Biology, Bachelor of Science

Program Purpose

The Bachelor of Science in Biology is a 120-credit program offered face-to-face, online, and hybrid. This STEM degree provides students with a foundation in biological, chemical, and data sciences. Course offerings are drawn from the College of Business and Technology, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the Colleges of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students may select one of two concentrations – Biotechnology or Forensic Science.

The Bachelor of Science in Biology degree is practical, career-oriented, and a springboard for graduate education including medical school. Aligned with the University's mission of providing exemplary career-oriented degrees, graduates may market themselves to local, state, and federal agencies; private and non-profit organizations; and academia, for a range of biological positions.

Students may complete courses face-to-face, hybrid, online, or a combination of the three. Face-to-face courses are offered at a variety of locations and times. All courses are taught by highly qualified faculty who are practitioners in the field.

Program Competencies

In addition to the University’s graduation competencies, students will be able to:

  1. Apply the scientific method independently by designing investigations and interpreting complex biological data.
  2. Evaluate and synthesize quantitative and qualitative scientific evidence to draw informed biological conclusions.
  3. Analyze cellular and molecular processes to explain mechanisms of evolution and organismal function.
  4. Communicate biological research and findings effectively through professional level written and oral presentations.

Curriculum

General Education Requirements (40 credits)

A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 251, ENG 121, ENG 122, ENG 131, ENG 310, MAT 205.
CTA 206Computer Applications

3

OR

CTA 210Intro to Technology

3

 

BIO 251Biology I (with Lab)

4

ECO 105Fundamentals of Economics

3

ENG 121English Composition I

3

ENG 122English Composition II

3

ENG 131Public Speaking

3

ENG 310Research Writing

3

HIS 316American History

3

HIS 381Contemporary Global Issues

3

MAT 205Introductory Survey of Mathematics

3

PHI 100Introduction to Critical Thinking

3

PHI 300Ethics for Life

3

SOC 101Introduction to Sociology

3

Biology Core Requirements (49 credits)

A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 252, BIO 336, BIO 337. A "C-" is required for BIO 338, BIO 352, CHE 261, CHE 262, CHE 363, CHE 364, and PHY 272.
BIO 252Biology II (with Lab)

4

BIO 337Genetics (with Lab)

4

BIO 336Microbiology (with Lab)

4

BIO 338Ecology (with Lab)

4

BIO 352Cell & Molecular Biology (with Lab)

4

CHE 261Chemistry I (with Lab)

4

CHE 262Chemistry II (with Lab)

4

CHE 363Organic Chemistry I (with Lab)

4

CHE 364Organic Chemistry II (with Lab)

4

PHY 272Physics I (with Lab)

4

SCI 441Co-op Education Experience for Science

3

SCI 442Co-op Education Experience for Science

3

Choose one of the following two courses:

CSC 420Intro to Artificial Intelligence

3

OR

DTA 447Data Science

3

Supplemental Core Requirements (15 credits)

A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for ENV 448, MAT 310, and SCI 495. A "C-" is required for MAT 308.
MAT 200Pre-Calculus

3

SCI 495Science Major Senior Seminar

3

MAT 308Inferential Statistics

3

MAT 310Calculus I

3

ENV 448Environmental Informatics

3

Free Electives (16 credits)

A minimum of 120 credits are required to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology.  Students with less than 16 transfer credits are required to take FYE 101 as one of their electives. Due to the mixture of 3 and 4 credit courses, students must be diligent and regularly meet with an academic advisor.

*Optional - Select One of Two Concentrations

Students may major in Biology with or without a concentration. The two concentrations available are Biotechnology or Forensic Science.

Concentration in Biotechnology (17 credits)

* Biotechnology concentration students are not required to complete the Ecology course in the Science Core. 

A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 449, BIO 450, and BIO 452.  A minimum of "C-" is required for BIO 451 and BIO 453.

BIO 449Biotechnology (with Lab)

4

BIO 450Immunology & Virology (with Lab)

4

BIO 451Proteomics (with Lab)

3

BIO 452Cell and Tissue Culture (with Lab)

3

BIO 453Computational Bio & Bioinform.

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Concentration in Forensic Science (17 credits)

* Forensic Science concentration students are not required to complete the Ecology course in the Science Core. 

A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for CRJ 101, CRJ 318, BIO 454, BIO 455, and BIO 253.

CRJ 101Survey of Criminal Justice

3

CRJ 318Criminal Investigation

3

BIO 454Forensic Biology (with Lab)

3

BIO 455Scientific CSI (with Lab)

4

BIO 253Anatomy and Physiology I (with Lab)

4

Total Credit Hours:17

Completion Degree Requirements

What is a Completion Degree?

A completion degree is a personalized version of a bachelor's degree created exclusively for students who have completed an associate degree at an accredited institution. Completion degrees are available for most Wilmington University Bachelor of Science degrees. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate's degree should communicate with a Wilmington University academic advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.

