B.S. Biology (Extended Major)

This Bachelor of Science in Biology offers distinct emphases in the following areas:

To earn this degree, complete at least 120 units of coursework, which we describe in the sections that follow:   

Be aware that some courses required for your degree may have prerequisites that you must also take. Check the courses in the appropriate subject.  (You may be able to count these prerequisites toward your liberal studies or general elective credit.)  

   

Please note that you must complete NAU’s diversity requirements by taking two 3-unit courses, one in ethnic diversity and one in global awareness. These courses may be used to meet other requirements within your academic plan if you choose them carefully. Click here for a list of the available diversity courses.

 

Please note that NAU requires that at least 30 units of the courses you take for your degree must be upper-division courses (those numbered 300 and above).  

 

Finally, please note that you may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement; however, you must still meet the total of at least 120 units to graduate. Contact your advisor for details.  

Major Core Requirements

For this major, complete at least the following 32-48 units of biology and science support courses.  

 

or CHM 151, 151L, 152, and 152L (9 units)  

or CHM 235, 235L, and 238 (8 units)  

or only MAT 136 (4 units)

or PHY 161, 161L, 262, 262L, and 263 (11 units)  

General Emphasis

This emphasis prepares you for careers involving the biology of organisms at all organizational levels from cells to ecosystems.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

BIO 205 and 305W

or BIO 326 and 326LW  

BIO 401C

or BIO 425C and 425L

or BIO 426C and 426L

or BIO 435C

or BIO 444C

or BIO 488C  

any BIO courses, except BIO 100 and 100L and 310 or any BIO recitation (R) courses

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from the following biology-related courses:   

ANT 270, 271, 370, 379, 553, and 554  

CHM 238L, 320, 360, 360L, 440, 461, and 560  

CS 486C  

ENV 280, 440, and 440L  

EXS 336, 337, 460, 465C, 570, and 575  

FOR 212, 213, 222, 240, 250, 255, 270, 282, 340, 381, 382, 403, 404, 405, 445, 453, and 504  

GGR 250 and 457  

GLG 101, 201, 225, 304, 307, 530, and 536  

NTS 256, 370, 465, and 470  

PRM 300  

PSY 320, 350, 355, 370, 420, 432, 495, and 670  

STA 471 and 472  

Behavior Emphasis

This emphasis allow you to develop a suite of courses that is tailor-made to your particular needs and interests. You may take courses in vertebrate behavior, invertebrate behavior, behavioral physiology, and animal cognition.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

BIO 435C

or BIO 425C and 425L

any of BIO 221, 222, 223, 322, 344, 373, 425C, 435C, 525, 526, 527, 528, 535, 540, 545, 573, 580, and 666

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from CS 486C; ENV 440; PSY 320, 350, 370, and 495; and STA 471 and 472

any BIO courses, except BIO 100 and 100L and 310 or any BIO recitation (R) courses

Botany Emphasis

Many opportunities are available to you if you have undergraduate training in the plant sciences. (See www.botany.org/bsa/careers/.) This botany emphasis provides you with a sound foundation in plant sciences while allowing you to create a course of study that satisfies your individual needs and interests. We also encourage you to become an active member of the NAU Botany Club.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

or BIO 426C and 426L  

any BIO courses, except BIO 100 and 100L and 310 or any BIO recitation (R) courses

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from ANT 554; ENV 440 and 440L; FOR 212, 213, 222, 240, and 250; GGR 250 and 457; and GLG 101 and 304  

Cellular and Molecular Biology Emphasis

This emphasis offers a detailed study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and provides a sound foundation in genetics, cell biology and immunology in order to understand how cells function.  A cellular and molecular biology emphasis is an excellent preparation for medical veterinary or dental schools, graduate studies in biology or careers in the biotechnology industry.

