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Saint Xavier University Chicago Campus Residence Halls

Biological Sciences


The Biological Sciences program has three main objectives:

  • To teach the significant facts upon which the major concepts and theories of the life sciences rest;
  • To develop in students an appreciation for and an understanding of the methodology of science;
  • To generate in students the habit of dealing scientifically with concepts that fall within the scope of science.

Biology majors may choose between the general biology or pre-health professions track. In addition, the program offers a minor in biology and a secondary education licensure in biology. Biology majors are prepared for advanced studies in graduate or professional schools, or to use their biology training in the workplace after graduation.

Each student majoring in the biological sciences is assigned an advisor in the program. Together the student and advisor plan the program that will best meet the professional goals of the students. Students graduating with a B.S. in biology must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in their biology coursework.

Courses in biology utilize the diverse resources in the Chicago area, including museums, zoological parks, nature preserves and Lake Michigan. Students may take classes that are offered through the Associate Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA) consortium. Saint Xavier University is a member of the Reis Biological Station consortium. Membership allows faculty the use of the station for field trips/courses and gives the SXU student access to all summer field courses offered by any of the consortium schools. Additionally, faculty and students have access to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station.

There is a chapter of Beta Beta Beta on campus. This biological national honor society sponsors various events that include blood drives, guest lectures, field trips, social functions and activities to promote general environmental awareness.

Policies for Incoming Students

Students wishing to major in biology should have completed high school biology, chemistry and advanced mathematics courses. Students who declare biology as a major and have a science ACT score of less than 21 and demonstrate a weakness in math will be placed into BIOL 110: Fundamentals of Biology as preparation for the General Biology sequence (BIOL 111/112).

Biology majors must achieve a grade-point average of 2.0 in all biology courses (BIOL and BIOLB) applied to the major. A grade of C or better must be earned in BIOL 111 and 112. In addition, no more than two grades of D may be applied to the biology major. The 2.0 grade-point average in the biology major does not include support courses (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics) required for the major.

College-level science courses taken at another institution will be evaluated on an individual basis in consultation with the student.

Transfer students must complete a minimum of one-third of the requirements for the biology major at Saint Xavier.

Biology Major

Students who major in biology select their curriculum from either a general biology or pre-health professions track.

Requirements for B.S. Degree for Biology Major

General Biology Track

Introductory Level (8 credit hours)

  • BIOL 111: General Biology I (4)
  • BIOL 112: General Biology II (4)

Genetic Level (4 credit hours)

  • BIOL 300: Genetics (4) OR BIOL 301: Genome Biology (4)

Cellular Level (4 credit hours)

  • BIOL 305: Cell Biology (4) OR BIOL 306: General Microbiology (4)

System Level (4 credit hours)

Choose one of the following:

  • BIOL 320: Human and Comparative Physiology (4)
  • BIOL 240: Developmental Biology (4)
  • BIOL 341: Neuroscience (4)

Organism Level (4 credit hours)

Choose one of the following:

  • BIOL 220: Human and Comparative Anatomy (4)
  • BIOL 230: Invertebrate Biology (4)
  • BIOL 312: Plant Adaptation and Diversity (4)

Population/Community Level (4 credit hours)

Choose one of the following:

  • BIOL 208: Natural History of the Great Lakes (with lab) (4)
  • BIOL 213: Interactions in the Environment (with lab) (4)
  • BIOL 318: Ecology (4)
  • BIOL 333: Evolution: Process and Pattern (4)

Support Courses (20/22 credit hours)

  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I (4) AND CHEM 112: General Chemistry II (4)
  • CHEM 209: Survey of Organic Chemistry (4) OR CHEM 251: Organic Chemistry I (4)
  • PHYS 201: Physics I (4)
  • MATH 201: Calculus (4) OR MATH 112: College Algebra (3) AND MATH 113: Trigonometry (3)

Electives (at least 12 credit hours)

  • BIOL 202: Human Anatomy (4)
  • BIOL 203: Human Physiology (4)
  • BIOL 208: Natural History of the Great Lakes (with lab) (4)
  • BIOL 212: Histotechniques (3)
  • BIOL 213: Interactions in the Environment (with lab) (4)
  • BIOL 214: Natural History of Vertebrates (3)
  • BIOLB 214: Natural History of Vertebrates: Field Experience (1)
  • BIOL 215: Wildlife Conservation (3)
  • BIOL 220: Human and Comparative Anatomy (4)
  • BIOL 230: Invertebrate Biology (4)
  • BIOL 240: Developmental Biology (4)
  • BIOL 250: Special Topics (1-3)
  • BIOL 300: Genetics (4)
  • BIOL 301: Genome Biology (4)
  • BIOL 302: Molecular Biology Techniques (3)
  • BIOL 303: Biostatistics (3)
  • BIOL 304: Immunology (3)
  • BIOL 305: Cell Biology (4)
  • BIOL 306: General Microbiology (4)
  • BIOL 308: Histology (4)
  • BIOL 310: Animal Behavior (4)
  • BIOL 312: Plant Adaptation and Diversity (4)
  • BIOL 318: Ecology (4)
  • BIOL 320: Human and Comparative Physiology (4)
  • BIOL 329: Hormones and Behavior (3)
  • BIOL 330: Cadaver Dissection (1)
  • BIOL 333: Evolution: Process and Pattern (4)
  • BIOL 341: Neuroscience (4)
  • BIOL 350: Special Topics (1-3)
  • BIOL 353: Independent Study (1-3)

