Biology, Bachelor of Arts
College: College of Science and Health
Department: Biological Sciences
Student Type: Traditional Undergraduate
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Campus: Lisle Campus
Progression in the Biological Sciences Programs (B.S. in Biology or B.A. in Biology)
A student in either Biology major (B.S. or B.A.) must complete the following with a grade of “C” or better in each of these courses and receiving no more than a total of three “W,” “D,” or “F” grades in these courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1195 | Principles of Organismal Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1197 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1198 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 1108 | Preparatory General Chemistry (if required based on placement) | 3 |
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1123 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
The entire introductory sequence must be completed prior to taking any 2000-level courses in BIOL. A transfer student must meet these requirements through equivalent transfer courses. Transfer students must complete their first two semesters with no more than two “W,” “D,” or “F” grades in College of Science lecture courses in the degree program.
If it is determined at any time that a student cannot continue in the Biology program or cannot graduate with a Biology degree, the student will be required to change their major and seek academic advising outside of that program.
We encourage students to further their learning by assisting in labs. However, only 2 semester credit hours in BIOL 2292 Biology Teaching will count toward the B.A. or B.S. in Biology major.
BIOL 3389 Biological Research and other College of Science research courses do not count as elective credits toward the B.A. in Biology major.
Requirements - Major
A student majoring in Biology (B.A. or B.S.) may only earn one major in the Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Biology, Environmental Science, Health Science, Physics, and Medical Humanities programs.
B.A. in Biology provides core biology courses with more flexibility in choosing biology electives and cognates to fulfill a variety of health care related fields including the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or Clinical Laboratory Sciences program. The B.A. in Biology major consists of 61 semester credit hours of coursework that must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
The core requirements for a B.A. in Biology are:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1123 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 1124 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 1111 | College Trigonometry | 3 |
| MATH 2229 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| BIOL 1195 | Principles of Organismal Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1197 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1198 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1199 | Principles of Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 2250 | Genetics | 3 |
| PHIL 2245 | General Ethics | 3 |
| or PHIL 2248 | Environmental Ethics | |
| Other Coursework | ||
| Natural Sciences at the 1000-level or higher | 16 | |
| 3000-level or higher BIOL where 6 credits must be at the 4000-level | 18 | |
| Writing Intensive Course | ||
| BIOL 4393 | Great Ideas in Biology and Medicine | 1 |
| or BIOL 4394 | Nature Writing | |
| Total Hours | 63 | |
The core coursework is 28 semester credit hours. Coursework in the majors must be completed with a “C” or better.
Students seeking to complete one of the Allied Health Programs with an affiliate should follow the requirements of the program and major with the BA in Biology using one of the following tracks:
Requirements - Clinical Lab Science Track
Students in the Clinical Laboratory Science program must complete at least 90 semester credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.800 at Benedictine University. Students must apply for admission to Edward Hines Jr. V.A. Hospital, our clinical educational program affiliate hospital, during their junior year by December 1. Only U.S. citizens may enter the Hines V.A. Program. The admissions process is competitive. Your senior year is a 12-month, 32-semester-credit-hour clinical education curriculum in the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
In addition to the University graduation requirements, the student majoring in Clinical Laboratory Science must complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1123 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 1124 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 2242 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2243 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 2247 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 2248 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 1195 | Principles of Organismal Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1197 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1198 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1199 | Principles of Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3208 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 2250 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 4340 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 4341 | Cell Molecular Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 5354 | Immunology | 3 |
| MATH 1111 | College Trigonometry (or higher) | 3 |
| MATH 2229 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| PHYS 1113 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1114 | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| CMSC 1180 | Introduction to Computing | 2 |
| CMSC 1182 | Science Applications Laboratory | 1 |
| PHIL 2245 | General Ethics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 54 | |
All of the following CLSC courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSC 4390 | Hematology | 5 |
| CLSC 4391 | Clinical Microbiology | 6 |
| CLSC 4392 | Clinical Biochemistry | 8 |
| CLSC 4393 | Immunoserology | 3 |
| CLSC 4394 | Immunohematology | 4 |
| CLSC 4395 | Clinical Microscopy/Urinalysis | 2 |
| CLSC 4396 | Coagulation | 2 |
| CLSC 4397 | Special Topics | 2 |
A student who plans to attend graduate or professional school should take CHEM 3261 Principles of Biochemistry.
