Chair and Professor: B. Cash (PhD), (501) 450-3146
Professors: J. Choinski (PhD), D. Dussourd (PhD), S. Runge (PhD), B. Clancy (PhD)
Associate Professors: G. Adams (PhD),  R. Adams (PhD), B. Hill (PhD), K. Larson (PhD), M. McDonald (PhD), R. Noyes (PhD), B. Rowley (PhD)
Assistant Professors: M. Bland (PhD), S. Entrekin (PhD), C. Marian (PhD), A. Mukherjee (PhD), K. Naylor (PhD), J. Padberg (PhD), D. Shepard (PhD), B. Waggoner (PhD)
Senior Lecturers: M. Martin (MD)
Lecturer II’s: Z. Gomez-Kramer (DA), J. Mimms (MSE), R. Wainwright (MHSA)
Lecturer I’s: K. Hicks (PhD), L. Horton (MS), S. Karafit (MSc), K. Peppers (PhD), L. Warren (PhD)

[1] Purposes

Knowledge of biology relates directly to understanding contemporary human life and the natural world. The biology program aims to contribute this vital element to the liberal education of all students through required and elective courses in general education. Majors in biology are provided the basic foundation for pursuing careers in biological sciences. Majors can go into research, teaching, or professional positions in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, environmental science, and various other applied and technical fields. Courses cover both the concepts and processes of biology as well as various groups of organisms. Advanced courses and individual research opportunities are available in numerous sub-disciplines. Students in related degree programs, such as applied health sciences and education, obtain the biological component of their programs from fundamental and applied courses offered in the Department of Biology.

[2] The Undergraduate Scholars Program in Biology

Junior or senior students with a grade point average of at least 3.0 overall are allowed to participate in a program which, when successfully completed, will qualify them to graduate as an Undergraduate Scholar in Biology. The program requires completion of all biology courses with a grade point of 3.25 or better, plus at least 3 additional hours of independent research (BIOL 3350) under the supervision of a committee consisting of a faculty mentor and two other faculty members. An acceptable written report of this research must be submitted, and an oral presentation must be given to the Department of Biology or in another suitable public forum. Additional details are available from the Biology Department office (Lewis Science Center, Room 180).

[3] Baccalaureate Degree: Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science in Biology requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses; (2) BS degree requirements (see UCA Degree Requirements); and (3) requirements in biological science, physical science and mathematics as described below. Completion of a minor approved by both the major and the minor advisors is optional (see specific requirements below).

Please note: Students must earn a C or higher grade in a biology core course before enrolling in a subsequent biology core course or biology elective that lists that core course as a prerequisite. Similar prerequisite requirements also exist for courses in other departments offering courses required for a BS degree in Biology.

[3.1] Major in Biology (40-48 hours)

Biology Core Requirements:

BIOL 1440 Principles of Biology I [ UCA Core: I ]
BIOL 1441 Principles of Biology II
BIOL 2490 Genetics
BIOL 3402 Cell Biology [ UCA Core: C, I ]
BIOL 3403 General Ecology [ UCA Core: I ]

Other Required Courses:

CHEM 1450 College Chemistry I [ UCA Core: I ]
CHEM 1451 College Chemistry II
CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 3411 Organic Chemistry II
PHYS 140 College Physics I [ UCA Core: I ]
PHYS 1420 College Physics II
MATH 1491 Calculus for the Life Sciences [ UCA Core: I ]
or
MATH 1496 Calculus I [ UCA Core: I ]
MATH 2311 Statistical Methods I

Biology Elective Requirements:

Major without a minor: 28 hours of electives chosen from the following courses, including a minimum of four (4) laboratory courses

Major with a minor: 20 hours of electives chosen from the following courses, including a minimum of four (4) laboratory courses

BIOL 3190 Economic Botany Lab
BIOL 3305 Molecular Biology: Techniques and Controversies
BIOL 3310 Neuroethology: The Neural Basis of Natural Behavior
BIOL 3360 Introduction to Marine Biology
BIOL 3390 Economic Botany
BIOL 3410 Vertebrate Zoology
BIOL 3420 General Microbiology
BIOL 4250 Scanning Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis
BIOL 4311 Pathophysiology****
BIOL 4320 Neurodeveopment and Pathology
BIOL 4330/5330 Cardiovascular Physiology
BIOL 4340 Immunology
BIOL 4351 General Pharmacology****
BIOL 4360 Endocrinology
BIOL 4400 Histology
BIOL 4401 Invertebrate Zoology
BIOL 4404 Plant Taxonomy
BIOL 4405 Developmental Biology
BIOL 4406/5406 Mammalogy
BIOL 4407/5407 Ornithology
BIOL 4410 Biology of Lower Plants and Fungi
BIOL 4412 Organisms in Extreme Environments
BIOL 4415 Evolution
BIOL 4418 Biology of Reptiles
BIOL 4421 Pathogenic Microbiology [ UCA Core: Z ]
BIOL 4425 Experimental Neurobiology
BIOL 4428 Animal Physiological Ecology
BIOL 4430 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIOL 4435 Animal Behavior [ UCA Core: Z ]
BIOL 4440 Entomology
BIOL 4442/5442 Restoration Ecology [ UCA Core: Z ]
BIOL 4445 Biometry
BIOL 4450 Plant Ecophysiology [ UCA Core: Z ]
BIOL 4455 Ichthyology (Biology of Fishes)
BIOL 4460 Animal Physiology
BIOL 4461 Parasitology
BIOL/ENVR 4465 Environmental Toxicology
BIOL 4470 Biology of Seed Plants
BIOL 4475 Advanced Cell Biology [ UCA Core: Z ]
BIOL 4480 History of Life
BIOL 4530 Experimental Molecular Biology
BIOL 3150/4155 Independent Studies***
BIOL 3X45 (1–4 credit hours) Internship ***
BIOL 3X85/4X85 (1–3 credit hours at each level) Undergraduate Research ***
BIOL 4100 Field Studies in Biology
CHEM 4320/CHEM 4121 Biochemistry I and Lab
ENVR 3410 Environmental Theory and Application [ UCA Core: D, C ]

Notes:
*** Up to four (4) hours may count as biology elective credit with departmental approval.
**** Require prerequisites not normally taken by UCA Biology majors.

[3.2] Minor in Biology (24 hours)

Minimum Requirements:

BIOL 1440 Principles of Biology I [ UCA Core: I ]
BIOL 1441 Principles of Biology II
BIOL 2490 Genetics
BIOL 3402 Cell Biology [ UCA Core: C, I ]
BIOL 3403 General Ecology [ UCA Core: I ]

Four elective hours chosen from:

BIOL 2405 Human Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL 2406 Structure and Function of the Human Body
BIOL 2407 Structure and Function of the Human Body II
BIOL 2420 Microbiology in Human Affairs
BIOL 2420 Histology for Health Sciences
BIOL 3370 Introduction to Neuroscience

and all course listed as electives for the major

Additional requirements include:

CHEM 1450 College Chemistry I [ UCA Core: I ]
CHEM 1451 College Chemistry I
CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry I
PHYS 1410 College Physics I [ UCA Core: I ]
PHYS 1420 College Physics II

 

[4] Teaching Licensure

A student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology who is interested in obtaining teaching licensure in life science/earth science should contact the science education advisor in the Department of Biology (Dr. Bland; 450-5967 or Mr. Mimms; 450-3677) and the chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning (450-3177).

[5] Master’s Degree

See Graduate Bulletin.

Course Links

[6.1] Courses in Biology (BIOL)

Follow this link for BIOL course descriptions: course link.

[6.2] Courses at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

The University of Central Arkansas is affiliated with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Students may take GCRL courses and receive credit at UCA.

UCA advisor: Dr. Noyes

Prerequisite for all courses: BIOL 2490 and consent of Department.

The following courses offered at GCRL can be used to satisfy up to 4 semester hours of the biology elective credit requirement at UCA. Special Problems in Marine Science (course #490) may satisfy up to 4 additional hours of the biology elective credit requirement upon approval of the Biology Department Independent Study Committee.

Number	Title	SCH
301	Marine Science II: Marine Biology	3
301L	Marine Science II: Marine Biology Lab	2
403/503	Marine Invertebrate Zoology	3
403L/503L	Marine Invertebrate Zoology Lab	3
405/505	Marine Ecology	3
405L/505L	Marine Ecology Lab	2
407/507	Marine Aquaculture	3
407L/507L	Marine Aquaculture Lab	3
408/508	Marine Ichthyology	3
408L/508L	Marine Ichthyology Lab	3
421/521	Coastal Vegetation	2
421L/521L	Coastal Vegetation Lab	1
423/523	Marine Mammals	3
423L/523L	Marine Mammals Lab	3
490/590	Special Problems in Marine Science	TBA