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Minors

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 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

 

The Faculty Senate recently approved the addition of a new minor: Pharmacology and Toxicology.  This minor will be overseen by the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technology (BMS) and is especially appropriate for students considering post-graduate professional programs such as human medicine or vetrinary medicine.  Courses will focus on the effects of drugs and toxins on both animal and environmental systems.  The minor will require completion of 15 credits, and several courses previously listed as graduate-level only will have a new undergraduate section. 
Learn more about this minor.