Requirements - Diagnostic Medical Sonography Track
Students majoring in Diagnostic Medical Sonography will complete the first three years of coursework at Benedictine University with at least 90 semester credit hours. Students should complete all college graduation requirements during these three years, while maintaining a GPA of 2.800 or above. In the junior year, students must apply to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for the clinical education curriculum. The admissions process is competitive. During senior year, students will complete an 18-month, 45-semester-credit-hour clinical education curriculum at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A certificate of qualification as a diagnostic medical sonographer will be awarded when students complete this program.
Students in the diagnostic medical sonography track must complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1111 | College Trigonometry | 3 |
| MATH 2229 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| CMSC 1180 | Introduction to Computing | 2 |
| CMSC 1182 | Science Applications Laboratory | 1 |
| PHIL 2245 | General Ethics | 3 |
| HLSC 2291 | Medical Terminology | 2 |
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1123 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 1124 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 1195 | Principles of Organismal Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1197 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1198 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1199 | Principles of Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3203 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 2250 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 2251 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 3258 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 5359 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| PHYS 1113 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1114 | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 1118 | College Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 1119 | College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Hours | 53 | |
In addition, the following courses must be completed with “C” or better:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DMSC 4301 | Fundamentals of Sonography | 3 |
| DMSC 4302 | Management and Methods of Patient Care | 1 |
| DMSC 4303 | Sectional Anatomy for Sonographers | 2 |
| DMSC 4304 | Abdomen Songraphy w/Lab | 4 |
| DMSC 4305 | Obstetrics-Gynecology Sonography | 3 |
| DMSC 4306 | Clinical Education I | 2 |
| DMSC 4307 | Principles of Ultrasound Physics I | 3 |
| DMSC 4308 | Obstetrics-Gynecology Pathology | 4 |
| DMSC 4309 | Pathophysiology | 2 |
| DMSC 4310 | Abdomen Pathology | 3 |
| DMSC 4311 | Clinical Education II | 3 |
| DMSC 4312 | Principles of Ultrasound Physics II | 2 |
| DMSC 4313 | Ultrasound Image Critique | 1 |
| DMSC 4314 | Clinical Education III | 3 |
| DMSC 4315 | Introduction to Pediatrics and Vascular Imaging | 1 |
| DMSC 4316 | Speciality Sonography | 2 |
| DMSC 4317 | Clinical Education IV | 4 |
| DMSC 4318 | Registry Review | 2 |
Requirements - Nuclear Medicine Technology Track
Students in the Nuclear Medicine Technology program must complete at least 90 semester credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.800 at Benedictine University. Students must apply for admission to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, our clinical education program affiliate hospital, during their junior year. The admissions process is competitive. The senior year is a 13-month, 36-semester-credit-hour clinical education curriculum in an American Medical Association accredited hospital program affiliated with the University. Upon completion of this program, the student is eligible to take certifying examinations administered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board and by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. Students majoring in Nuclear Medicine Technology must complete the following courses with a grade of “C” or better:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1123 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 1124 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 1195 | Principles of Organismal Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1197 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1198 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1199 | Principles of Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3203 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 2250 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 2251 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 3258 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| MATH 1111 | College Trigonometry | 3 |
| MATH 2229 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| CMSC 1180 | Introduction to Computing | 2 |
| CMSC 1182 | Science Applications Laboratory | 1 |
| PHIL 2245 | General Ethics | 3 |
| PHYS 1113 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1114 | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 1118 | College Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 1119 | College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| NMTC 4331 | Management and Methods of Patient Care I | 3 |
| NMTC 4332 | Radiation Safety & Protection | 2 |
| NMTC 4333 | Radiation Physics and Instrumentation | 3 |
| NMTC 4334 | Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging Clinical Practicum I | 4 |
| NMTC 4335 | Clinical Nuclear Medicine Procedures I | 4 |
| NMTC 4336 | Radionuclide Chemistry and Radiopharmacy | 3 |
| NMTC 4337 | Radiation Biology | 1 |
| NMTC 4339 | Clinical Correlation-Pathology | 2 |
| NMTC 4340 | Radiation Detection & Instrumentation | 3 |
| NMTC 4342 | Management and Methods of Patient Care II | 1 |
