The Biology minor at Iowa State University adds a biological science focus to a student's program of study that can be tailored to their interest area.
To complete a Biology minor, students take 15 credits of life science coursework from the approved list, 9 credits of which must count only towards the Biology minor. The following courses are required of all students wishing to minor in Biology:
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 211 | Principles of Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 211L | Principles of Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 212 | Principles of Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 212L | Principles of Biology II Lab | 1 |
Students then also complete at least 7 credits of additional coursework to reach a total of 15 credits. At least 6 of these credits must be at the 300-level or above with a grade of "C" or higher. Courses approved for use in the minor include:
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 312 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 313 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 313L | Principles of Genetics Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 314 | Principles of Molecular Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 315 | Biological Evolution | 3 |
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 322 | Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 328 | Molecular and Cellular Biology of Human Diseases | 3 |
| BIOL 335 | Human and Other Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 335L | Human and Other Animal Physiology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 336 | Ecological and Evolutionary Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 344 | Human Reproduction | 3 |
| BIOL 349 | The Genome Perspective in Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 350 | Comprehensive Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 351 | Comparative Chordate Anatomy | 5 |
| BIOL 352 | Vertebrate Histology | 4 |
| BIOL 353 | Introductory Parasitology | 3 |
| BIOL 354 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BIOL 354L | Animal Behavior Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 355 | Plants and People | 3 |
| BIOL 356 | Dendrology | 4 |
| BIOL 357 | Biology of Plants | 3 |
| BIOL 358X | Bee Biology, Management, and Beekeeping | 3 |
| BIOL 364 | Invertebrate Biology | 3-4 |
| BIOL 365 | Vertebrate Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 366 | Plant Systematics | 4 |
| BIOL 370 | GIS for Ecology and Environmental Science | 1-6 |
| BIOL 371 | Ecological Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 381 | Environmental Systems I | 3 |
| BIOL 382 | Environmental Systems II | 3 |
| BIOL 393 | North American Field Trips | 1-4 |
| BIOL 394 | International Field Trips | 1-4 |
| BIOL 401 | Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 402 | Introduction to Pathology | 3 |
| BIOL 414 | Life History and Reproductive Strategies | 3 |
| BIOL 421 | Biological Principles of Aging | 3 |
| BIOL 423 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 423L | Developmental Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 428 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 430 | Principles of Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 434 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| BIOL 436 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 444 | Bioinformatic Analysis | 4 |
| BIOL 451 | Plant Evolution and Phylogeny | 4 |
| BIOL 454 | Plant Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 455 | Bryophyte and Lichen Biodiversity | 3 |
| BIOL 456 | Principles of Mycology | 3 |
| BIOL 457 | Herpetology | 2 |
| BIOL 457L | Herpetology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 458 | Ornithology | 2 |
| BIOL 458L | Ornithology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 459 | Mammalogy | 2 |
| BIOL 459L | Mammalogy Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 462 | Evolutionary Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 464 | Wetland Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 465 | Macroevolution | 3 |
| BIOL 471 | Introduction to Conservation Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 472 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 474 | Plant Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 476 | Functional Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 480 | Studies in Marine Biology | 1-8 |
| BIOL 481 | Summer Field Studies | 1-8 |
| BIOL 482 | Tropical Biology | 1-4 |
| BIOL 483 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 484 | Ecosystem Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 486 | Aquatic Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 486L | Aquatic Ecology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 487 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 488 | Identification of Aquatic Organisms | 1 |
| BIOL 489 | Population Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 490 | Independent Study | 1 |
| BIOL 491 | Undergraduate Teaching Experience | 1-2 |
| BIOL 492 | Preparing for Graduate School in Biology | 1 |
| BIOL 494 | Biology Internship | 1-2 |
| BIOL 495 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1-3 |
| BIOL 498 | Cooperative Education | R |
| BIOL 499 | Undergraduate Research | 1-3 |