Dec 14, 2025  
Undergraduate Catalog 2011 - 2012 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  Presidents Message
  Cleveland State University Highlights
  Academic Calendar
  About the University
  Degree Programs
  Resources and Facilities
  Department of Student Life
  Division of Institutional Diversity
  Undergraduate Admissions
  University Regulations
  Expenses and Financial Aid
  Special Programs
  Monte Ahuja College of Business
  College of Education and Human Services
  Fenn College of Engineering
  College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
  College of Sciences and Health Professions
  Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs
  School of Nursing
  Course Descriptions
  Contact CSU
  Campus Map
  My Portfolio
HELP
Undergraduate Catalog 2011 - 2012 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, B.S.

Facebook this Page (opens a new window)
Tweet this Page (opens a new window)

At-a-Glance

Admission to the major: Grade of C or better in BIO 202  and good academic standing in the College of Science

Minimum hours required for major: 72

Minimum hours required for minor: 16

Special programs: Honors program, Pre-Professional program (medicine, dentistry, veterinary science), B.S. Biology - Medical Technology program, B.S. Biology - Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine (with the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine), 4+1 B.S./M.S., Secondary Teacher Licensure program, and the Biotechnology Certificate program

Additional information: The Doretta Thielker Award is presented annually to outstanding graduating biology major(s)

Student Organizations: American Medical School Association / CSU Chapter, the Biology, Geology, Environmental Science Student Association; the Student Environmental Movement.

Advising for Biology majors: Biology and Medical Technology majors must discuss their program of study with the undergraduate adviser for Biology prior to registration each semester. Contact the Biology office at 216-687-2440 or bges@csuohio.edu to schedule an advising appointment.

Transfer students intending to major in Biology: Transfer students intending to major in Biology must meet, prior to registering for courses, with the undergraduate adviser for biology for evaluation of their transferred science courses. Contact the Biology office at 216-687-2440 or bges@csuohio.edu to schedule an advising appointment.

Required Grade-Point Average: To qualify for graduation, all Biology majors must have a cumulative GPA of not less than 2.00 across all CSU biology courses used to fulfill the major-field requirements. This is in addition to the university requirement of a cumulative GPA of not less than 2.00. Check the University Regulations  section of this catalog to determine how a GPA is calculated.

Suggested Freshman Program: To minimize the time needed to complete the major-field requirements, academically proficient students are advised to complete the Introductory Biology (BIO 200 /BIO 201  and BIO 202 /BIO 203 ) and the General Chemistry (CHM 261 /CHM 266  and CHM 262 /CHM 267 ) sequences in their first year.

Description of program: The Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BGES) offers a comprehensive program providing the education and training necessary for careers in modern biological science, including the background for admission to graduate schools and to professional schools (medicine, dentistry, veterinary science). The Biology major provides a solid foundation in fundamental areas of biology while permitting sufficient choice in course selection that majors may explore and develop areas of interest within the field. Degrees offered include a B.S. in Biology (general , pre-professional studies, and honors tracks), a B.S. Biology – Medical Technology (with an affiliated school of medical technology), and a B.S. Biology/Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine (3+4 program with the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine). A Secondary Teacher Licensure program, a Biotechnology certificate, and a Biology minor are also available.

Major-Field Requirements

 

Bachelor of Science (General Requirements)

 

Biology Core Courses (25 credit hours)

 

Two of the following three courses*:

 

Two of the following three courses*:

 

Biology Electives (at least 19 credit hours)

*BIO courses numbered 300 to 311 and not used as biology core courses can be used as biology electives.

Both BIO 390  and BIO 391  may be used once as a biology elective course.

Select from all biology courses numbered 401 to 497, with three restrictions:
  1. Only one course numbered 402 to 497 that does not have a 300-level course as a prerequisite may be used as a biology elective;
  2. A maximum of 8 credits of the following courses may be used as biology electives: BIO 496  and BIO 497 .
  3. BIO 495  and BIO 492  do not count as electives the first time taken.
A maximum of nine credits from the following list of courses may be used as Biology electives.

 

May be used as biology electives with permission of the biology adviser.

 

Check with the biology adviser (216-687-2440) for other courses that may be used as biology electives.

 

Chemistry Courses (16 credit hours)

Mathematics or Statistics Course (four credit hours)

One of the following courses:

Physics Courses (8 credit hours)

 

Specific Tracks in the Bachelor of Science Program:

 

Pre-Professional Studies

The curriculum for the Biology major provides students with the knowledge to take the aptitude tests required for admission by most professional schools. A suggested program of study for premedical students might consist of the following courses:

All the specified courses (biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics) for the B.S. in Biology, including BIO 306  and BIO 308 /BIO 309 .

Suggested Biology Electives:

 

Additional course required by medical schools:

 

Suggested Additional Courses:
  • Economics - one course
  • Psychology - one course

Note(s):

The COSHP pre-professional adviser coordinates a seminar program for all students at which representatives from professional schools (medical, dental, veterinary, etc.) discuss their program’s admission requirements and procedures. Contact the COSHP pre-professional adviser at 216-687-9321 for an advising appointment and check the Pre-Professional Programs website (http://www.csuohio.edu/sciences/preprof/index.html) for
the seminar schedule.

A Post-baccalaureate Program is available to individuals with a bachelor’s degree who lack the minimal science requirements for graduate or professional schools. Pre-professional applicants should contact the COSHP advising center at 216-687-9321; applicants interested in graduate study in one of the BGES programs should contact the BGES graduate program director 216-687-2440.

B.S. Biology - Medical Technology

The Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences offers a program in medical technology that leads to a B.S. degree with a major in Biology. Students interested in the Medical Technology Program should contact the undergraduate adviser for biology at 216-687-2440 or bges@csuohio.edu. Students enrolling in the Medical Technology Program have two options available to them.

Option I (3 + 1)

Option I consists of three years of study at Cleveland State University followed by one year of clinical laboratory training in an affiliated school of medical technology. Students do not enroll at Cleveland State University during their year of clinical training, they enroll at the school of medical technology (note – this means that students are not eligible for financial aid from Cleveland State during this clinical year). After completion of the clinical training, 32 semester credits are transferred from the school of medical technology to Cleveland State University and are counted toward the B.S. degree. The letter grades earned during the internship appear on the student’s records, but are not included in the computation of the grade-point average. Students enrolling in Option I must complete the following courses:

Biology Courses (38 credit hours)

 

Mathematics and Physical Science Courses (20 credit hours)

 

one of the following statistics courses:

 

Option II (4 + 1).

Option II consists of the successful completion of the B.S. degree with a major in Medical Technology prior to enrolling in an approved school of medical technology. This option is recommended for students who desire flexibility in training program choice, and increased options for career choice and career development. Students enrolling in Option II must complete the following courses:

All Option I courses plus

 

Note(s):

Regardless of the route and option selected, students subsequently must be accepted into a school of medical technology approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association in collaboration with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences as part of the requirement for taking the certifying examination in medical technology. In the Cleveland area, there is one approved and active hospital school of medical technology affiliated with Cleveland State University. However, students completing the 4 + 1 option may attend any approved school of medical technology in the United States. Following satisfactory completion of their clinical training program, students are eligible to take the national certifying examination of the Registry of Medical Technologists (American Society of Clinical Pathologists) or of the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel.

Facebook this Page (opens a new window)
Tweet this Page (opens a new window)