University of Montana Catalog 2023-2024

Biology B.S. - Genetics and Evolution

Bachelor of Science - Biology; Genetics and Evolution Concentration

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog. 

Summary

Biology/Microbiology Lower-Division Core17
Upper-Division Core Courses Required by the Genetics & Evolution Concentration11
Additional Upper-Division Courses Required for the Genetics & Evolution Concentration16-20
Biochemistry
Genetics/Evolution Depth Courses
Physiology Requirement
Required Courses Outside of the Major28-42
Mathematics - Calculus
Mathematics - Statistics
Chemistry
Physics
Advanced College Writing Requirement
Total Hours72-90

 

Degree Specific Credits: 72-90

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: The Genetics and Evolution concentration is for students interested in genetics and evolutionary biology, including molecular genetics, population genetics, ecological genetics, and genomics. This concentration is a graduate prep program, and is for students interested in academia or research jobs in private or government laboratories. It is also an excellent concentration for students interested in a professional health program such as medical school or a genetic counseling graduate program.

Biology/Microbiology Lower-Division Core

Note: The lower division core should be completed before attempting most upper division major courses. AP Biology credit with a score of 3 may be substituted for either BIOB 160N/BIOB 161N or BIOB 170N/BIOB 171N.

Complete all of the following courses:
BIOB 160NPrinciples of Living Systems3
BIOB 161NPrinciples of Living Systems Lab1
BIOB 170NPrinciples of Biological Diversity3
BIOB 171NPrinciples of Biological Diversity Lab2
BIOB 260Cellular and Molecular Biology4
BIOB 272Genetics and Evolution4
Total Hours17

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Core Courses Required by the Genetics & Evolution Concentration

Complete all of the following courses:
BIOB 375General Genetics3
BIOB 486Genomics3
BIOE 370General Ecology3
BIOE 371General Ecology Lab (equivalent to 271)2
Total Hours11

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Additional Upper-Division Courses Required for the Genetics & Evolution Concentration

Biochemistry

Note: If introductory chemistry is completed, then BCH 380 must be taken. Either BCH 380 or BCH 480-BCH 482 may be taken if the advanced chemistry sequence is completed.

Complete one of the following courses:4-6
Biochemistry
Advanced Biochemistry I
and Advanced Biochemistry II
Total Hours4-6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Genetics/Evolution Depth Courses

Complete three of the following courses:9-10
Conservation Genetics
Phylogenics and Evolution
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Behavior & Evolution
Plant Evolution
Genes and Development Lab
Microbial Genetics
Microbial Diversity Ecology & Evolution
Host-Microbe Interactions
Computational Biology
Total Hours9-10

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Physiology Requirement

Complete one of the following courses (labs must be taken if available):3-4
Advanced Cellular & Molecular Biology
Comparative Animal Physiology
Microbial Physiology
and Microbial Physiology Lab
Plant Physiology
and Plant Physiology Lab
Total Hours3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Required Courses Outside of the Major

Mathematics - Calculus
 

Note: Student should choose M 171 if they plan to take additional calculus courses or if they plan to double major or minor in a field that requires more calculus (e.g. astronomy, math, physics, biochemistry, computer science).

Complete one of the following courses:4
Applied Calculus
Calculus I
Total Hours4

 Minimum Required Grade: C-

Mathematics - Statistics

Complete either one semester or a full year of statistics from the following:4-8
One Semester:
Introduction to Statistics
Full Year:
Statistical Methods I
and Statistical Methods II
Computer Data Analysis I
and Computer Data Analysis II
Total Hours4-8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Chemistry

Notes

  • Students who begin in the advanced chemistry sequence may substitute those courses for introductory sequence courses at the discretion of the major advisor. 
  • Students should choose the advanced sequence for graduate preparation.
Complete a sequence of general and organic chemistry:10-20
Introductory Chemistry (10 credits):
Introduction to General Chemistry
Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Lab
Advanced Chemistry (20 credits):
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Lab
College Chemistry II
and College Chemistry II Lab
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
Total Hours10-20

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Physics

Complete one of the following Physics sequences:10
Algebra- and Trigonometry-based Physics:
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory
College Physics II
and College Physics II Laboratory
Calculus-based Physics:
Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus I
and Physics Laboratory I with Calculus
Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus II
and Physics Laboratory II with Calculus (require M 171 and M 172)
Total Hours10

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Advanced College Writing Requirement

Rule: To complete the Advanced College Writing Requirement, Biology students take 2 or 3 partial writing courses (either three 1/3 writing courses or one 1/3 writing course and one 2/3 writing course) or one complete writing course. The Genetics & Evolution concentration requires one 2/3 writing course: BIOE 371. The Advanced College Writing Requirement is completed with one additional course, chosen from any of the following.

1/3 Advanced Writing Courses

BCH 482Advanced Biochemistry II3
BIOB 410Immunology3
BIOB 425Advanced Cellular & Molecular Biology3
BIOB 483Phylogenics and Evolution3
BIOE 403Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy4
BIOE 409Behavior & Evolution Discussion1
BIOE 428Freshwater Ecology5
BIOM 402Medical Bacteriology& Mycology3
BIOO 320General Botany5
BIOO 434Plant Physiology Lab1
BIOO 470Ornithology4
BIOO 475Mammalogy4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

2/3 Advanced Writing Courses

BCH 486Biochemistry Research Lab3
BCH 499Senior Thesis/Capstone3-6
BIOB 411Immunology Laboratory2
BIOB 499Undergraduate Thesis3-6
BIOE 342Field Ecology5
BIOE 371General Ecology Lab (equivalent to 271)2
BIOM 411Experimental Microbial Genetics Lab1
BIOM 499Undergraduate Thesis3-6

Minimum Required Grade: C- 

Complete Advanced Writing Course

BIOH 462Principles of Medical Physiology3
BIOM 420Host-Microbe Interactions3

Minimum Required Grade: C-