Bachelor of Arts in Biology
At Indiana University Kokomo, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program in Biology centers on a traditional core that includes cell biology, genetics, morphology, physiology, plant science, microbiology, and immunology. Additional courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and mathematics round out the basic program. But good scientists also need to be exposed to other fields of knowledge - to the arts, the social sciences, and humanities. That's why our biology curriculum also includes course requirements in subject areas such as history, English, sociology, psychology, foreign languages, mathematics, and information sciences. To graduate, you'll need a minimum of 120 credit hours - 33 of these in required biology courses, 75 in required general education courses, and the remaining in electives.
If you're planning to enter graduate school after earning a bachelor's degree, you'll want to inquire about IU Kokomo's pre-professional tracks in biology, pre-medicine, and pre-dentistry. Graduates who have followed these tracks have been accepted into advanced programs in medical, dental, optometry, and chiropractic schools throughout the country. If you're interested in becoming a science educator, IU Kokomo offers a program that enables you to earn a biology degree and become certified to teach biology at the secondary school level. The certification program requires 32 credit hours of methods and professional education curriculum, which are taken through the Division of Education.
Internship and Research Opportunities
In addition to the extensive laboratory and classroom experiences offered through the biology program, internship opportunities also are available through IU Kokomo's Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI). Biology majors also may engage in individual study, which involves selecting a research area of interest, developing that research, and then presenting their findings both in writing and in an oral presentation. Such research can count for up to 12 credit hours towards your degree. IU Kokomo students have assisted with research in aquatic physiology, ecological physiology, ecology, microbiology, electrochemistry, and laser physics.
Curriculum
Arts & Science and Campus-wide General Education Requirements
(GPA of at least 2.0 required for general education courses)
Title |
Course |
Credits |
| Elementary Composition I |
ENG-W 131 |
3 |
| Elementary Composition II |
ENG-W 132 |
3 |
| Public Speaking |
SPCH-S 121 |
3 |
| Computing Tools |
CSCI-C 100 |
1 |
| Foreign Language at the 200 level |
Various |
6 |
| Mathematics |
Various |
3-5 |
| Statistics (for students beginning fall 2009) |
MATH-K 310 |
3 |
| Literature |
Various |
3 |
| Performance |
Various |
2 - 3 |
| Ethics |
Various |
3 |
| Biological Science with Lab |
BIOL-L 105 |
5 |
| Physical Science with Lab |
Various |
5 |
| Non-Lab course in the sciences |
Various |
3 |
| History of Western Civilization I |
HIST-H 113 |
3 |
| History of Western Civilization II |
HIST-H 114 |
3 |
| Social/Behavioral Science Electives (from 3 different disciplines) |
Various |
9 |
Major
Elementary Chemistry I |
CHEM-C 105 |
3 |
Elementary Chemistry I Lab |
CHEM-C 125 |
2 |
| Elementary Chemistry II |
CHEM-C 106 |
3 |
| Elementary Chemistry II Lab |
CHEM-C 126 |
2 |
| Organic Chemistry I |
CHEM-C 341 |
3 |
| Organic Chemistry Lab I |
CHEM-C 343 |
2 |
| Organic Chemistry II |
CHEM-C 342 |
3 |
| Organic Chemistry Lab II |
CHEM-C 343 |
2 |
| General Physics I |
PHYS-P 201 |
5 |
| General Physics II |
PHYS-P 202 |
5 |
| Introduction to Biology |
BIOL-L 105 |
5 |
| Survey of the Plant Kingdom |
PLSC-B 203 |
5 |
| Developmental Anatomy |
ZOOL-Z 315 |
5 |
| Microbiology |
MICR-M 310 |
3 |
| Microbiology Laboratory |
MICR-M 315 |
2 |
| Comparative Animal Physiology |
PHSL-P 416 |
3 |
| Genetics |
BIOL-L 364 |
3 |
| Ecology |
BIOL-L 473 |
3 |
| Seminar |
BIOL-L 403 |
3 |
| Biology electives |
Various |
6 |
Electives (to total a minimum of 120 cr. hr.)
What Can I Do With a Biology Degree?
As a general rule, a college major does not prepare you for one specific job. Instead, it allows you to develop skills and abilities in your area of interest that you can apply to a broad range of occupations in that field. This is particularly true in biology, which combines a strong foundation in the biological sciences with studies in other fields as well. As you progress toward your educational and professional goals, IU Kokomo's Office of Career Services, located in the Kelley Student Center, can assist you with aptitude and interest assessments and help you prepare for the job search and interview process.
The occupational areas listed below represent only a few of many career possibilities open to biology graduates:
Agriculture
Business and Industry
Dentistry
Chiropractic
Disease Prevention and Control
Education
Environmental Testing
Governmental Research
Health Care Agencies
Horticulture
Reading about a university is quite different from seeing it for yourself. If you haven't visited the IU Kokomo campus, we invite you to come talk with our faculty, observe our classes, ask questions of our students, and feel the warmth and hospitality of a campus that is large enough to serve your needs but small enough to care about you individually.
Contact
For an application, more information, or to schedule a visit, contact:
Office of Admissions
Indiana University Kokomo
2300 S. Washington Street
P.O. Box 9003
Kokomo, IN 46904-9003
(765) 455-9216
E-mail