Biology Completion Degree Requirements (46 credits)

A minimum grade requirement of "C" is required for ENG 121, ENG 122, MAT 200, MAT 205, BIO 251, BIO 252, BIO 336, BIO 337, ENV 448, and SCI 495.  A minimum of "C-" is required for CHE 261, BIO 338, ENV 310, BIO 352, CHE 262, CHE 363, CHE 364, PHY 272, DTA 447, CSC 420, MAT 310, and MAT 308.
BIO 336Microbiology (with Lab)

4

BIO 337Genetics (with Lab)

4

BIO 352Cell & Molecular Biology (with Lab)

4

CHE 262Chemistry II (with Lab)

4

CHE 363Organic Chemistry I (with Lab)

4

CHE 364Organic Chemistry II (with Lab)

4

PHY 272Physics I (with Lab)

4

MAT 308Inferential Statistics

3

MAT 310Calculus I

3

SCI 495Science Major Senior Seminar

3

SCI 441Co-op Education Experience for Science

3

SCI 442Co-op Education Experience for Science

3

 

DTA 447Data Science

3

OR

CSC 420Intro to Artificial Intelligence

3

The following courses or their equivalents are prerequisites for the Biology completion degree. If students do not transfer equivalents to the prerequisite courses listed below, the student must complete missing prerequisites prior to taking the core courses for which they are required.

BIO 251 Biology I (with Lab)

BIO 252 Biology II (with Lab)

CHE 261 Chemistry I (with Lab)

ENG 121 English Composition I

ENG 122 English Composition II

ENG 131 Public Speaking

MAT 200 Pre-Calculus

MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics

Choose one of the following two courses:

BIO 338 Ecology (with Lab)

or

ENV 310 Environmental Science

Biology Completion Version for Biotechnology (57 credits)

A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 336, BIO 449, BIO 337, BIO 452, ENV 448, BIO 450, and SCI 495.  A minimum passing grade of  "C-" is required for BIO 352, MAT 308, CHE 262, CHE 363, CHE 364, BIO 451, MAT 310, PHY 272, and BIO 453.

BIO 336Microbiology (with Lab)

4

BIO 337Genetics (with Lab)

4

BIO 352Cell & Molecular Biology (with Lab)

4

CHE 262Chemistry II (with Lab)

4

CHE 363Organic Chemistry I (with Lab)

4

CHE 364Organic Chemistry II (with Lab)

4

PHY 272Physics I (with Lab)

4

ENV 448Environmental Informatics

3

MAT 310Calculus I

3

MAT 308Inferential Statistics

3

SCI 495Science Major Senior Seminar

3

SCI 441Co-op Education Experience for Science

3

SCI 442Co-op Education Experience for Science

3

BIO 449Biotechnology (with Lab)

4

BIO 450Immunology & Virology (with Lab)

4

BIO 451Proteomics (with Lab)

3

BIO 452Cell and Tissue Culture (with Lab)

3

BIO 453Computational Bio & Bioinform.

3

 

DTA 447Data Science

3

OR

CSC 420Intro to Artificial Intelligence

3

Additional coursework as needed to meet 120 credits for graduation.

The following courses (or their equivalent) are pre-requisites for the Biology – Biotechnology completion degree and must be taken at Wilmington University or accepted as transfer credit from an accredited institution.

ENG 121  English Composition I

ENG 122  English Composition II

ENG 131  Public Speaking

MAT 205  Introductory Survey of Mathematics

MAT 200  Pre-Calculus

BIO 251  Biology I

CHE 261  Chemistry I

CHE 262  Chemistry II

CHE 363  Organic Chemistry I

Biology Completion Version for Forensic Science (54 credits)

A minimum passing grade of "C" is required for BIO 337, CRJ 101, BIO 454, BIO 336, CRJ 318, SCI 495, BIO 253, ENV 448, and BIO 455.  A minimum passing grade of "C-" is required for MAT 308, BIO 352, CHE 262, CHE 363, and CHE 364, and PHY 272.

BIO 336Microbiology (with Lab)

4

BIO 337Genetics (with Lab)

4

BIO 352Cell & Molecular Biology (with Lab)

4

CHE 262Chemistry II (with Lab)

4

CHE 363Organic Chemistry I (with Lab)

4

CHE 364Organic Chemistry II (with Lab)

4

PHY 272Physics I (with Lab)

4

ENV 448Environmental Informatics

3

MAT 310Calculus I

3

MAT 308Inferential Statistics

3

SCI 495Science Major Senior Seminar

3

SCI 441Co-op Education Experience for Science

3

SCI 442Co-op Education Experience for Science

3

CRJ 101Survey of Criminal Justice

3

CRJ 318Criminal Investigation

3

BIO 454Forensic Biology (with Lab)

3

BIO 455Scientific CSI (with Lab)

4

BIO 253Anatomy and Physiology I (with Lab)

4

 

DTA 447Data Science

3

OR

CSC 420Intro to Artificial Intelligence

3

Additional coursework as needed to meet 120 credits for graduation.

The following courses (or their equivalent) are pre-requisites for the Biology – Forensic Science completion degree and must be taken at Wilmington University or accepted as transfer credit from an accredited institution

ENG 121  English Composition I

ENG 122  English Composition II

ENG 131  Public Speaking

MAT 205  Introductory Survey of Mathematics

MAT 200  Pre-Calculus

BIO 251  Biology I

CHE 261  Chemistry I

CHE 262  Chemistry II

CHE 363  Organic Chemistry I