Biology and Life Sciences
From enormous plants and animals to the smallest cells and microbes, the field of biology offers numerous opportunities to learn more about our world around us. Whether you want to be in a lab, classroom, medical care facility, or the great outdoors, you’ll leave this program with the tools of scientific curiosity, analysis, and inquiry that can take you anywhere.
You can choose to major or minor in Biology.
Learn how to:
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Apply core biological science concepts to real world scenarios
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Master the scientific method and scientific primary literature, experiment design and application, as well as data evaluation
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Apply biological knowledge to individual, community, and global issues
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Master basic laboratory skills and techniques across multiple biology disciplines
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Think critically to formulate problems, gather and analyze data, as well as interpret results
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Effectively communicate biological information to the scientific community through written and oral formats
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Translate and apply skills to graduate or professional studies and/or career goals
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Demonstrate scientifically ethical conduct, as well as an awareness of legal and ethical implications of scientific issues in society
750+ Course Options
The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.
This curriculum is designed for students interested in learning and applying scientific knowledge towards careers in biomedicine, allied health professions, and environmental sciences. You’ll get experience in biology lab instrumentation, biotechnology methods, as well as the study of models and physiology experiments. Courses in plant and animal sciences, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, and environmental science provide in-depth instruction in fundamental concepts and theories, principles, and techniques.
Biology and Life Sciences majors have the option to declare the Applied Sciences concentration. Applied Sciences concentration students choose from 3 tracks and get a head start into your medical or pharmaceutical career:
Regardless of your chosen track, our Biology and Life Sciences degree prepares students for advanced study, or any medical career with research or analytical responsibilities.
Program Requirements
To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Life Sciences, students must complete at least 120 credit hours. These credit hours split among:
- General Education Requirements, or GERs
- Core major courses
- Additional required courses
- Program electives
General Education Requirements (GERs)
All students must complete 40 GER credits. In addition, all science majors must also take these courses to satisfy GERs.
- MATH 131 (College Algebra for science majors)
- BIOL 106 (Fundamentals of cell biology) and
- CHEM 101 - General Chemistry (Prerequisite MATH 131)
Core Courses (38 credits)
| Course | credits | Name |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 103 | 4 | Botany |
| BIO 104 | 4 | Zoology |
| BIOL 201 | 4 | Anatomy and Physiology I |
| BIOL 203 | 4 | Anatomy and Physiology II |
BIOL 305 or BIOL 204 | 4 | Animal Physiology or Vertebrate Structure and Development |
| BIOL 308 | 4 | Microbiology |
| BIOL 401 | 4 | General Ecology |
| BIOL 402 | 4 | Principles of Genetics |
| BIOL 410 | 4 | Molecular Biology |
| BIOL 403 | 1 | Seminar I |
| BIOL 404 | 1 | Seminar II |
Additional Required Courses (34 credits)
| Course | credits | Name |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 102 | 4 | General Chemistry II |
| CHEM 307 | 5 | Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 308 | 5 | Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEM 313 | 4 | Biochemistry |
| MATH 132 | 4 | Pre-Calculus |
| PHYS 301 | 4 | Physics I |
| PHYS 302 | 4 | Physics II |
| MATH 201 | 4 | Calculus I |
Program Electives (8 credits)
| Course | credits | Name |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 300 | 3 | Norm & Therapeutic Nutrition |
| BIOL 301 | 4 | Developmental Biology |
| BIOL 302 | 4 | Animal Histology |
| BIOL 303 | 3 | Neuroscience: Research & Analysis |
| BIOL 314 | 4 | Endocrinology |
| BIOL 411 | 4 | Molecular Biotechniques & Applications |
| BIOL 412 | 3 | Adv. in Genetic Eng. |
| BIOL 480 | 4 | Immunology |
Remember! You must complete all major and prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher.
Sample Degree Plan
This plan is only for example purposes. Your academic journey may be slightly different from another student’s, so be sure to always communicate with your academic advisor before finalizing your course schedule.
Fall Semester (16 credits)
Course | credits | name |
|---|---|---|
ENGL 101 | 3 | English Composition I |
PSYC 201 | 3 | General Psychology |
MATH 131 | 3 | College Algebra |
HIST 205 | 3 | African American History I |
PHIL 102 | 3 | Introduction to Logic |
FRSEM 101 | 1 | Freshman Seminar |
Spring Semester (18 credits)
course | credits | name |
|---|---|---|
MATH 132 | 4 | Pre-Calculus |
BIOL 106 | 4 | Cell Biology |
CHEM 101 | 4 | General Chemistry I |
MISY 150 (or HEED 101 or GEOG 102) | 3 | Tech Fluency |
Fall Semester (13 credits)
Course | credits | name |
|---|---|---|
ENGL 102 | 3 | English Composition II |
ANTH 207 | 3 | Anthropology |
WLIT 207 | 3 | World Literature |
BIOL 103 | 4 | General Botany |
Spring Semester (15 credits)
Course | credits | name |
|---|---|---|
CHEM 102 | 4 | General Chemistry II |
BIOL 201 | 4 | Anatomy and Physiology I |
IDIS 103 (or Foreign Lang, ART 103, Music 201, Dance 226, Theater 211, Speech 105) | 3 | Visual Art and Theater |
BIOL 104 | 4 | General Zoology |
Fall Semester (17 credits)
Course | credits | name |
|---|---|---|
CHEM 307 | 5 | Organic Chemistry (only offered in the Fall) |
PHYS 301 | 4 | General Physics (only offered in the Fall) |
BIOL 308 | 4 | Microbiology |
BIOL 203 | 4 | Anatomy and Physiology II |
Spring Semester (17 credits)
course | credits | name |
|---|---|---|
CHEM 308 | 5 | Organic Chemistry II (only offered in the Spring) |
PHYS 302 | 4 | Physics II (only offered in the Spring) |
BIOL 305 or BIOL 204 | 4 | Animal Physiology or Vertebrate Structure and Development |
CHEM 313 | 4 | Biochemistry (only offered in the Spring) |
Fall Semester (12 credits)
Course | credits | name |
|---|---|---|
BIOL 403 | 1 | Seminar in Biology I |
BIOL 300 or 400 Elective | 4 | Program Elective (such as BIOL 302, BIOL 303, BIOL 480, BIOL 412 offered only in the fall) |
Any GER II | 3 | African American History II |
MATH 201 | 4 | Calculus |
Spring Semester (17 credits)
Course | credits | Name |
|---|---|---|
BIOL 404 | 1 | Seminar in Biology II |
BIOL 402 | 4 | Principles of Genetics (only offered in the Spring) |
BIOL 410 | 4 | Molecular Biology (only offered in the Spring) |
BIOL 401 | 4 | General Ecology |
BIOL 300 or 400 Elective | 4 | Program Elective (such as BIOL 301, BIOL 314 offered only in the spring) |
Related Natural Science Programs
Applied Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Biology: Pre-Medicine
Biology: Pre-Pharmacy
Biology: Pre-Physician Assistant
Biology
Computational Chemistry
Biochemistry
Polymer and Material Sciences
Biology and Life Sciences lives in the Department of Natural Sciences in the School of Arts & Sciences within the College of Arts & Sciences, and Education.