Biology

Bachelor of Science 

The B.S. program is designed to meet the needs of students interested in pursuing graduate study or research in the biological sciences, or careers in the health professions or other science-related fields.

Required Courses

Academic programs vary in their requirements. Students should consult with their faculty advisor and the Academic Guidebook to review the Academic Planning Form pertinent to their program of study. In addition, students should review course descriptions regarding any prerequisites for required courses. Graduation requirements include a minimum of 120 credit hours, although some academic programs may require additional credits. Please refer to the Academic Resources section of the catalog for more information. Information regarding the new Core Curriculum, which takes effect with the Class of 2016, is available at http://www.providence.edu/academic-affairs/core-curriculum.

In addition to the College’s general degree requirements, the courses required for the B.S. degree are two semesters of General Biology, General Chemistry, Calculus, Organic Chemistry, General Physics, and one semester of Introduction to Cell and Molecular Genetics, plus five (5) additional biology courses, of which three (3) must be laboratory courses (i.e., 4 credit hours).

It is strongly recommended that students in the B.S. program participate in some form of experiential education, e.g., internships, research (on- or off-campus) or attend a field school for at least one summer.

Premedical Sciences Preparation

The B.S. and B.A. degree programs meet the science requirements demanded for admission to professional schools specializing in the health sciences such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, nursing, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine. However, some students whose interests lie in other areas may elect to major in a non-science department while still successfully completing the prerequisites for medical, dental, veterinary, nursing, physical therapy, or optometry school admission. Students who are planning for a career in the medical sciences should consult with the advisor for health professions early in their freshman year. For more information, please refer to the Premedical Sciences and Health Professions Programs  section of this catalog.

Neuroscience Certificate Program

Please refer to the Neuroscience Certificate Program  section of the catalog for information about an integrated course of study in neuroscience for biology and psychology majors.