Senior Capstone (at least one credit hour)

  • BIOL 355: Senior Seminar (1) OR BIOL 351 and 352: Laboratory and Field Research (1-3)

Pre-Health Professions Track

Biology majors, in consultation with their advisors, may choose courses of study within the pre-health professions track that will prepare them for health care careers. Required coursework for admission into optometry, physical therapy, pharmacy, medical, dental and veterinary schools are taken as part of the pre-health profession track. Students should investigate the specific program requirements of the schools to which they will be applying. It is recommended that you speak with an advisor to be sure to complete all courses required for admission.

Introductory Level (8 credit hours)

  • BIOL 111: General Biology I (4)
  • BIOL 112: General Biology II (4)

Genetic Level (4 credit hours)

  • BIOL 300: Genetics (4) OR BIOL 301: Genome Biology (4)

Cellular Level (4 credit hours)

  • BIOL 305: Cell Biology (4) OR BIOL 306: General Microbiology (4)

System Level (4 credit hours)

  • BIOL 203: Human Physiology (4) OR BIOL 320: Human and Comparative Physiology (4)

Organism Level (4 credit hours)

  • BIOL 202: Human Anatomy (4) OR BIOL 220: Human and Comparative Anatomy (4)

Population/Community Level (4 credit hours)

Choose one of the following:

  • BIOL 208: Natural History of the Great Lakes (with lab) (4)
  • BIOL 213: Interactions in the Environment (with lab) (4)
  • BIOL 318: Ecology (4)
  • BIOL 333: Evolution: Process and Pattern (4)

Support Courses (28/30 credit hours)

  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I (4) AND CHEM 112: General Chemistry II (4)
  • CHEM 251: Organic Chemistry I (4) AND CHEM 252: Organic Chemistry II (4)
  • PHYS 201: Physics I (4) AND PHYS 202: Physics II (4)
  • MATH 201: Calculus (4) OR MATH 112: College Algebra (3) AND MATH 113: Trigonometry (3)

Electives (at least eight credit hours)

  • BIOL 202: Human Anatomy (4)
  • BIOL 203: Human Physiology (4)
  • BIOL 208: Natural History of the Great Lakes (with lab) (4)
  • BIOL 212: Histotechniques (3)
  • BIOL 213: Interactions in the Environment (with lab) (4)
  • BIOL 214: Natural History of Vertebrates (3)
  • BIOLB 214: Natural History of Vertebrates: Field Experience (1)
  • BIOL 215: Wildlife Conservation (3)
  • BIOL 220: Human and Comparative Anatomy (4)
  • BIOL 230: Invertebrate Biology (4)
  • BIOL 240: Developmental Biology (4)
  • BIOL 250: Special Topics (1-3)
  • BIOL 300: Genetics (4)
  • BIOL 301: Genome Biology (4)
  • BIOL 302: Molecular Biology Techniques (3)
  • BIOL 303: Biostatistics (3)
  • BIOL 304: Immunology (3)
  • BIOL 305: Cell Biology (4)
  • BIOL 306: General Microbiology (4)
  • BIOL 308: Histology (4)
  • BIOL 310: Animal Behavior (4)
  • BIOL 312: Plant Adaptation and Diversity (4)
  • BIOL 318: Ecology (4)
  • BIOL 320: Human and Comparative Physiology (4)
  • BIOL 329: Hormones and Behavior (3)
  • BIOL 330: Cadaver Dissection (1)
  • BIOL 333: Evolution: Process and Pattern (4)
  • BIOL 341: Neuroscience (4)
  • BIOL 350: Special Topics (1-3)
  • BIOL 353: Independent Study (1-3)

Senior Capstone (at least one credit hour)

  • BIOL 355: Senior Seminar (1) OR BIOL 351 and 352: Laboratory and Field Research (1-3)

Requirements for a Biology Minor

The biology minor will consist of BIOL 111 and 112, plus four additional courses in biology at the 200-level or above. Of these four courses, at least three must have a laboratory component. At least one-half of the credit hours used to fulfill the minor must be completed at Saint Xavier University.