Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Biological Sciences (BS)

Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major: Biological Sciences
Concentration: Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology
Program Code: 3414

About This Major . . .

The Bachelor of Science degree with a Biological Sciences major provides a broad background in the biological sciences.  Students choose biology courses from four categories:  cellular, molecular, and developmental biology; anatomical and physiological biology; organismal biology; and ecology, evolution, and systematics.  The Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Concentration will provide a solid background in cell and molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry. The concentration prepares graduates of this program for careers in the medical field, cell biology, and biotechnology, which are just a few of the career options available.

For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’ What to Do with a Major? resource.

All CMU baccalaureate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a broad, comprehensive knowledge of the main areas of biology (including evolution, diversity, ecology, cell biology, and genetics) and the ability to apply this knowledge to address new questions. (Specialized knowledge)
  2. Collect and analyze quantitative data and interpret quantitative data presented in primary scientific literature. (Quantitative Fluency/Applied Learning)
  3. Utilize science as a way of thinking and problem solving and make key observations, ask questions, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, collect data, draw logical conclusions, and explain and defend those conclusions to others. (Critical Thinking)
  4. Demonstrate effective biological communication skills, both in writing and orally. (Communication fluency)
  5. Evaluate and defend contrasting viewpoints related to ethical, social, civic, and/or environmental challenges in the field of biological sciences. Personal Social Responsibility)
  6. Critically search, evaluate, and appropriately apply information from primary scientific literature.(Information Literacy)

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity. 

Institutional Degree Requirements

The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU baccalaureate degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • 120 semester hours minimum.
  • Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
  • 40 upper-division credits (an alternative credit limit applies to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree).
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
  • A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
  • No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
  • Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
  • Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
  • Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Essential Learning Requirements

(31 semester hours)

See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.

English 1
ENGL 111English Composition I-GTCO13
ENGL 112English Composition II-GTCO23
Mathematics 1
MATH 151Calculus I-GT-MA1 23
History
Select one History course3
Humanities
Select one Humanities course3
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course3
Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course3
Fine Arts
Select one Fine Arts course3
Natural Sciences 3
CHEM 131
131L
General Chemistry I-GTSC1
and General Chemistry Laboratory I-GTSC1
4
CHEM 132
132L
General Chemistry II-GTSC1
and General Chemistry Laboratory II-GTSC1
3
Total Semester Credit Hours31
1

Must receive a grade of "C" or better and must be complete by the time the student has 60 semester hours.

2

This is a 5 credit course. 3 credits apply to the Essential Learning requirements and 2 credits apply to electives.  A lower level Math course may be necessary before registering for MATH 151.  An ALEKS Math Placement test will determine the appropriate Math course.

3

CHEM 131/CHEM 131L and CHEM 132/CHEM 132L are 5 credit hours each for a total of 10 semester hours.  7 credits apply to the Essential Learning Natural Science requirement and 3 credits apply to electives.

Other Lower Division Requirements 

Wellness Requirement
KINE 100Health and Wellness1
Select one Activity course1
Essential Learning Capstone
ESSL 200Essential Speech1
ESSL 290Maverick Milestone3
Total Semester Credit Hours6

Foundation Courses

(17-19 semester hours, must pass each courses with a grade of "C" or higher. Foundation courses should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.)

BIOL 105
105L
Attributes of Living Systems-GTSC1
and Attributes of Living Systems Laboratory-GTSC1
4
PHYS 111
111L
General Physics I-GTSC1
and General Physics I Laboratory-GTSC1 1
5
PHYS 112
112L
General Physics II-GTSC1
and General Physics II Laboratory-GTSC1 1
5
STAT 200Probability and Statistics-GTMA13-5
or MATH 152 Calculus II
Total Semester Credit Hours17-19
1

A higher-level subject can be taken in the same category with advisor approval.

Program Specific Degree Requirements

(53 semester hours, must pass each course with a grade of “C” or higher.) 

