Biology Minor Requirements
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 2110 | Principles of Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 2110L | Principles of Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 2120 | Principles of Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 2120L | 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 3120 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 3130 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 3130L | Principles of Genetics Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3140 | Principles of Molecular Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3150 | Biological Evolution | 3 |
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 3220 | Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3280 | Molecular and Cellular Biology of Human Diseases | 3 |
| BIOL 3350 | Human and Other Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 3350L | Human and Other Animal Physiology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3360 | Ecological and Evolutionary Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 3440 | Human Reproduction | 3 |
| BIOL 3490 | The Genome Perspective in Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3550 | Comprehensive Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 3510 | Comparative Chordate Anatomy | 5 |
| BIOL 3520 | Vertebrate Histology | 4 |
| BIOL 3530 | Introductory Parasitology | 3 |
| BIOL 3540 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BIOL 3540L | Animal Behavior Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3550 | Plants and People | 3 |
| BIOL 3560 | Dendrology | 4 |
| BIOL 3570 | Biology of Plants | 3 |
| BIOL 3580 | Bee Biology, Management, and Beekeeping | 3 |
| BIOL 3640 | Invertebrate Biology | 3-4 |
| BIOL 3650 | Vertebrate Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 3660 | Plant Systematics | 4 |
| BIOL 3770 | GIS for Ecology and Environmental Science | 1-6 |
| BIOL 3710 | Ecological Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 3930 | North American Field Trips | 1-4 |
| BIOL 3940 | International Field Trips | 1-4 |
| BIOL 4010 | Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 4020 | Introduction to Pathology | 3 |
| BIOL 4140 | Life History and Reproductive Strategies | 3 |
| BIOL 4210 | Biological Principles of Aging | 3 |
| BIOL 4230 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 4230L | Developmental Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 4280 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 4300 | Principles of Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 4340 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| BIOL 4360 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 4510 | Plant Evolution and Phylogeny | 4 |
| BIOL 4540 | Plant Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 4550 | Bryophyte and Lichen Biodiversity | 3 |
| BIOL 4560 | Principles of Mycology | 3 |
| BIOL 4570 | Herpetology | 2 |
| BIOL 4570L | Herpetology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 4580 | Ornithology | 2 |
| BIOL 4580L | Ornithology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 4590 | Mammalogy | 2 |
| BIOL 4590L | Mammalogy Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 4620 | Evolutionary Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 4640 | Wetland Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4650 | Macroevolution | 3 |
| BIOL 4710 | Introduction to Conservation Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 472 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4740 | Plant Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4760 | Functional Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4800 | Studies in Marine Biology | 1-8 |
| BIOL 4810 | Summer Field Studies | 1-8 |
| BIOL 4820 | Tropical Biology | 1-4 |
| BIOL 4830 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 4840 | Ecosystem Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4860 | Aquatic Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4860L | Aquatic Ecology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 4870 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4880 | Identification of Aquatic Organisms | 1 |
| BIOL 4890 | Population Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4900 | Independent Study | 1 |
| BIOL 4910 | Undergraduate Teaching Experience | 1-2 |
| BIOL 4920 | Preparing for Graduate School in Biology | 1 |
| BIOL 4940 | Biology Internship | 1-2 |
| BIOL 4950 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1-3 |
| BIOL 4980 | Cooperative Education | R |
| BIOL 4990 | Undergraduate Research | 1-3 |