credit hours in the Department of Biology at John Carroll University.

Professional Development Program: The Biology Department participates in the College of Arts and Sciences Professional Development Program, as designed for the majors in biology. Completion of the program will be noted in a student's academic transcript.

Teacher Licensure

Students planning on obtaining licensure to teach Adolescent/Young Adult (AYA) Life Science at the secondary school level should consider taking ED 100 as soon as possible and should contact the Department of Education by the end of their first year for guidance on requirements.

Additional Information

Many courses offered by the department include a laboratory and/or field-work component; these are listed as separate entries that immediately follow the entry for the corresponding lecture component of the course.

Program Learning Goals in Biology

Students will:

1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of biology and develop competency in specific areas of interest.

   • Understand the basic chemical principles, cell structure and organization, and metabolism of living organisms.

   • Understand plant and animal anatomy and physiology, with an emphasis on form and function.

   • Understand the diversity of organisms, systematic biology and phylogeny, and biological interactions over geological time.

   • Understand the principles of molecular, transmission, quantitative, evolutionary, and population genetics.

   • Understand the theory of evolution by natural selection.

2. Use an empirical approach to evaluate biological phenomena from primary literature.

3. Communicate biological knowledge effectively.

Major Requirements

34 credit hours of biology courses, including at least one 400-level course (excluding BL 405 and BL 478), plus 20-27 credit hours of supporting courses in other departments. Courses are to be chosen with advisor approval and always include applicable laboratory corequisites. Students may count one of the following courses for Biology major credit: CH 431, CH 435, PS 326, or PS 426 (none of these courses count as the 400-level biology requirement). Students should refer to the registration website to identify appropriate courses to complete the Core within the major (i.e., additional writing (AW),  capstone (C), and oral presentation (OP) courses).

Required Courses:

Plus at least one course from each of the following areas:

A) cell-to-organism (including laboratory corequisite):

B) organism-to-biosphere (including laboratory co-requisite, when offered):

Required Support Courses:

BL 155 - BL 160 is the normal introductory sequence for biology and environmental science majors. If, for a reason acceptable to the department, BL 157, BL 158, and BL 160 are taken separately from BL 155, BL 156, and BL 159, the student is expected to take BL 155, BL 156, and BL 159 or their equivalents before taking the laboratory courses. Entering freshmen will receive advanced placement and/or advanced standing (p. 264) in accord with scores listed.

Interdisciplinary Concentration in Neuroscience

The Interdisciplinary concentration in Neuroscience is coordinated by the Department of Psychology and is intended for biology, cell and molecular biology, chemistry (biochemistry concentration), and psychology majors who desire an interdisciplinary approach to the study of physiology, biochemistry, and behavior of higher organisms. A GPA of 2.5 or higher in BL 155- BL 158 and CH 141- CH 144 is required for admission into the concentration. Requirements for each area are detailed below.

Required Biology Courses

Choose 4 Biology Electives (at least one Organism-to-Biosphere course)

Biochemistry Requirement - Choose One Pair

Required Biology Support Courses

Required Chemistry Courses

Required Psychology Courses

Note: PS 326 or PS 426 may be counted as one BL elective.

AYA Biology Major

Students who are pursuing AYA (Adolescent/Young Adult Education) coursework and have chosen the Life Sciences: Biology as their Licensure area and are planning to teach will need to complete the following coursework in addition to the requirements for the Education major. 

Area Requirements

Introductory Biology

Subtotal: 12

Additional Biology Requirements (19-23 credits)

Molecules to Cell (6-8 credits)

Cell to Organism (Select One)

Organism to Biosphere (10 credits)

Required Support Courses (33 credits)

Subtotal: 64-68

AYA Biology Major with Chemistry Minor

Students who are pursuing AYA (Adolescent/Young Adult Education) coursework and have chosen the Life Sciences with a Biology major and minor in Chemistry as their Licensure areas and are planning to teach will need to complete the following coursework in addition to the requirements for the Education major. 

Area Requirements (84-88 Credit Hours)

Biology Courses

Cell to Organism Courses: Select 2

Cell to Organism Labs: Select at Least One

Ecology: Select One

Students must take the requisite lab (if applicable) to meet this requirement.

Chemistry Courses

Required Support Courses

Note: CH 151/ CH 153 (5 cr) may substitute for CH 141 – 144 with Chair’s approval. With one more Upper Division Chemistry elective, student would earn a Chemistry major.

Subtotal: 84-88