Integrative Biology: Honors Integrative Biology, BSLAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Integrative Biology, Honors Integrative Biology Concentration
Honors Integrative Biology is designed for students wishing to pursue an intensive program in integrative biology and, concurrently, to gain a strong background in the physical sciences and mathematics. Admission is by interview in spring of the freshman year prior to registration for fall. An overall 3.0 GPA is required to apply for admission. Honors Integrative Biology provides preparation suitable for graduate and professional training in biology, as well as for biology careers in the private and public sectors. Students earning the Honors Integrative Biology Concentration will also earn the Chemistry minor.
Students pursuing a degree in Honors Integrative Biology will be allowed to earn a second degree in the Specialized Curriculum in Biochemistry. Students pursuing a degree in Honors Integrative Biology will not be allowed to double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Distinction for Excellence in Research:
Students are eligible for graduation at the following levels: Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction. Distinction will be determined by the SIB Distinction Committee and the level of Distinction will be based on the information below. To be eligible for graduation with Distinction for Excellence in Research a student must:
- Be enrolled as an Integrative Biology or Integrative Biology Honors Major
- Have a completed distinction evaluation form submitted by their Faculty Research Advisor.
- Maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA within the major at the end of the penultimate semester.
- To be eligible for Distinction, students must give a poster presentation at the SIB Distinction Symposium or other approved venue.
- To be eligible for High or Highest Distinction, students must submit a written thesis and give an oral presentation at the SIB Distinction Symposium or other approved venue.
- Finally, all students regardless of Distinction level must either:
Complete two or more semesters of IB 390/IB 490 for 2-credit hours or more each semester. The student should enroll in IB 490 the semester they intend to graduate, which counts towards the two required semesters.
OR
Complete at least 180 hours of mentored research. The research experience must last a minimum of 20 weeks (the weeks need not be consecutive and summer research counts toward this total) and students should enroll in one semester of IB 490 for a minimum of 1-credit hour prior to or during the semester they intend to graduate. Example: a student could be eligible if they complete a 10-week summer research experience combined with enrolling in IB 490 the following spring semester, the same term they intend to graduate.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Integrative Biology, Honors Integrative Biology Concentration
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours for graduation: 120 hours
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally work: Normally equates to 80-88 hours.
No more than 8 hours of credit in 100-level courses in IB or MCB may be counted toward graduation.
Continuation in the Integrative Biology Honors Concentration requires a grade of B or better in each of IB 270, IB 271, and IB 372 and a 3.0 overall cumulative GPA.
Students should discuss alternate CHEM choices with the IB advising office. To earn the Chemistry minor students must choose 3 or 4 hour Chemistry courses, excluding research or independent study.
Introductory chemistry should be completed prior to enrolling in IB 270.
Independent study equivalent to IB 490 in non-IB programs must first be approved by Director of IBH Concentration.
Students may count toward graduation no more than a combined maximum of 10 hours of IB 390 and IB 490 credit offered for independent study.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by IB 271 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation and Professional Development | ||
| LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
OR | ||
| LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 |
OR | ||
| LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 or 3 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Integrative Biology Major Requirements | ||
| IB 150 | Organismal & Evolutionary Biol | 4 |
| MCB 150 | Molec & Cellular Basis of Life | 4 |
| MATH 220 | Calculus (Biocalculus section) | 4-5 |
| or MATH 221 | Calculus I | |
| Select one group of courses: | 8-10 | |
| Accelerated Chemistry I | ||
| Accelerated Chemistry Lab I | ||
| Accelerated Chemistry II | ||
| Accelerated Chemistry Lab II | ||
OR | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry Lab I | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| General Chemistry Lab II | ||
| Select one group of courses: | 5-6 | |
