Bachelor of Arts in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
The B.A. focuses on the integration of biological systems at the whole organism level, and on how living organisms exist in populations, species, and communities within their environment. Core classes such as genetics, physiology, ecology, and evolutionary biology are combined with courses such as statistics, systematics, and organismal diversity to provide a strong foundation in biology. Students choose electives from a diverse set of classes that allow them to focus on areas of interest.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of the University Registrar website.
First- and Second-Year Preparation
Because biology study requires preparation in other sciences, students should begin meeting major requirements in the first year. It is particularly important to take CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 in the first year and, for several majors, to take CHEM 330, CHEM 331, CHEM 335, and CHEM 336 in the second year. Ideally, most majors should also take BIOL 150 and BIOL 152 during the first year, as well as BIOL 105.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | 34 | |
| The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3) | ||
| Bachelor of Arts (BA) | 16-20 | |
| BA students will demonstrate proficiency in a Non-English Language. (1 credit hour of a Laboratory or Field Experience, 6 credit hours of Writing, and 3 credit hours of Quantitative Literacy are required for all BA students. These requirements will be met through the completion of the KU Core 34.) | ||
| Prerequisite Knowledge | ||
| BIOL 105 | Biology Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 150 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 151 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 152 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 153 | Principles of Organismal Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 154 | Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | 2 |
| CHEM 130 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191 | Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors | |
| CHEM 135 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| or CHEM 195 & CHEM 196 | Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors | |
| CHEM 330 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CHEM 380 | Organic Chemistry I, Honors | |
| Calculus I | ||
or MATH 125 | Calculus I | |
or MATH 145 | Calculus I, Honors | |
| PHSX 114 | College Physics I | 4-5 |
| or PHSX 211 | General Physics I | |
| or PHSX 213 | General Physics I Honors | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| BIOL 350 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| or BIOL 360 | Principles of Genetics, Honors | |
| BIOL 370 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 4 |
| BIOL 412 | Evolutionary Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 413 | The Tree of Life | 4 |
| BIOL 414 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 428 | Introduction to Systematics | 3 |
| Microbiology/Cell Structure and Function/Biology of Development/Biochemistry. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | ||
| Cell Structure and Function | ||
or BIOL 536 | Cell Structure and Function (Honors) | |
| Biology of Development | ||
| Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures | ||
| Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Elective Hours | 13 | |
| Satisfied by completing a total of 13 hours in the following, with no more than 3 credit hours in BIOL 423 Non-Lab Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study (combined). NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | ||
| Biology Laboratory Electives | ||
| Biology Electives | ||
| Biology Capstone Requirement | ||
Satisfied by completing a BIOL Capstone course. | ||
| Laboratory in Genetics | ||
| Non-laboratory Independent Study (3 credit hours) | ||
| Independent Study (3 credit hours) | ||
| Laboratory in Cell Biology | ||
| Biology of Sleep | ||
| Internship and Practical Applications (3 credit hours) | ||
| Biology of Fungi | ||
| Evolution of Development | ||
| Senior Seminar: _____ | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Behavioral Genetics | ||
| Biology Honors Research Colloquium | ||
| General Electives | 6-1 | |
| Students will need to complete additional general elective credits to reach the required 120 hours. | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F's and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA calculator.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| The following courses are required for licensure for students pursuing the Co-Major in Science Education. | ||
| BIOL 105 | Biology Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 150 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 151 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 152 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 153 | Principles of Organismal Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 154 | Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | 2 |
| BIOL 350 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| or BIOL 360 | Principles of Genetics, Honors | |
| CHEM 130 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191 | Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors | |
| CHEM 135 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| or CHEM 195 & CHEM 196 | Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors | |
| CHEM 330 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CHEM 380 | Organic Chemistry I, Honors | |
| MATH 115 | Calculus I | 3 |
| or MATH 125 | Calculus I | |
| or MATH 145 | Calculus I, Honors | |
| PHSX 114 | College Physics I | 4 |
| or PHSX 211 & PHSX 216 | General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | |
| or PHSX 213 | General Physics I Honors | |
| BIOL 370 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 4 |
| BIOL 412 | Evolutionary Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 413 | The Tree of Life | 4 |
| BIOL 414 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 428 | Introduction to Systematics | 3 |
| BIOL 405 | Laboratory in Genetics | 3 |
| One of the following courses: | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | ||
| Cell Structure and Function | ||
| Biology of Development | ||
| Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures | ||
| EEOB electives | 9 | |
A total of 9 hours in the following: biology courses numbered 400 or higher; CHEM 331; CHEM 335; CHEM 336; MATH 116; PHSX 115; or PHSX 212 & PHSX 236; or up to 6 hours of C&T 490 (if the student teaching is in biology). The total of 10 hours can have no more than 5 credit hours in BIOL 423 Non-Lab Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study (combined). | ||
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BA in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
This degree plan assumes students will have the equivalent of MATH 101 or MATH 104 prior to the freshman year, fall semester.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 150 or 152 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE); General Science Requirement)040*, 2 | 3 | BIOL 152 or 150 (Major Requirement)2 | 3 |
| CHEM 130 (General Science Requirement)1 | 5 | BIOL 154 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE); General Science Requirement)040* | 2 |
| BIOL 105 (General Science Requirement)7 | 1 | CHEM 135 (General Science Requirement) | 5 |
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | MATH 115 or 125 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030*,1 | 3-4 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| 15 | 16-17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 370 (Major Requirement)8 | 4 | BIOL 350 or 360 (Major Requirement) | 4 |
| CHEM 330 (General Science Requirement)4 | 3 | BIOL 428 (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| 1st Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 | 2nd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 413 (Major Requirement)5 | 4 | BIOL 412 (Major Requirement)3 | 4 |
| BIOL 400, 416, 417, or 600 (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | PHSX 114 (General Science Requirement)10 | 4 |
| Biology Elective (Major Requirement)6 | 3 | Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| 3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 3 | 4th Semester Language, or 1st semester of Another Language (BA Second Language) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours9 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours9 | 3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 414 (Major Requirement)5 | 3 | Biology Elective (Major Requirement)6 | 3 |
| Biology Lab Elective (Major Requirement)6 | 2 | Biology Elective (Major Requirement)6 | 2 |
| BIOL Capstone Course6,11 | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours9 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours9 | 1 |
| 14 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
- 1
MATH 115 and CHEM 130 require MATH ACT scores of 26+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for a MATH 101 or MATH 104 equivalent course. MATH 125 requires MATH ACT score of 28+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for MATH 104.
- 2
Concurrent or prior enrollment in CHEM 130 is required. BIOL 151 is the honors equivalent of BIOL 150 and offered in the fall semesters. BIOL 153 is the honors equivalent of BIOL 152 and offered in the spring semesters.
- 3
BIOL 412, BIOL 417, and BIOL 428 are offered only in the spring.
- 4
Most medical schools require CHEM 330, CHEM 331, and CHEM 335.
- 5
- 6
Satisfied by 13 credit hours. This includes at least 2 hours of lab credit in Biology courses numbered 400 or higher or CHEM 331 or CHEM 336, and a BIOL Capstone course. The remaining credit hours are satisfied by completing additional Biology lectures or labs numbered 400 or higher, CHEM 331, CHEM 335, CHEM 336, MATH 116, or PHSX 115 (or PHSX 212 & PHSX 236). No more than 3 hours of BIOL 423 Non-Lab Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study (combined) can be applied toward the elective requirement.
- 7
BIOL 105 Biology Orientation Seminar (1 hour online course) is required for the major. It can be taken the summer prior to your freshman year.
- 8
BIOL 370 is recommended in sophomore year when possible.
- 9
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core 34, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
- 10
PHSX 211 and PHSX 216 together may be taken instead of PHSX 114.
- 11
BIOL Capstone courses currently approved are BIOL 405, BIOL 423 (3 credit hours), BIOL 424 (3 credit hours), BIOL 426, BIOL 446, BIOL 490 (3 credit hours), BIOL 533, BIOL 545, BIOL 599, BIOL 652, BIOL 655, and BIOL 699.
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
Students may earn degrees in more than one major within biological sciences, or in a biological science and an area outside biology by meeting the requirements of both degree programs and taking at least 15 hours of courses unique to each major.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Explain the sources of genetic variation within populations, how variation is maintained or lost in populations and mechanisms of evolutionary change operating in populations and how these may lead to the formation of biological species. Use the principles of evolution to explain the diversity of life on Earth; describe evidence that supports the conclusion that evolution explains the diversity of life on Earth.
- Describe how organisms inherit genetic information that influences the location, timing, and intensity of gene expression. Explain that cells/organs/organisms have multiple mechanisms to perceive and respond to changing environmental conditions.
- Describe how complex networks are formed by interactions at many biological scales (i.e., molecules, genes, cells, tissues, organs, individuals and ecosystems), and that organisms integrate internal and external information to respond to environmental changes.
- Explain that biological structures exist at all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems, and the physical and chemical characteristics of a structure influence its function.
- Apply the scientific method and communicate scientific arguments, ideas, and results clearly and explicitly through writing and speech. Demonstrate a knowledge of the ethical considerations related to scientific research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning, mathematical, statistical, and/or informatics tools to explain, evaluate, and effectively interpret claims, theories, and assumptions in the biological sciences.
Departmental Honors
Undergraduate majors are eligible to graduate with honors in biology if they fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete all course work required for the appropriate degree in biology.
- Achieve a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in the major.
- Complete BIOL 489 Introduction to Honors Research with a grade of B or higher, or complete one credit of BIOL 423 or BIOL 424 with a grade of B or higher
- Complete BIOL 699 Biology Honors Research Colloquium with a grade of B or higher.
- Complete an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member in an area appropriate to the degree sought.
- Submit an honors thesis to the honors committee once the research is complete and present the results of the completed research at the honors research symposium.
Specific guidelines and intent forms are available in the Undergraduate Biology Program office and online. Candidates must declare their intent to graduate with honors at least 2 semesters before graduation.
Study Abroad
Consult an advisor at least 4 months before undertaking study abroad. Consult the Office of Study Abroad, 108 Lippincott Hall, for information about study in one of the many countries (e.g., Scotland, Australia, Switzerland) with special arrangements with KU.