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

BIO 331, 343, 350, 369, 410, 411, 440, 440L, 471, 488C, 502, 545, 550, and 551

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from CHM 238L, 320, and 560  

Ecology Emphasis

This ecology emphasis prepares you for careers that involve interactions among animals, plants, and microbes and their respective physical and chemical environments. You may select courses from such areas of active faculty interest and involvement as microbial ecology, plant ecology, marine and freshwater ecology, ecosystem ecology, and global change.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

BIO  221, 222, 223, 227, 284, 322, 366, 369, 373, 374, 399, 410, 411, 414, 415, 431, 471, 475, 477, 478, 479, 488C, 516, 517, 522, 525, 526, 527, 528, 546, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 577, and 580

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from ANT 270, 271, and 370; CHM 440; ENV 280 and 440; FOR 213, 240, 270, 282, and 340; GGR 250 and 457; GLG 201, 225, and 307; and PRM 300  

Evolution Emphasis

This evolution emphasis provides you with a broad and detailed understanding of modern evolutionary biology. It can prepare you for careers in areas such as teaching and conservation biology and for jobs with federal and state government agencies, colleges and universities; and museums and zoos. Optional areas of concentration within the evolution major include vertebrate evolution, invertebrate evolution, and plant evolution.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

BIO 221, 222, 223, 227, 284, 322, 366, 410, 415, 424, 425C, 425L, 426C, 426L, 431, 525, 526, 527, 528, 570, and 574

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from ANT 270, 271, and 379; ENV 440 and 440L; and GLG 225, 530, and 536  

Fish and Wildlife Management

We encourage you to consider this emphasis if you are interested in a career as a wildlife biologist with federal, state, or non-governmental agencies.  

 

The area around Flagstaff is ecologically diverse and is home to a variety of game, non-game, and threatened and endangered species. You have the opportunity to develop field skills through independent research with individual professions or through internships with state and federal agencies. We also encourage you to become an active member of the NAU student chapter of The Wildlife Society, the international organization of professional wildlife biologists.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

 

BIO 435C

or BIO 425C and 425L  

any BIO courses, except BIO 100, 100L, 201, 202, and 310 or any BIO recitation (R) courses

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from FOR 213, 255, 282, 381, 382, and 445; ENV 440; and GGR 457  

Physiology

The physiology major provides you with a broad and detailed understanding of the internal physiology of animals. It can prepare you for careers in such areas as medicine, biotechnology, pharmacology, biomedical and basic research, and other professional programs, including teaching at pre-college and college levels. Optional areas of concentration within the physiology major include organismal physiology, human physiology, environmental physiology, and cellular physiology.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

 

BIO 326 and 326LW

or BIO 205 and 305W

BIO 425C and 425L

or BIO 426C and 426L

or BIO 444C  

BIO 201, 202, 320, 331, 350, 401C, 424, 425C, 426C, 440, 444C, 488C, 535, 540, 545, and 673

Pre-Health Professions

This major prepares you for entering post-graduate programs in the health professions, such as human medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry. We encourage you to confer with NAU’s biomedical professions advisor and to review catalogs from specific health profession schools for more detailed information about possible additional requirements.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

 

any BIO courses, except BIO 100, 100L and 310 or any BIO recitation (R) courses

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from PSY 350, 355, 420, 432, and 670; EXS 336, 337, 460, 465C, 570, and 575; and NTS 256, 370, 465, and 470  

Zoology

This zoology major prepares you for careers dealing with the biology of animals at all organizational levels from cell to ecosystem. Career opportunities in this field range from research to teaching, environmental consulting to conservation activism, private corporation to governmental agency. You may select courses from such areas of active faculty interest and involvement as invertebrate zoology or vertebrate zoology.  

 

Complete at least the following 32 units.  Note that you must have a grade of "C" or better in each course.

 

any BIO courses, except BIO 100, 100L and 310 or any BIO recitation (R) courses

up to 3 units of BIO 300

up to 6 units from BIO 408, 485, 497, and 498

up to 6 units from ANT 270 and 553, FOR 453 and 504, and GLG 225, 530, and 536  

General Electives   

Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.  

 

You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren’t used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)  

 

Click here for information about our Biology undergraduate courses and faculty.