Core Courses
BIOL 208
208L
Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolution
and Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolution Laboratory
4
BIOL 301
301L
Principles of Genetics
and Principles of Genetics Laboratory
4
BIOL 483Senior Thesis2
Required Related Study Area
BIOL 108
108L
Diversity of Organisms-GTSC1
and Diversity of Organisms Laboratory-GTSC1
4
BIOL 302Cellular Biology3
BIOL 310
310L
Developmental Biology
and Developmental Biology Laboratory
4
BIOL 371LLaboratory Investigations in Cellular and Molecular Biology3
BIOL 425Molecular Genetics3
CHEM 311
311L
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
5
CHEM 312
312L
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
5
CHEM 315Biochemistry I3
Additional Biology Courses
Select 13 semester hours from the following lists13
Category 1: Cellular, Developmental, and Molecular
Introduction to Microbiology-GTSC1
and Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory-GTSC1
Immunology
Forensic Molecular Biology
and Forensic Molecular Biology Laboratory
Pharmacology
Biochemistry Laboratory
Biochemistry II
Category 2: Organismal
Animal Behavior
and Animal Behavior Laboratory
Plant Identification
and Plant Identification Laboratory
Insect Biology
and Insect Biology Laboratory
Marine Biology
Invertebrate Zoology
and Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory
Fish Biology
and Fish Biology Laboratory
Small Mammal Biology
Microbiology
and Microbiology Laboratory
Mammalogy
and Mammalogy Laboratory
Ornithology
and Ornithology Laboratory
Herpetology
and Herpetology Laboratory
Animal Parasitology
and Animal Parasitology Laboratory
Marine Invertebrate Communities
Mycology
and Mycology Laboratory
Category 3: Anatomical and Physiological
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
Pathophysiology
Ecological Physiology
and Ecological Physiology Laboratory
Human Physiology
and Human Physiology Laboratory
Gross and Developmental Human Anatomy
and Gross and Developmental Human Anatomy Laboratory
Human Osteology
and Human Osteology Laboratory
Plant Anatomy and Physiology
and Plant Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory
Endocrinology
Category 4: Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics
Ecosystem Biology
and Ecosystem Biology Laboratory
Epidemiology
Plant Systematics
Taxonomy of Grasses
and Taxonomy of Grasses Laboratory
Evolution
Advanced Ecological Methods
and Advanced Ecological Methods Laboratory
Plant-Animal Interactions
Tropical Field Biology
Desert Ecology
Freshwater Ecology
and Freshwater Ecology Laboratory
Tropical Ecosystems
Wildlife Management
and Wildlife Field Techniques
Fisheries Management
and Fisheries Management Laboratory
Conservation Biology
Total Semester Credit Hours53

General Electives

All college level courses appearing on your final transcript, not listed above that will bring your total semester hours to 120 hours, including 40 upper-division hours. 11-13 semester hours; up to 7 hours of upper division may be needed.  Research courses are recommended.

MATH 151Calculus I-GT-MA12
CHEM 131
131L
General Chemistry I-GTSC1
and General Chemistry Laboratory I-GTSC1
1
CHEM 132
132L
General Chemistry II-GTSC1
and General Chemistry Laboratory II-GTSC1
2
Select additional electives6-8
Total Semester Credit Hours11-13
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterSemester Credit Hours
BIOL 105
105L
Attributes of Living Systems-GTSC1
and Attributes of Living Systems Laboratory-GTSC1
4
CHEM 131
131L
General Chemistry I-GTSC1
and General Chemistry Laboratory I-GTSC1
5
MATH 151 Calculus I-GT-MA1 5
KINE 100 Health and Wellness 1
 Semester Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
BIOL 108
108L
Diversity of Organisms-GTSC1
and Diversity of Organisms Laboratory-GTSC1
4
CHEM 132
132L
General Chemistry II-GTSC1
and General Chemistry Laboratory II-GTSC1
5
STAT 200
Probability and Statistics-GTMA1
or Calculus II
3-5
ENGL 111 English Composition I-GTCO1 3
 Semester Credit Hours15-17
Second Year
Fall Semester
BIOL 208
208L
Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolution
and Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolution Laboratory
4
CHEM 311
311L
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
5
ENGL 112 English Composition II-GTCO2 3
Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
 Semester Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
BIOL 301
301L
Principles of Genetics
and Principles of Genetics Laboratory
4
CHEM 312
312L
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
5
Essential Learning - History 3
Essential Learning - Humanities 3
 Semester Credit Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
BIOL 302 Cellular Biology 3
PHYS 111
111L
General Physics I-GTSC1
and General Physics I Laboratory-GTSC1
5
CHEM 315 Biochemistry I 3
ESSL 290 Maverick Milestone 3
ESSL 200 Essential Speech 1
 Semester Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
BIOL 310
310L
Developmental Biology
and Developmental Biology Laboratory
4
PHYS 112
112L
General Physics II-GTSC1
and General Physics II Laboratory-GTSC1
5
Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
KINA Activity 1
 Semester Credit Hours13
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
BIOL 371L Laboratory Investigations in Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Essential Learning - Fine Arts 3
Additional Biology Course 4
Electives (2 courses) 5
 Semester Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
BIOL 425 Molecular Genetics 3
BIOL 483 Senior Thesis 2
Additional Biology Courses 8
Elective 1 4
 Semester Credit Hours17
 Total Semester Credit Hours120-122
1

Less elective hours may be needed.  Adequate elective hours must be taken to bring total semester hours to 120, including 40 upper-division hours.

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:

  • Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
  • Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
  • Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
  • Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.

Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found at http://www.coloradomesa.edu/registrar/graduation.html.

If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.