University of Michigan - Flint

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Bruce Parfitt, Ernest Szuch and Nanette Kelly

The Bachelor of Arts program in general biology is designed for students with a naturalist’s interest in biology. Potential careers exist as naturalists with parks, nature centers or organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club. Generally, this program is not intended for students planning graduate studies in the life sciences (in such cases, students are advised to select a Bachelor of Science program with electives suitable to their goals). In the Bachelor of Arts program there are three core biology courses: Organismal Biology (BIO 111); Principles of Biology (BIO 113) and Ecology (BIO 327). To provide students in this program with enhanced communication skills, the program also requires three communication/writing courses to include: Introduction to Public Speaking (COM 210), and two courses designated as biology writing courses with a grade of C or better. Possible course substitutions for one of the biology-writing courses are News and Feature Writing (COM 225) or Communications in Business (COM/ENG 338, recommended) with a grade of C or better. Advanced biology course requirements for this program are a minimum of five additional 400-level courses in field or organismal biology that list Ecology (BIO 327) as a prerequisite. The mission of this program is to provide students with a program of naturalist-oriented courses in biology, as the focus of a broad and liberal education.

Area Options. One of the two required area options must be in a foreign language. Students may choose the second area option according to their interests.

1. Completion of an oral examination during senior year (>92 credit hours) as part of the department’s assessment of the Program in Natural History.
2. The general education requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.
3. Thirty-two (minimum) to forty (maximum) credits in biology including a core sequence of BIO 111, 113, 327; five additional courses with BIO 327 as a prerequisite.
4. Courses in non-biological natural sciences and mathematics to include the following or their equivalent (or higher): CHM 150, 151; MTH 111; PHY 143.
5. Electives to complete a total of 120 credits.
6. At least 33 credits of upper division courses (courses numbered 300 or above).
7. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in biology and in the total work at the University of Michigan-Flint.
8. Grades of C- or better in all core courses used as prerequisites.