Offered in: Chicago | Schaumburg

Biology offers courses in the life sciences designed to teach students biological concepts and principles with emphasis on individual laboratory experiences. The curriculum provides a sound basis for professional training in biology, biotechnology, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, allied health, and teaching, as well as for general science education. Biology and Allied Health majors with strong academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply to the Roosevelt Honors Program, the honors curriculum of the university.

See the Allied Health program listing for degree programs leading to clinical licensing for fields such as Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Histotechnology, Medical Technology, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Radiography, and Radiation Therapy Technology.

The BA in biology is an option for students who wish an in-depth humanistic education in biology while completing a subset of the science and mathematics courses required for the BS in Biology. The Biology BA allows students to fashion a customized undergraduate experience, for example, completing a double-major or minor. However, it may not meet all requirements for admission to graduate and professional training programs. Consult with a science advisor to determine which Biology degree best suits your interests. 

Standards

All courses applying to the biology major, including required supporting courses, must be passed with a C- or higher grade and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Requirements

Requirements for the BA degree include 30 credit hours of acceptable credits in biology and at least one 300-level laboratory course beyond BIOL 301 CELLULAR &MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. Students must also complete three courses covering interdisciplinary topics within the sciences or between the sciences and other disciplines. Students must take at least one class in each of the following six competencies: Applying the Process of Science, Quantitative Reasoning, Modeling and Simulation, Interdisciplinary, Communication and Collaboration, and Science and Society.  These competencies can be fulfilled by either biology electives or the three outside electives identified in the course list below. Courses may cover up to two competencies.

• Students must complete the final 30 credit hours of their degree at Roosevelt University; off-site allied health courses do not count towards this requirement.
• At least 20 credit hours in acceptable biology, chemistry, or physics courses must be successfully completed at Roosevelt University; no more than 15 credit hours of acceptable biology courses may be taken completed elsewhere and applied to the BA biology degree.
• Following enrollment, completion of all remaining biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics course requirements for Biology degrees must be accomplished at Roosevelt University. Under special circumstances, written permission to take required courses elsewhere may be granted by Biology advisors.
• Biology courses must have been taken within the last eight years to be accepted for graduation.
• No more than six credit hours total of independent study (BIOL 395 INDEPENDENT STUDY), (BIOL 392 RESEARCH IN BIOLOGY), and internships (BIOL 391 MEDICAL INTERNSHIP, or BIOL 396 BIOLOGY INTERNSHIP) in biology may be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.
• Technical and/or clinical courses are not acceptable for transfer credit.
• AP biology credit with a score of 3.0 or higher may apply toward the major in biology or the general education requirements after consultation with an advisor.
• AP chemistry credit with a score of 4 or higher satisfies the requirements for CHEM 201 with lab.
• At least one biology course with a laboratory above BIOL 301 CELLULAR &MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (not including independent research).
• A grade of C- is the minimal acceptable grade for a course to be applied to the major and the supporting sequence or acceptable as a prerequisite for subsequent courses.
• A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all courses in the major.

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Must be selected in consultation with an advisor.

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Student must take three total courses from these electives but these courses can be from any of the listed competencies.  The six competencies can be fulfilled by either biology electives or the three outside electives identified in the course list.

CORE Requirements (General Education)

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Higher level of Math may be required by major

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Coursework must come from outside of students' major discipline

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A maximum of 9 credits can be applied from a single discipline towards humanities and social science requirements

These quantitative requirements also apply to degrees.

• Students must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours.
• Students may apply no more than 60 credit hours of 100-level courses toward the degree.
• Students must apply no fewer than 60 credit hours of 200- and 300-level courses toward the degree.
• Students must have at least 18 credit hours (of the 60 credit hours above) at the 300 level.
• Students may transfer in no more than 70 credit hours from community colleges.
• Students earning less than 60 total hours in residence must take their final 30 hours at Roosevelt University. Note that some majors have additional requirements for RU hours.
• Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher to graduate. Note that some majors have additional GPA requirements.
• Students may apply no more than 51 hours in the major (BA) or 57 hours in the major (BS)

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.

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Or course towards an optional Minor.

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Any course at the 300 level within the discipline above BIOL 301.

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Experiential Learning class must be 200/300 level. Satisfies CORE Experiential Learning requirement. EXL courses can satisfy major requirements/electives or CORE requirement.