Iowa State University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology through its interdepartmental undergraduate Biology Program. Consisting of 120 credit hours, students can complete this degree within four years (8 semesters) to pursue a wide variety of career options. The links below contain downloadable, printer-friendly 4-year plans and our current degree requirements:
- Bachelor of Science in Biology Degree Requirements - 2024-2025 Catalog Year (PDF)
- Bachelor of Science in Biology 4-Year Plan - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (PDF)
- Bachelor of Science in Biology 4-Year Plan - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (PDF)
You may also skip to information about a specific requirement area on this page by using the following links:
University Requirements
Students enrolled in any major at Iowa State University complete a common set of general education requirements. These requirements include:
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| (varies) | Advanced Communications (determined by choice of college and major) | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| (varies) | International Perspective (click here for a list of approved courses) | 3 |
| (varies) | U.S. Cultures and Communities (click here for a list of approved courses) | 3 |
For additional information about English and communications coursework, including test-out and placement tests, see the ISUComm website.
College Requirements
Students majoring in Biology can do so through two colleges: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Each college has additional general education requirements students are expected to complete. They key differences between these requirements for Biology majors are summarized below:
| LAS Requirement | CALS Requirement | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language | 1010/1020 college-level language proficiency or 3+ years in high school | none required |
| Advanced Communications | advanced writing (ENGL 3120 preferred) -or- speech (SP CM 2120, COMST 2140, or AGEDS 3110) | speech (SP CM 2120, COMST 2140, or AGEDS 3110) |
| Math (met by completing Biology major requirements) | mathematics and/or statistics | mathematics AND statistics |
| Science (met by completing Biology major requirements) | natural sciences | biological and physical sciences |
| Arts and Humanities | 12 credits (select here for approved course list) | 3 credits (select here for approved course list) |
| Social Sciences | 9 credits (select here for approved course list) | 3 credits (select here for approved course list) |
| Ethics | None required | 3 credits (select here for approved course list) |
| Professional Career Preparation | 1 credit (LAS 2030) | none required |
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also requires completion of 45 credits of 3000+ level coursework.
Biology Major Requirements
Biology Core Requirements
This coursework provide students with a broad foundation in the biological sciences. Students must maintain a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA for these courses.
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
BIOL 1100 & BIOL 1110 (students entering directly from high school) -or- BIOL 1120 (students transferring from another school) | Introduction to Biology and Opportunities in Biology -or- Transfer Student Orientation | 1 to 1.5 |
| BIOL 2110 & BIOL 2110L | Principles of Biology I & lab | 4 |
| BIOL 2120 & BIOL 2120L | Principles of Biology II & lab | 4 |
| BIOL 3120 | Ecology (with lab) | 4 |
| BIOL 3130 & BIOL 3130L | Principles of Genetics & lab | 4 |
| BIOL 3140 | Principles of Molecular Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3150 | Biological Evolution | 3 |
The 3000-level core courses do not need to be taken in numerical order. Students should aim to take the course which relates to their primary interest areas first.
Advanced Biology Requirements
Advanced biology coursework allows students to tailor their degree program to their interests with over 200 course options, making Biology the most flexible life-science major at Iowa State University. Advanced biology courses include traditional instructional content as well as opportunities such as field trip courses, teaching experiences, internships, and research experiences. Biology majors complete 21 credits of advanced biology coursework, including:
- At least 9 credits from Biology Program offerings (e.g., BIOL, EEOB, and GDCB courses)
- At least 2 advanced courses containing a laboratory/field component
As with the biology core, students must maintain a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA for these courses. Note that advanced biology courses cannot be used to meet general education requirements.
Complementary or Supporting Science Requirements
An understanding of math, chemistry, and physics is required for completing a Biology major. What courses a student takes depends largely on their career interests, and is best discussed with their advisor or our Student Services Office.
Biology majors complete two semesters of calculus and/or statistics. Choice of college (LAS or CALS) impact a student's mathematics requirements per the options below:
| Math/Stats Option | Mathematics Course | Statistics Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Only (LAS) | MATH 1650 (Calculus I) and MATH 1660 (Calculus II) | none (LAS only) | 8 |
| Statistics Only (LAS) | none (LAS only) | STAT 1010 (Principles of Statistics) or STAT 1040 (Introduction to Statistics) -and- STAT 3010 (Intermediate Statistical Concepts and Methods) | 7 to 8 |
| Mathematics and Statistics (LAS and CALS) | MATH 1600 (Survey of Calculus) or MATH 1650 (Calculus I) | STAT 1010 (Principles of Statistics) or STAT 1040 (Introduction to Statistics) | 7 to 8 |
| Statistics Only (CALS) | any college-approved mathematics course | STAT 1010 (Principles of Statistics) or STAT 1040 (Introduction to Statistics) -and- STAT 3010 (Intermediate Statistical Concepts and Methods) | 10 to 13 |
Placement in math courses is governed by the ALEKS exam and the Department of Mathematics.
Biology majors complete a minimum of one semester of general chemistry (with lab), one semester of organic chemistry (with lab), and one semester of biochemistry (12 credits total). Students often complete more than this because it is recommended or required for their career path or post-graduate plans.
Minimum Chemistry Sequence
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1630 & CHEM 1630L | College Chemistry & lab | 5 |
| CHEM 2310 & CHEM 2310L | Elementary Organic Chemistry & lab | 4 |
| BBMB 3160 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
Advanced Chemistry Sequence
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1770 & CHEM 1770L | General Chemistry I & lab | 5 |
| CHEM 1780 & CHEM 1780L | General Chemistry II & lab | 4 |
| CHEM 3310 & CHEM 3310L | Organic Chemistry I & lab | 4 |
| CHEM 3320 & CHEM 3320L | Organic Chemistry II & lab | 4 |
| BBMB 4040 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| BBMB 4050 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
Biology majors complete one semester of physics with a lab (5 credits). Students may opt to take a full year of physics because it is recommended or required for their career path or post-graduate aspirations.
| Physics Option | Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Semester | PHYS 1150 & PHYS 1150L | Physics for Life Sciences | 5 |
| Full Year (algebra-based) | PHYS 1310 + PHYS 1310L -and- PHYS 1320 + PHYS 1320L | General Physics I and II | 10 |
| Full Year (calculus-based) | -and- | Classical Physics I and II | 10 |