| Fundamental Organic Chem I and Structure and Synthesis | ||
| Elementary Organic Chemistry I and Elementary Organic Chem Lab I | ||
| Select one group of courses: | 8-10 | |
| University Physics: Mechanics and University Physics: Elec & Mag | ||
| College Physics: Mech & Heat and College Physics: E&M & Modern | ||
| Integrative Biology Major, Honors Concentration Additional Requirements | ||
| IB 270 | Evolution of Molecules & Cells | 5 |
| IB 271 | Organismal Biology | 5 |
| IB 372 | Ecology and Evolution | 5 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3-4 |
| or IB 494 | Theoretical Biology + Models | |
| At least six hours of advanced courses in Chemistry. Select from these courses: | 6-8 | |
| Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Elementary Organic Chem II | ||
| Chemistry of the Environment | ||
| Organic Chemistry Lab | ||
| Physical Chemistry Principles | ||
| MCB 450 | Introductory Biochemistry | 3 |
| An approved 300- or 400- level course in statistics. Select one of these courses: | 3 | |
| Statistical Data Management | ||
| Quantitative Methods in NRES | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Applied Statistical Methods I | ||
| IB 490 | Independent Study | 6 |
| Advanced Biological Science Electives. Select from the following: | 10 | |
| Anatomy | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Fish and Wildlife Ecology | ||
| Evolution and Human Health | ||
| Ecology and Human Health | ||
| Marine Biology | ||
| Genomics and Human Health | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Translating Your IB Degree Into Career Success | ||
| Introduction to Entomology | ||
| Evolution of Traits and Genomes | ||
| Plant Diversity and Evolution | ||
| Bioinspiration | ||
| Population Genetics | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Photosynthesis | ||
| Env and Evol Physl of Animals | ||
| Animal Behavior Lab | ||
| Behavioral Ecology | ||
| Genes and Behavior | ||
| Insect Physiology | ||
| Critical Evaluation of Herbal Remedies | ||
| How Organisms Move | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Plants and Global Change | ||
| Insect Ecology | ||
| Stream Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Ecosystem Ecology | ||
| Community Ecology | ||
| Evol of Intelligent Systems | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Methods in Molecular Genetics and Genomics | ||
| Principles of Systematics | ||
| Insect Classification and Evol | ||
| Fungal Diversity and Ecology | ||
| Environmental Remote Sensing | ||
| Advanced Plant Genetics | ||
| Plant Growth and Development | ||
| Bioinspired Design | ||
| Vector-borne Diseases | ||
| Insect Pest Management | ||
| Paleoclimatology | ||
| Theoretical Biology + Models | ||
| Special Courses | ||
| Science Communication | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Behavior of Domestic Animals | ||
| Zoo Animal Conservation Sci | ||
| Advanced Reproductive Biology | ||
| Neuroimmunology | ||
| Physiology of Animal Stress & Disease | ||
| Applied Animal Ecology | ||
| Forensic Anthropology | ||
| Human Osteology | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Evolutionary Immunology | ||
| Human Evolutionary Anatomy | ||
| Primate Behav Endocrinology | ||
| Primate Life History Evolution | ||
| Human Paleontology | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Primate Form and Behavior | ||
| Methods in Bioanthropology | ||
| Research in Bioanthropology | ||
| Advanced Skeletal Biology | ||
| Earth Systems Modeling | ||
| Physical Biochemistry | ||
| Technqs Biochem & Biotech | ||
| Introduction to Biophysics | ||
| Diseases of Field Crops | ||
| Integrated Pest Management | ||
| Principles of Crop Production | ||
| Bioenergy Crops | ||
| Native Plants, Pollinators, & Food Ecosystems | ||
| Crop Growth and Management | ||
| Weed Mgt in Agronomic Crops | ||
| Principles of Agroecology | ||
| Applied Statistical Methods I | ||
| Introduction to Spatial Analytics | ||
| Plant Breeding Methods | ||
| Genomics for Plant Improvement | ||
| Cannabis Classification and Management | ||
| Principles and Practices of Cannabis Flower Production | ||
| Cannabis Phytochemistry: Analysis, Applications and Beyond | ||
| Basic Toxicology | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Geographic Information Systems II | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing | ||
| Techniques of Remote Sensing | ||
| Health Behaviors and Cognition | ||
| Bioenergetics of Movement | ||
| Biomechanics of Human Movement | ||
| Physical Activity and Chronic Diseases | ||
| Skeletal Muscle Physiology | ||
| Integrative Biology of Exercise | ||
| Clin & Applied Ex Physiology | ||
| Exercise Endocrinology | ||
| Motor Learning & Control | ||
| Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Experimental Microbiology | ||
| Introduction to Neurobiology | ||
| Genetics and Disease | ||
| Genetics and Genomics | ||
| Mechanisms of Human Disease | ||
