SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
Biology Minor
Why minor in Biology?
Biology is about the world of living things that everyone sees and experiences. It provides insights into the basic processes of life and is an area in which revolutionary changes continue to occur. Knowledge of biology is highly desirable as an adjunct to many other majors and professional fields.
You can add biology to your program by
enrolling in the biology minor at Penn State Behrend. Combining the
biology minor with another area gives you valuable expertise in
cross-disciplinary areas, as well as the opportunity to make your
academic preparation distinctive. With a comprehensive, well-rounded
education you may become broader and more expert in your field, and
more competitive in the job market.
Who can benefit from the minor?
Almost anyone, but there are some fields where the biology minor is particularly desirable. For example, a minor in biology can be beneficial to students in majors preparing them for health care services, marketing biomedical products, or the management of a biologically based company. A minor in biology can be a good addition to majors like communications, political science, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, agriculture, or engineering.
What is involved?
Depending upon your major, you may be able to use some of the courses required in the biology minor to fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements, prescribed, or elective credits. The minor requirements include BIOL 110 and two of either BIOL 220, 230, or 240 (CHEM 012 is a prerequisite for both BIOL 230 and 240). At least six credits are required at the 400-level. At the 400-level, you can design your program for emphasis in such areas as genetics, physiology, molecular biology, ecology, or anatomy.
A minor may require you to take additional credits. However, if you begin planning early in your academic career to use courses to fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements, you can minimize the number of extra courses needed to complete the minor. The 100-level and 200-level courses required for the minor are offered each year. All 400-level offerings are on an alternate year basis. You should carefully design your program with the help of your academic advisor and the faculty member in charge of biology.
BIOLOGY MINOR REQUIREMENTS *
BIOL 110 (GN), 4 credits
Plus two of the following:
BIOL 240W (GN), 4 credits
BIOL 220W (GN), 4 credits
BIOL 230W (GN), 4 credits
Select additional courses from BIOBD offerings excluding BIOBD 494A, 494B, 495, and 496. A minimum of 6 credits of 400-level coursework is required.
This listing is for illustration only. The Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin is the official source for University requirements. Consult it when making up your program.