University of Dayton Biology Department

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Biology

The requirements for a University of Dayton Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree are rigorous. A student will need to complete at least:

  • 44 semester course credits in biology
  • 30 semester course credits in mathematics and the supporting sciences 

The remaining 46 credit hours are to be used to fulfill the university's general education requirement, which consists of courses in philosophy, religious studies, humanities, communication and social and behavioral sciences.

Many of the courses from the Department of Biology and the supporting sciences also contain lab components that are typically taken concurrently with their corresponding lectures.  These lab courses enhance the learning experience and are an integral part of the course curriculum.

Double Majors

Some students elect to pursue double majors. Such students will need to select their primary major and work with the secondary major's department to achieve graduation requirements. Generally, double major students have two advisors, one in each department.  The specific course requirements within each discipline remain identical to the single major, but the general education requirements apply to both majors.  Common second majors for the biology students include psychology and education.

The "Minor" Program of Study

Minors may be achieved by taking a minimum of 20 semester credit hours in a particular subject.  Consultation with the department in which the student chooses to minor is critical since there often are specific course requirements. Common minors for the biology major include chemistry, biochemistry, and psychology.