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UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

The Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy operate on both the Oxford and Jackson campuses. The Schools of Dentistry, Health Related Professionals and Medicine, and the Health Sciences Graduate School, are based in Jackson only. (Additional healthcare programs are available through the School of Applied Sciences on the Oxford campus.) Other than these exceptions, the schools above are on the Oxford campus.

B.A. in Biological Science

Description

A B.A. in biological science allows for a flexible course of study and can prepare a student for a variety of careers or graduate work in many fields, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, organismal biology, education, cell or molecular biology, ecology, and conservation biology. Students may choose from optional emphases in ecology and evolutionary biology; molecular, cellular, and microbiology; organismal biology; pre-health biological sciences. This degree also requires students to select a minor course of study from those approved by the College of Liberal Arts.

Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

General Education Requirements

Requirements: See the General Education/Core Curriculum for the College of Liberal Arts. The math requirement for the B.A. in biological science is 6 hours. This may be met with two of the following courses: Math 121 or Math 125 (but not both), Math 115, Math 123, Math 261 or higher.

Course Requirements

A major in biological science for the B.A. degree requires a minimum of 32 semester hours of biology credit including 24 at the 300 level or above. This requirement includes introductory courses (Bisc 160, 161, 162, 163 for 8 credit hours); biology core courses for 12 credit hours: ecology (Bisc 322), genetics (Bisc 336), and physiology (Bisc 330 or Bisc 438 or Bisc 516); biology electives for 12 credit hours minimum); and the major field achievement test (Bisc 498, which must be taken as a senior) (0 hours). Seminars and nonmajors courses do not satisfy the biology electives requirement. Chem 105, 115, 106, and 116 are required, and chemistry is a recommended minor.

Biology majors may choose to specialize by using their biology electives to add one optional emphasis, which requires a minimum of three courses from the approved list for the emphasis. The same course may not satisfy the biology core courses and an emphasis area. Students who complete relevant special topics, travel course, or research course will consult with the department prior to enrollment in the course to determine if it fulfills a course for an emphasis area.

Other Academic Requirements

Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all course work counted for the major in biological science, and every biological science course requires a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses, including those prerequisite courses from other departments. For example, Bisc 160 and 161 must be passed with a grade of C or better before Bisc 162 and 163 may be taken. In addition, Bisc 160, 161, 162, and 163 must be passed with a grade of C or better before any additional biological science course at the 300 level or above is attempted. Bisc 150, 206, 207, 210, 220, and 492 cannot be used toward a major in biological sciences.

Specializations

The policies and regulations contained in this online University of Mississippi Catalog are in effect for the current or selected semester. The catalog is not a contract, but rather a guide for the convenience of students. The University of Mississippi reserves the right to 1) change or withdraw courses; 2) change the fees, rules, and schedules for admission, registration, instruction, and graduation; and 3) change other regulations affecting the student body at any time. Implicit in each student’s enrollment with the university is an agreement to comply with university rules and regulations, which the university may modify to exercise properly its educational responsibility.