| NMTC 4344 | Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging Clinical Practicum II | 4 |
| NMTC 4345 | Clinical Nuclear Medicine Procedures II | 3 |
| NMTC 4348 | Computed Tomography and Cross-Sectional Anatomy | 2 |
| NMTC 4349 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| Total Hours | 84 | |
Students who may wish to attend graduate or professional school should take: CHEM 2242 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 2243 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM 2247 Organic Chemistry II, CHEM 2248 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory, CHEM 3261 Principles of Biochemistry instead of the Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry courses.
Requirements - Radiation Therapy Track
Students in the Radiation Therapy program must complete at least 90 semester credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.800 at Benedictine University. In the junior year, students must apply to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for the clinical education curriculum. The admissions process is competitive. The senior year is a 12-month, 33-semester-credit-hour clinical education curriculum at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, an accredited hospital program affiliated with the University. Upon completion of this program, the student is eligible to sit for the National Registry Examination in Radiation Therapy administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Transfer students must complete 30 semester credit hours at Benedictine University to be considered an affiliate in the application process.
Radiation Therapy students must complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1111 | College Trigonometry | 3 |
| MATH 2229 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| CMSC 1180 | Introduction to Computing | 2 |
| CMSC 1182 | Science Applications Laboratory | 1 |
| PHIL 2245 | General Ethics | 3 |
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1123 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 1124 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 1195 | Principles of Organismal Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1197 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1198 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1199 | Principles of Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3203 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 2250 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 2251 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 3258 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| PHYS 1113 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1114 | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 1118 | College Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 1119 | College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
In addition, the following courses must be completed with a “C” or better:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RADT 4330 | Introduction to Technical Radiation Oncology | 2 |
| RADT 4331 | Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy I | 3 |
| RADT 4332 | Pathology | 2 |
| RADT 4333 | Radiation Physics | 2 |
| RADT 4334 | Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| RADT 4335 | Medical Imaging | 2 |
| RADT 4336 | Introduction to Radiologic Sciences | 2 |
| RADT 4337 | Radiation Safety and Protection | 2 |
| RADT 4338 | Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy II | 3 |
| RADT 4339 | Technical Radiation Oncology II | 3 |
| RADT 4340 | Radiation Therapy Physics | 2 |
| RADT 4341 | Quality Assurance and Healthcare Operations | 2 |
| RADT 4343 | Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| RADT 4344 | Management and Methods of Patient II | 2 |
| RADT 4345 | Radiation Biology | 1 |
Requirements – Respiratory Care 3+2 Track
Students majoring in the Respiratory Care 3+2 track will complete the first three years of coursework at Benedictine University with at least 90 semester credit hours. Students must complete all college graduation requirements during these three years, while maintaining a GPA of 3.000 or above overall as well as in all prerequisite courses required by Rush University.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1111 | College Trigonometry | 3 |
| MATH 2229 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| BIOL 3203 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 3208 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 3258 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 3259 | Human Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 1113 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1114 | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PSYC 1100 | Survey of Psychology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
In the junior year, students must apply to Rush University by March 1st for admission to the Master of Science degree in Respiratory Care. The admissions process is competitive. During senior year, students will complete the first year (Fall, Spring, Summer) of graduate education at Rush University consisting of a minimum of 30 semester hours. These courses will count toward the final 30 credits of the undergraduate degree at Benedictine University and will be transferred to Benedictine as BIOL 5777 elective credit only. Students must complete the minimum of 120 credits between Rush University and Benedictine to officially graduate from Benedictine University. A maximum of 30 credits of BIOL 5777 can be counted toward a student’s Benedictine undergraduate degree. A minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework in the M.S. in Respiratory Care program at Rush must be completed with “C” or better for conferral of the B.A. in Biology degree. Students must apply for graduation through MyBenU during Fall of their senior year at the latest to graduate in Summer of their senior year.
