Biology, B.S.

The Biology major is intended for students seeking careers that require a strong background in biology and chemistry, including health professions (such as human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, physician assistant, public health, and others), teaching, research, and other professions. This major also prepares students for graduate programs in biology and related disciplines such as organismal and evolutionary biology, ecology, developmental biology, physiology, and neuroscience.

All Biology Department majors require specific support courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and other subjects. Students should be aware that some post-baccalaureate degree programs require physics for admission and should discuss course options with their advisors before making course decisions.

Grade Policy 

This policy applies to students majoring in Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science, or minoring in Biology.

1.  A grade of D- or higher must be earned in all courses required for each major or minor unless indicated otherwise. Students earning a C- or lower (including withdrawal) in a course can opt to retake the course, subject to the university’s Course Attempt Policy.

2. Students must complete all of the major or minor requirements with an average GPA of at least 2.0.

3. Students who earn an average GPA below 2.0 in all courses required for each major or minor at the conclusion of a semester will be placed on departmental academic warning.

4. A grade of B- or higher must be earned in BL 2130 to continue with the Cell & Molecular Biology major.

Dismissal Policy  

Students may be dismissed from the major after being placed on departmental academic warning for three semesters.

Major and Minor Requirements

Students may earn a degree in only one of the three majors in the Biology Department (Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science). Double and triple majors in biology are not permitted. A maximum of 3 credits of BL 2950, BL 3980 and BL 3990 combined will be accepted for any of the biology majors. Transfer students majoring in Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science must complete a minimum of 17 credit hours in the Biology Department at John Carroll University. To receive a minor in Biology, students must complete a minimum of 13 credit hours in the Biology Department at John Carroll University.

Professional Development Program

The Biology Department participates in the College of Arts and Sciences Professional Development Program, as designed for the majors in biology. Completion of the program will be noted in a student's academic transcript.

Additional Information

Many courses offered by the department include a laboratory and/or field-work component; these are listed as separate courses that immediately follow the corresponding lecture course.

Program Learning Goals in Biology

Students will:

1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of biology and develop competency in specific areas of interest.

   • Understand the basic chemical principles, cell structure and organization, and metabolism of living organisms.

   • Understand plant and animal anatomy and physiology, with an emphasis on form and function.

   • Understand the diversity of organisms, systematic biology and phylogeny, and biological interactions over geological time.

   • Understand the principles of molecular, transmission, quantitative, evolutionary, and population genetics.

   • Understand the theory of evolution by natural selection.

2. Use an empirical approach to evaluate biological phenomena from primary literature.

3. Communicate biological knowledge effectively.

Major Requirements

34 credit hours of biology courses, including at least one 4000-level course (excluding BL4050 and BL4810), plus 20-27 credit hours of support courses in other departments. Courses are to be chosen with advisor approval and always include applicable laboratory corequisites. Students may count one of the following courses for Biology major credit: CH4310, CH4350, PS3260, or PS4260 (none of these courses count as the 4000-level biology requirement). Students should refer to the registration website to identify appropriate courses to complete the Core within the major (i.e., additional writing (AW),  capstone (C), and oral presentation (OP) courses).

Required Courses:

Plus at least one course from each of the following areas:

A) cell-to-organism (including laboratory corequisite):

B) organism-to-biosphere (including laboratory co-requisite, when offered):

Required Support Courses:

BL1500–1705 is the normal introductory sequence for biology and environmental science majors. If, for a reason acceptable to the department, BL1505, BL1605, and BL1705 are taken separately from BL1500, BL1600, and BL1700, the student is expected to take BL1500, BL1600, and BL1700 or their equivalents before taking the laboratory courses. Entering freshmen will receive advanced placement and/or advanced standing in accord with scores listed.

Concentration in Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS)

Medical laboratory scientists are trained to perform complex chemical, microscopic, and microbiological laboratory tests used in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. These tests range from simple blood tests to more complex analyses such as those needed to uncover diseases such as AIDS, diabetes, or cancer. John Carroll University and the Cleveland Clinic School of Medical Laboratory Science have partnered to allow students to earn an MLS certification while completing a Bachelor of Science degree at JCU.  Students will spend three years at John Carroll University completing core requirements and the required courses for a Biology degree.  The student’s fourth year will be spent at the Cleveland Clinic taking MLS courses; these courses will satisfy the electives of the Biology degree and the remaining credits needed for graduation.

Graduates of this program will:

1. Be certified as professional medical laboratory scientists.

2. Perform assays of clinical samples in a hospital or laboratory setting.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of human physiology and familiarity with human health issues.

4. Interpret chemical and molecular data for clinical diagnosis.

The Medical Laboratory Sciences track is competitive and admission is not guaranteed. It is highly recommended that students considering this track regularly discuss their academic plans and progress with their Biology and Pre-Health Professions advisors to make sure they are completing the appropriate courses. Students who are not accepted into the CC-MLS clinical training program can still complete a BS in Biology during their fourth year and apply to Medical Laboratory Science programs for clinical training after receiving their degree. Students successfully completing the clinical year at the Cleveland Clinic will be eligible to sit for the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Exam.

Students must apply to the Cleveland Clinic School of Medical Laboratory Science clinical training program during the fall semester of their third year. Students accepted into the program will register for two full-time, consecutive sessions of clinical coursework that run from July to June of the following year. During these two sessions, students will complete the following coursework:

Interdisciplinary Concentration in Neuroscience

Students majoring in Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry (Biochemistry Concentration), or Psychology who desire an interdisciplinary approach to the study of physiology, biochemistry, and behavior of higher organisms may elect to complete additional coursework comprising the interdisciplinary concentration in Neuroscience coordinated by the Department of Psychology. A GPA of 2.5 or higher in BL1500 - BL1605 and CH1410 - CH1440 is required for admission into the concentration. Requirements for each area are detailed below.

Required Biology Courses:

Biology Electives - 14 credits, including :

Biochemistry Requirement - choose one pair:

Required Support Courses:

Required Chemistry Courses:

Required Psychology Courses: