Biology

About this Major

The Biology major is designed to give you a broad preparation and experience for a variety of biology-related fields. VCSU'S program emphasizes preparing students for professional schools and graduate work. Opportunities exist on and off campus to provide sound practical experiences, including work as student assistants, research experiences in our research labs, participation in the campus-tutoring programs, field studies, and biological travel tours.

Internships at numerous facilities (such as Northern Prairie Research Center, Mercy Hospital, and the Fish Hatchery) are available to you to develop and apply your skills. Classes involve field study in local areas such as the Valley City National Fish Hatchery, Lake Ashtabula, and the Sheyenne River Valley. VCSU has well-equipped research labs and you are encouraged to be involved in research. This program has hands-on opportunities that are usually reserved for graduate students. You have the chance to run the planetarium, conduct research, and gather samples. Students travel to regional and national scientific meetings to present on their current research. All faculty members in the program have earned their Ph.D. Several have research grants and research labs which they run with the assistance of VCSU students.

Meet a Student

- VCSU graduate Michaela Halvorson stands near a lake in North Dakota.

VCSU’s science department is amazing. I feel blessed to have all these fantastic teachers who come with real world experience under their belts. When I ask them a question, they are always so knowledgeable and willing to help you out. Alongside the awesome faculty, the classes take you out on outdoor experiences that help you further not only your knowledge but the experience that employers are looking for.” —Michaela Halvorson, Milnor, N.D.

Jobs with a Biology Degree

- There were 7,209 regional jobs listed in the field of biology last year. Of those jobs, 92% listed require a bachelor’s degree.

A Biology degree from VCSU comes with a wealth of potential – there are countless career paths to follow that build off of the solid educational foundation you earned. Some career options include:

Laboratory Technologist or Laboratory Manager
Research Associate
Biologist
Biological Technician
Medical Scientist
Clinical Research Manager
Natural Science Research Manager

Practical Experience

The Rhoades Science Center includes a greenhouse for work in biology and botany, a planetarium, and laboratories for terrestrial biology, aquatic biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. In addition, students have access to:

Fully equipped Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Laboratory and Biomedical Research Laboratory
Weather stations
River gauge station
Fish hatchery as well as the dam and reservoir at Lake Ashtabula
The Soil Conservation Service
Biology faculty have ongoing connections with North Dakota Department of Health, N.D. Parks and Recreation, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, and the US Army Corps of engineers and with faculty involved in graduate programs at UND and NDSU

Get Involved in your Major

- Professor Nick Gault works with a biology student using a microscope in the Rhoades Science Center on the campus of Valley City State University.

You are invited to join the VCSU Pre-Professional Club. The club is for students interested in continuing their education in graduate school or professional programs such as medical school, physical therapy, chiropractic, optometry, and dentistry. This club provides support for students going through the application process and opportunities to practice aptitude tests such as the GRE, mCAT, LSAT, and DAT. There is also a Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation club which organizes trips and fundraisers. VCSU also has activities such as choir, band, and intramural athletics.

Contact Information

Department Chair

Dr. Nicholas Galt, nicholas.galt@vcsu.edu, (701) 845-7459

Faculty Contact

Trista Montgomery, trista.montgomery@vcsu.edu , (701) 845-7451

Campus Location

Rhoades Science Center 203, (701) 845-7452

Schedule your visit today!

http://visit.vcsu.edu/ or call (701) 845-7101 or (800) 532-8641

General Education Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
English Composition
Select one of the following:		6
ENGL 110	College Composition I
ENGL 120	College Composition II
or ENGL 125	Introduction to Professional Writing
or
ENGL 120	College Composition II
or ENGL 125	Introduction to Professional Writing
ENGL 210	College Composition III: Persuasive Writing
Speech Communication
Select one of the following:		3
COMM 110	Fundamentals of Public Speaking
COMM 212	Interpersonal Communication
COMM 216	Intercultural Communication
Mathematics
Select one of the following:		3
MATH 103	College Algebra
MATH 104	Finite Mathematics
MATH 107	Precalculus
MATH 110	Mathematics in Society
MATH 165	Calculus I
MATH 210	Elementary Statistics
Lab Science
Select two of the following, one must come from the Natural and Physical Sciences category		8
Natural and Physical Science (ND:LABSC)
BIOL 111	Concepts of Biology
BIOL 150	General Biology I
BIOL 151	General Biology II
BIOL 170	General Zoology
CHEM 115	Introductory Chemistry
CHEM 116	Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry ¹
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I ¹
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II
GEOL 100	Introduction to Earth Science
GEOL 106	The Earth Through Time
PHYS 100	Concepts of Physics
PHYS 110	Introductory Astronomy
PHYS 211	College Physics I
PHYS 212	College Physics II
PHYS 251	University Physics I
PHYS 252	University Physics II
Additional Sciences (ND:SCI)
PSYC 240	Cognition and Brain Science
TECH 161	Technology, Engineering, and Design
TECH 165	Technology Solutions for Society
Wellness
Select one of the following:		2
HPER 100	Concepts of Fitness and Wellness
HPER 212	Introduction to Stress Management
Computer Science and Literacy
Select one of the following:		3
CIS 147	Principles of Information Security
CIS 170	Introduction to Computer Information Systems ²
CSCI 120	Introduction to Programming
CSCI 127	Introduction to Programming in Java
CSCI 160	Introduction to Structured Programming I
CSCI 289	Social Implications of Computer Technology ²
SE 110	Discovering Computing
Humanities
Literacies
Select one of the following:		3
ASL 101	American Sign Language I
ASL 102	American Sign Language II
COMM 211	Oral Interpretation
ENGL 220	Introduction to Literature
ENGL 225	Introduction to Film
ENGL 231	Bible as Literature
ENGL 232	Mythology
ENGL 236	Women and Literature
ENGL 241	World Literature I
ENGL 242	World Literature II
ENGL 261	American Literature I
ENGL 262	American Literature II
HUM 201	Civilization, Thought, and Literary Heritage
PSYC 200	Ethics and Philosophy of Science
SPAN 101	1st Year Spanish I
SPAN 102	1st Year Spanish II
SPAN 201	2nd Year Spanish I
SPAN 202	2nd Year Spanish II
THEA 110	Introduction to Theatre Arts
Art and Music
Select one of the following:		3
ART 110	Introduction to the Visual Arts
ART 115	Introduction to Digital Media
ART 210	Art History I
ART 211	Art History II
ART 233	History of Craft
HUM 202	Fine Arts and Aesthetics
MUS 100	Music Appreciation
MUS 101	Music Fundamentals
MUS 201	World Music
MUS 207	History of Popular/Rock Music
Social Science
Select 6 credits from the following:		6
COMM 112	Understanding Media and Social Change
COMM 114	Human Communication
ECON 201	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 202	Principles of Macroeconomics
GEOG 151	Human Geography
HIST 103	United States to 1877
HIST 104	United States to Present
HIST 211	World Civilizations to 1500
HIST 212	World Civilizations since 1500
HIST 267	Environmental History
HIST 270	Native American Studies
POLS 115	American National Government
POLS 116	State and Local Government
PSYC 111	Introduction to Psychology
SOC 110	Introduction to Sociology
SOC 111	Introduction to Anthropology
Additional Humanities or Social Science
Select one additional course from Humanities or Social Science or select from the following:		2
ART 122	Two-Dimensional Design
ART 130	Drawing I
ART 150	Ceramics I
ART 180	Photography I
GEOG 111	Survey of Geography
MUS 104	Group Piano for Non-Majors
MUS 105	Group Piano for Non-Majors
MUS 130	Valkyries
MUS 131	Concert Choir
MUS 140	Athletic Band
MUS 141	Concert Band
PHYS 275	Planetarium Science
THEA 201	Theatre Practicum
Total Credits		39

¹: Required
²: Course satisfies the Digital Literacy graduation requirement.

Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
BIOL 150	General Biology I	4
BIOL 151	General Biology II	4
BIOL 170	General Zoology	4
BIOL 311	General Botany	4
BIOL 315	Genetics	4
BIOL 310	Microbiology	4
or BIOL 441	Cell Biology
BIOL 410	Field Ecology	4
or BIOL 470	Limnology
BIOL 491	Integrated Science Capstone	2
Directed Electives
Select twelve hours from the following:		12
BIOL 220	Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 221	Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 267	Environmental History
BIOL 310	Microbiology
BIOL 312	Plant Diversity
BIOL 330	North Dakota Flora
BIOL 340	Research Methods
BIOL 343	Ornithology
BIOL 347	Aquatic Entomology
BIOL 350	Environmental Contaminants
BIOL 355	Mammalogy
BIOL 367	Ichthyology
BIOL 375	Conservation Biology
BIOL 376	Yellowstone Ecology
BIOL 380	Human Sexuality
BIOL 395	Laboratory Preparation and Management
BIOL 410	Field Ecology
BIOL 413	Restoration and Plant Ecology
BIOL 440	Biostatistics and Experimental Design
BIOL 441	Cell Biology
BIOL 470	Limnology
BIOL 194	Independent Study
BIOL 294	Independent Study
BIOL 394	Independent Study
BIOL 494	Undergraduate Research
BIOL 199	Special Topics
BIOL 299	Special Topics
BIOL 399	Special Topics
BIOL 499	Special Topics
GEOL 315	Soil Science and Survey
Total Credits		42

Total General Education 39-41 Hrs
Total Major Requirement 42 Hrs
Total Credits Needed to Graduate 120 Hrs

Note: This major requires a minor

For degree and graduation requirements, visit degree requirements and graduation requirements.

Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
BIOL 150	4	BIOL 151	4
CHEM 121 (Gen Ed)	5	CHEM 116 (Gen Ed)	4
CIS 170 (Gen Ed)	3	COMM 110 (Gen Ed)	3
ENGL 110 (Gen Ed)	3	ENGL 125 (Gen Ed)	3
UNIV 150	1
	16		14
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Art & Music (Gen Ed)	3	BIOL 170	4
HPER 100 (Gen Ed)	2	BIOL 315	4
MATH 107 (Gen Ed)	4	BIOL 311	4
Minor course	4	Literacies (Gen Ed)	3
Elective	3
	16		15
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Additional Humanities or Social Science (Gen Ed)	2	BIOL 310 or 441	4
Biology Directed Elective	4	Elective	4
Elective	2	Minor Course	4
Minor course	4	Social Science (Gen Ed)	3
Social Science (Gen Ed)	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Biology directed elective	4	Biology directed elective	4
BIOL 410 or 470	4	Elective	3
BIOL 491	2	Minor course	4
Minor course	4	Minor course	4
	14		15
Total Credits 120

Please note: This plan is intended for general information only. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor each semester before registration.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the Biology Program the students should be able to:

Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the major concepts in biology.
Exhibit critical thinking skills by applying the scientific method to solve problems.
Exhibit the ability to read and communicate in a scientific style.
Analyze the consequences of activities on themselves and their environment.