Students are encouraged to apply for graduation before they start attending Rush. Participants must request an official transcript be sent from Rush University at the end of their first year at Rush University with at least 30 earned credits to receive credit toward their bachelor’s degree and graduate in Summer of their Benedictine senior year. Rush University will confer the M.S. in Respiratory Care degree upon completion of the remaining year of coursework (92 semester hours total). Students majoring in the Respiratory Care 3+2 track must complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1111 | College Trigonometry | 3 |
| MATH 2229 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| CMSC 1180 | Introduction to Computing | 2 |
| CMSC 1182 | Science Applications Laboratory | 1 |
| PHIL 2245/2246 | General Ethics | 3 |
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1123 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 1124 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 1195 | Principles of Organismal Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1197 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1198 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1199 | Principles of Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 3203 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 3208 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 3258 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 3259 | Human Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 1113 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1114 | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 1118 | College Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 1119 | College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| PSYC 1100 | Survey of Psychology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 52 | |
Requirements - Teaching License
Students who desire to be licensed to teach biology at the secondary level (grades 9-12) are to declare themselves as Biology majors and Education minors and register with the Benedictine University Education Program as teaching licensure candidates. Advising is then a joint responsibility of the Department of Biological Sciences and the School of Education.
Students must complete the requirement for a major in Biology as well as the requirements of the Teacher Licensure Program in Education which includes the Education minor (see Education [Elementary Education, Special Education and Minors in Education and Special Education] section).
Majors must complete 35 semester credit hours in biology, of which 30 semester credit hours are at the 2000 level or above, including 11 semester credit hours at the 3000 level or above, and required cognates with a grade of “C” or better. Coursework must include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1195 | Principles of Organismal Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1197 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1198 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1199 | Principles of Biology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 2204 | Advanced Botany | 3 |
| BIOL 3208 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 2250 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 2251 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 3258 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 2292 | Biology Teaching | 1 |
| BIOL 3313 | Evolution | 3 |
| or BIOL 3301 | Human Evolution | |
| BIOL 4340 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 4341 | Cell Molecular Biology Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| BIOL 4363 | Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 4364 | Ecology Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1123 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 1124 | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 2242 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2243 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 2247 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 2248 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 3261 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
| or CHEM 4361 | Biochemistry | |
| PHYS 1107 | Earth and Space Science | 4 |
| PHYS 1113 | College Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1114 | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 1118 | College Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 1119 | College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 1111 | College Trigonometry | 3 |
| MATH 2210 | Calculus I (or higher) | 4 |
| PHIL 2290 | History and Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| Total Hours | 76 | |
- 1
Writing intensive courses.
In total, at least 18 hours of credit applied toward the major must be at the 3000-level or higher.
Students who earn a B.A. in Biology will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Students will demonstrate biological knowledge required in professional settings
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills
Student Learning Outcome 2: Students will use scientific evidence to communicate biological concepts
• University SLO: 3. Communication Skills
Student Learning Outcome 3: Students will use quantitative reasoning to solve biological problems
• University SLO: 2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills; 5. Analytical Skills
Student Learning Outcome 4: Students will relate biological sciences with other natural, chemical, and mathematical sciences
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills
Student Learning Outcome 5: Students will discuss biological relevance to societal issues
• University SLO: 7. Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility; 8. Stewardship