Jul 19, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Biology, B.S.

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The Avila University Department of Biology prepares graduates for careers in the life sciences and related fields. By providing students with a common background through our introductory courses, the department encourages students to think scientifically and to develop an appreciation of the natural world. After completion of the introductory core, students will choose from elective courses that will prepare them for varied career opportunities. Regardless of which concentration a student pursues, all biology majors will graduate from Avila University with a common set of skills reflected in our program’s outcomes.

Core Curriculum: 38 - 51 credit hours

Please review the Core Curriculum  page for course options.

Required Core Courses

Students majoring in Biology must take the following liberal arts core courses regardless of whether the core is otherwise met:

Liberal Arts, Mathematics

Choose one of the following:

Liberal Arts, Natural Science with Lab

Biology Core Courses (19 credit hours)

Biology Capstone Research (3-5 Credit Hours)

All Biology Majors must choose either Option 1 or Option 2 to complete the Capstone requirement. 

Biology Concentrations

Students completing a degree in Biology must choose one of the following concentrations to complete their degree program.

General Biology Concentration (23-26 credit hours)

Ecology & Environmental Science Concentration (23-24 credit hours)

Pre-Veterinary Concentration (33-40 credit hours)

Electives (minimum of 7 credit hours)

Technology Requirement

Science and Biology Education

Avila University also offers degrees approved by the State of Missouri for those who want to teach Biology. Students who want to teach at the high school level will major in Biology Teacher Education. Those wanting to teach at the middle school level will major in Middle School Education with a Science concentration.

Available Programs  

B.S. in Biology with Honors

The Honors Track in Biology emphasizes hands-on experience with research techniques applicable to a broad range of fields in modern biology. Students completing a B.S. in Biology with Honors will be well-prepared to pursue competitive careers in academic research, private industry, medicine, and related fields.

To qualify for honors status, students must:

  1. Maintain a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.3 GPA within the biology major.
  2. Complete at least one 300-level biology or chemistry course with a grade of B or higher.
  3. Complete Honors application (available on Canvas page)
  4. Complete an honors-level capstone research project (two semesters of BI 493  and one semester of BI 499 ). The capstone research project must be completed as part of an active research lab and address an original research question.

Students interested in the Honors Program must first enroll as biology majors and complete coursework that prepares them for the rigorous demands of Honors Research, focusing on their specific area of interest within biology. To apply, students should fill out the application form on the Canvas page and also contact their faculty mentor or the chair of the School of STEM. Those who maintain a qualifying GPA will be eligible for the program. Once accepted into the Honors Capstone, students will collaborate closely with Biology or Chemistry faculty to conduct an original laboratory or field research project, spanning at least three semesters before graduation. The Honors Capstone Project will undergo periodic reviews and must receive approval from the Biology faculty to qualify for honors.

Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Biology has the following outcomes:

Outcome 1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the basic principles of biology. Evolution will be stressed throughout the curriculum. (BI 111  and BI 112 )

Outcome 2. Describe organismal form and function in both plants and animals. (BI 214 )

Outcome 3. Explain genetic processes, including inheritance, gene function, the flow of genetic information, regulation of gene expression, and population genetics. (BI 318 )

Outcome 4. Demonstrate laboratory skills, such as experimental design, data collection and analysis, lab techniques, and research presentation. (Capstone courses)

Assessment: The outcomes for the Biology major are assessed throughout the curriculum through a combination of quizzes/examination, papers, and written research reports or oral research presentations.

 

Assessment

The outcomes for the biology major are assessed throughout the curriculum through a combination of course written examinations, laboratory written and oral presentations, laboratory examinations, and completion of a final written report. The final report is based on a laboratory or library research project or an internship in the field. In the tradition of graduate school thesis and dissertation committees, the biology faculty acts as a committee to review and evaluate this final report.

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