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.

•  Biology Minor Requirements 2021-2022 (PDF)

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:

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:

Adding Majors/Minors to Your Degree Program

Thinking About Adding a Second Major?

Some students choose to pursue a secondary major alongside their primary major.  Double majoring should first be discussed with your current advisor.  Think about your reasons for double majoring.  Is this expanding skill sets relevant to my desired career goals?  Is this a special passion or interest I really want to pursue?  

Adding a double major requires additional work, which may alter your intended timeline for graduation.  Always visit with a representative of the program you plan to double major in after you discuss the possibility with your current advisor.  They can explain the degree requirements to you, so you can better understand how it will fit in with your current degree program.  You may want to develop a more detailed semester-by-semester plan (PDF) when thinking about double majoring, or run some “What if?” degree audits in AccessPlus.  

To formally declare a double major, start with your current advisor.  As part of the process, you will declare which major is primary, and which is secondary.  You will have an advisor assigned from both majors to assist with degree planning.  

The following majors are common pairings with the Biology major at Iowa State:

• Animal Ecology
• Animal Science
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Studies
• Psychology

Thinking About Adding a Minor?

The process of adding a minor is similar to adding a double major.  Discuss the possibility of adding a minor with your current advisor, and think about that “why” question.  Visit with the department or program offering the minor so you understand what is expected of you for obtaining it.  Minors at Iowa State generally require the completion of 15 credits.  Of those 15 credits, 9 credits must count only for the minor and cannot be used to satisfy any other university, college, or major requirements.  

The following minors are common choices for Biology majors, and a complete list of minors is available in the Iowa State Catalog:

• Animal Ecology
• Animal Science
• Environmental Studies
• Forestry
• Food Science
• Foreign Language
• Genetics
• Music
• Nutrition
• Psychology

I’d like to minor in Biology!

Awesome!  Stop by our Advising office in 103 Bessey Hall for our guide sheet and to talk with one of our advisors about what is required.  You can also check out the requirements for our minor here.