| Biochem & Phys Basis of Life | ||
| Eukaryotic Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Cancer Cell Biology | ||
| Cellular Physiology | ||
| Sys & Integrative Physiology | ||
| Gene Expression & Regulation | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Developmental Biology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Brain, Behavior & Info Process | ||
| Microbial Genetics | ||
| Microbial Biochemistry | ||
| Bacterial Pathogenesis | ||
| Microbial Pathogens Laboratory | ||
| Molecular Microbiology | ||
| Microbial Physiology | ||
| Computing in Molecular Biology | ||
| Virology & Viral Pathogenesis | ||
| Food & Industrial Microbiology | ||
| Evolution of Infectious Disease | ||
| Global Biosecurity | ||
| Comparative Immunobiology | ||
| Physical Biochemistry | ||
| Neuroanatomy Laboratory | ||
| Integrative Neuroscience | ||
| Human Metabolic Disease | ||
| Neuro & Molecular Pharmacology | ||
| Cell Structure and Dynamics | ||
| Eukaryotic Cell Signaling | ||
| Special Topics Mol Cell Biol | ||
| Dendrology | ||
| Natural Resource Policy Mgmt | ||
| Environ Social Sci Res Meth | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Ecology of Invasive Species | ||
| Wildlife Population Ecology | ||
| Fishery Ecol and Conservation | ||
| Native Plant ID and Floristics | ||
| Forest Biology | ||
| Wetland Ecology & Management | ||
| Env and Plant Ecosystems | ||
| Restoration Ecology | ||
| Quantitative Methods in NRES | ||
| Modeling Natural Resources | ||
| Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation | ||
| Soil Nutrient Cycling | ||
| GIS in Natural Resource Mgmt | ||
| Advanced GIS for Environmental Management | ||
| Landscape Ecology | ||
| Pedology | ||
| Environmental Microbiology | ||
| Aquatic Biogeochemistry | ||
| Soil Chemistry | ||
| Soil Fertility and Fertilizers | ||
| Advanced Plant Pathology | ||
| Plant Disease Diagnosis & Mgmt | ||
| Applied Neuroscience | ||
| Drugs, Brain and Behavior | ||
| Memory and Amnesia | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Advanced Neuropsychopharmacology | ||
| Brain, Learning, and Memory | ||
| Neuroscience of Eating & Drinking | ||
| Principles of Psychophysiology | ||
| Cognitive Psychophysiology | ||
| Neurobio of Aging | ||
| Cog Neuroscience of Vision | ||
| Urban Ecology | ||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Integrative Biology, Honors Integrative Biology Concentration
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| LAS 101 | 1 | MCB 150 | 4 |
| IB 150 | 4 | CHEM 104 or 204 | 3 |
| CHEM 102 or 202 | 3 | CHEM 105 or 205 | 1 |
| CHEM 103 or 203 | 1 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| IB 270 | 5 | IB 271 | 5 |
| CHEM 232 or 236 | 4 | CHEM 233 or 237 | 2 |
| MATH 220 or 221 | 4 | MATH 231 or IB 494 | 4 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Advanced Biological Science Elective course from list | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| IB 372 | 5 | Advanced Chemistry course from list | 3 |
| PHYS 101 or 211 | 4 | PHYS 102 or 212 | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 | MCB 450 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | IB 490 | 2 |
| Free elective course | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| IB 490 | 2 | IB 490 | 2 |
| Advanced Biological Science Elective course from list | 4 | Advanced Biological Science Elective course from list | 3 |
| 300-400 level Statistics course from list | 3 | Advanced Chemistry course from list | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Integrative Biology, Honors Integrative Biology Concentration
By the time they graduate, an Integrative Biology Honors major should be able to:
- Synthesize and apply significant knowledge in Integrative Biology, including anatomy, development, ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and/or systematics.
- Apply predictive models to biological phenomena and engage with the process of scientific inquiry.
- Critically evaluate and communicate complex, dynamic scientific information.
- Employ curiosity, inquiry, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking in problem solving.
- Create solutions for global and local biological challenges using interdisciplinary strategies.
- Develop professional skills including ethics, proficiency in oral and written scientific communication, data analysis and interpretation, collaboration, and the ability to critically evaluate science-related news and information.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Integrative Biology, Honors Integrative Biology Concentration
School of Integrative Biology
School of Integrative Biology website
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Advising
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SIB Advising email
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website
Admissions
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