Bachelor of Science
MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY -- 2112 BIOLOGY BUILDING
MURRAY KENTUCKY 42071-3361 -- PHONE: (270) 809-2786 -- FAX: (270) 809-2788

     Offering career preparation in professional occupations such as pre-Medicine, pre-Dentistry, pre-Optometry, pre-Veterinary Medicine, pre-Pharmacy, pre-Physical Therapy and other Allied Health fields as well as biological disciplines including Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Fisheries/Aquatic Biology, Molecular Biology and Biomedical Sciences.

Career Outlook

     Many students interest in professional careers in medicine and other health-related fields choose biology as their undergraduate major. Excellent career possibilities exist for students in secondary and college/university teaching and research. Kentucky and other states as well as federal agencies hire wildlife and fisheries students, and there is also a need for environmental consultants in the private sector. A brief list of additional occupations with a background in biology include genetic counseling, biotechnology, conservation ecology, microbiology, toxicology, paleontology, herpetology, ecology, limnology, physiology, pharmaceutical sales representative and medical research. Most of these occupations require additional training at the M.S. or Ph.D. levels.

Specialization Options

The Department of Biological Sciences offers undergraduate majors in
  
     Biology
  Biology/Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dental
  Biomedical Sciences
  Pre-Physical Therapy
  Biology/Secondary Certification
  Molecular Biology
  Wildlife and Conservation Biology
  Fisheries/Aquatic Biology
A curriculum in pre-Pharmacy (74 hours) is also available. The majority of our pre-med students enter medical schools at the University of Louisville or University of Kentucky.

Research Opportunities

     The faculty in biology are committed to the principle that one of the most exciting and rewarding undergraduate experiences is working on an independent research project. Research strengths of the department include fisheries/aquatic biology, limnology, wildlife biology, mammalogy, physiological ecology, paleontology and evolution, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology and genetics, microbial ecology, developmental biology, parasitology, and botany. Most faculty have research labs and are supported by grants. Students may participate in national and international field trips, internships and cooperative programs.

Graduate Program

     The Department of Biological Sciences offers a graduate program leading to the M.S. degree. A joint Ph.D. program with the University of Louisville is also available.

Facilities

     Departmental facilities include lecture rooms and more than 20 laboratories in the Blackburn Science Building and teaching laboratories in a new Biology building. The college also operates the Hancock Biological Station (HBS), a year-round teaching/research facility on Kentucky Lake. The HBS includes classrooms, labs, and cabins for students and visiting investigators. The HBS, along with the Mid-America Remote Sensing Center (MARC) and Chemical Services Lab (CSL), comprise the university's Center for Reservoir Research.

     A remnant cypress swamp, Murphy's Pond, is another resource available for student research.

     A computer lab and visual aids center is operated through the Science Resource Center in the Blackburn Science Building.

Example Curriculum Outline

First Year

Fall
Hrs.
       Spring
Hrs.
BIO 099 Freshman Orientation
1
        BIO 221 Zoology: Animal Form  
BIO 115 The Cellular Basis of Life
3
       & Function or BIO 222: Plant  
BIO 116 Biological Inquiry & Analysis
4
            Form & Function
4
2CHE 201 General College Chemistry
5
        CHE 202 General Chemistry &
5
ENG 101 Composition
3
        MAT 150 Algebra & Trigonometry  
 
           or MAT 250 Calculus & Analytic  
          Geometry
5
      ENG 102 Composition & Research
3
Total Hours
16
       Total Hours
17

Second Year

Fall
Hrs.
       Spring
Hrs.
BIO 222 Botany: Plant Form &
       BIO 330 Principles of Ecology
4
    Function or BIO 221 Zoology:     CHE 320 Organic Chemistry II
3
    Animal Form & Function
4
       CIV 102 World Civilization
3
CHE 312 Organic Chemistry
5
       3BIO Elective
4
Unrestricted electives
3
   
CIV 101 World Civilization
3
        
Total Hours
15
        Total Hours
14

Third Year

Fall
Hrs.
       Spring
Hrs.
3BIO Electives
8
        BIO 333 Genetics
4
PHY 130/131 General Physics I
4
        Humanities or Fine Arts Elective
3
HUM 211 The Western Humanities
       Unrestricted Electives
4
    Tradition
3
 CHE 330 Basic Biochemistry
3
Elective in Communication and
      
    Basic Skills
3
       
Total Hours
18
 Total Hours
14

Forth Year

Fall
Hrs.
       Spring
Hrs.
3BIO Elective
4
       BIO 499 Senior Biology Seminar
1
Elective in Social Science
3
        Electives to complete major, minor  
Unrestricted Electives
6
       and 120 hours
12
Total Hours
13
   Total Hours
13

 

1A bachelor of arts degree (BA) requires two years of a foreign language.

2May take MAT before CHE (especially if ACT math standard score <23); MAT 250 requires ACT math standard score of 26 or MAT 150; MAT 150 requires score of 21; MAT 140 and MAT 145 will substitute for MAT 150

3BIO electives must be at 300-level or above.
Must have a major of 40 hours minimum or BIO courses.
Must have a minor of 21 hours minimum.
Need a minimum of 42 hours of 300-level or above courses.
Need a minimum of 120 hours for graduation. 

For more information contact: Dr. Tom Timmons, Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, 2112 Biology Building, Murray, KY 42071-3361, (270) 809-2786

Click here for more information on...
 General Biology Degree Programs
Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Pre-Medicine
Fisheries and Aquatic Biology
Pre-Dentistry
Biology/Bachelor of Science
Biology/Secondary Certification
Pre-Pharmacy
Molecular Biology
Graduate Programs
Pre-Physical Therapy
Hancock Biological Station
Center for Reservoir Research
C-RUI (Collaborative Research at Undergraduate Institutions
CSET Home Page

Last date modified December, 2007