Biology, BS

Contact Information

S. Elizabeth Rácz, PhD MPH
Biology Program Coordinator, Senior Lecturer
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Health Sciences
Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry 3316
Office Phone: (605) 394-2260
Email: Sara.Racz@sdsmt.edu

Department Website

Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

BIOL Flowchart

Curriculum Checklist

Freshman Year

First Semester

BIOL 111 Introduction to Chemistry, Biology, and Health Sciences Credits: (1-0) 1
BIOL 151 General Biology I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
BIOL 151L General Biology I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 ¹
CHEM 112 General Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
MATH 123 Calculus I Credits: (4-0) 4 ¹

Total: 16

Second Semester

BIOL 153 General Biology II Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 153L General Biology II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 114L General Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
MATH 125 Calculus II Credits: (4-0) 4
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15

Sophomore Year

First Semester

CHEM 326 Organic Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 326L Organic Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-2) 2
BIOL 331 Microbiology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 331L Microbiology Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
Physics Requirement Credits: 3 to 4 ²
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15 to 16

Second Semester

BIOL 371 Genetics Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 371L Genetics Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
ENGL 279 Communication in the STEM Workplace Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
Free Electives or Program Approved Elective Credits: 6 ^4,5
Physics Requirement Credits: 3 to 4 ²

Total: 16 to 17

Junior Year

First Semester

BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 311L Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 446/546 Molecular Cell Biology Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Elective or Program Approved Elective Credits: 7 ^{4, 5}

Total: 14

Second Semester

BIOL 375 Current Bioethical Issues Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 480/580 Bioinformatics Credits: (3-0) 3
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹
Free Elective or Program Approved Elective Credits: 3 ^4,5
Select one course from the following:
MATH 321 Differential Equations Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

ENGL 289 STEM Communication for Technical and Public Audiences Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
Free Electives or Program Approved Electives Credits: 9 ^4,5
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15

Second Semester

BIOL 490 Seminar Credits: 1 to 3 ³
Free Electives or Program Approved Electives Credits: 12 ^4,5

Total: 13

Total credits: 120

Notes:

¹Fulfills General Education requirement. Students should consult the General Education Requirements section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements.

²The Physics requirement must include two lectures and at least one lab, for a total of seven credits. Courses must be selected from: (PHYS 111 , PHYS 111L , PHYS 113 , PHYS 113L ) or (PHYS 207 , PHYS 207L , PHYS 209 , PHYS 209L ) or (PHYS 211/211L , PHYS 213/213L ).

³Only one credit required for major.

⁴ Thirteen credits, or as needed to meet 120 credits total, of free electives are required for the degree.

⁵ Twenty-four credits of program approved electives are required for the degree.

Program Approved Electives:

Select 24 credits from the list below:

Any course with a prefix of BIOL, CHEM, or MICR at the 300-level or above
AES 403/503 Biogeochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 221 Human Anatomy Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 221L Human Anatomy Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
BME 304 Biomedical Engineering Fluid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
BME 305 Biomedical Engineering Transport Phenomena Credits: (3-0) 3
BME 306 Biomedical Engineering Thermodynamics Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 217 Chemical Engineering Material Balances Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 218 Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 222 Chemical Engineering Process Thermodynamics Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 318 Chemical Engineering Mass Transfer Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 343 Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 484/584 Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 484L/584L Biochemical Engineering Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
CP 297/397/497 Cooperative Education Credits: 1 to 3
EM 216 Statics and Dynamics Credits: (4-0) 4
GEOL 416/416L/516/516L Introduction to GIS/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 419/519 Advanced Geospatial Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 435/535 Geomicrobiology Credits: (3-0) 3
IENG 321/321L Ergonomics/Human Factors Engineering/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
IENG 431/531 Industrial Hygiene Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 225 Calculus III Credits: (4-0) 4
MATH 321 Differential Equations Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
ME 211 Introduction to Thermodynamics Credits: (3-0) 3
ME 216 Introduction to Solid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
ME 316 Solid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
ME 331 Thermo Fluid Dynamics Credits: (3-0) 3
MET 232 Properties of Materials Credits: (3-0) 3
MET 320 Metallurgical Thermodynamics Credits: (4-0) 4
MET 422 Transport Phenomena Credits: (4-0) 4
POLS 407 Environmental Law & Policy Credits: (3-0) 3

Objectives and Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes:

Graduates will understand Biology based on principles of basic sciences and mathematics, preparing them for professional careers and graduate or professional school.
Graduates will acquire laboratory and data analysis skills required for careers in biology, graduate or professional school through laboratory courses and independent research experiences.
Graduates will communicate effectively and professionally through written and oral means on aspects of biology.
Graduates will master problem-solving skills in biology.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates will demonstrate understanding of mathematics and basic sciences, including chemistry and physics.
Graduates will demonstrate understanding of principles of biology.
Graduates will demonstrate laboratory and data analysis skills commensurate with entry-level positions in graduate and professional schools.
Graduates can give effective oral presentations on an aspect of biology learned from coursework, the literature, or laboratory research.
Graduates can compose effective written presentations on an aspect of applied biological sciences learned from coursework, the literature, or laboratory research.
Graduates will demonstrate mastery of problem-solving skills in biology.
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to integrate problem-solving skills into research-related problems.