27 units

The biology minor provides a strong foundation in core biology courses so students better understand living organisms, with the opportunity to explore specialized topics by selecting at least two upper-division courses.

Requirements 

• Students may not earn a biology minor if they are majoring in allied health or biochemistry.
• Students must complete all prerequisites for a BIOC, BIOL, or CHEM course with a C- or better before taking the course (except as noted in the course description).
• Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all biology, chemistry, biochemistry, math, and physics courses required for the minor.
• Students must complete each course required for the minor with a C- or higher for the course to meet a degree requirement in the Department of Biology and Chemistry.
• Any single course within the minor can be taken only two times at APU; students will be dismissed from the minor after two unsuccessful (below C-) attempts in a single required course.
• Only two courses total within the minor can be repeated; students will be dismissed from the minor after unsuccessful (below C-) attempts in any three required courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Lower-Division Requirements
BIOL 151	General Biology I 1	4
BIOL 152	General Biology II	4
CHEM 151	General Chemistry I 1, 2	4
BIOL 260	Genetics	4
BIOL 280	Cell Biology	4
BIOL 396	Topics in Biology and Christian Thought 3	1
Upper-Division Electives		6
Choose 6 units of electives from the following; these may not include units used to fulfill requirements of the student’s major.
BIOL 314	Biology of Microorganisms
BIOL 320	Ecology
BIOL 326	Neurobiology
BIOL 346	Regional Human Anatomy
BIOL 350	Mammalian Physiology
BIOL 394	Directed Research Internship 4
BIOL 395	Biological Science Internship 4
BIOL 425	Immunology
BIOL 430	Global Change Biology
BIOL 410	Molecular Biology
Total Units		27

¹

Meets the APU Core: Natural Science general education requirement.

²

This course may be waived with an appropriate Advanced Placement test score.

³

BIOL 152 meets this requirement if taken at APU.

⁴

Up to 3 units combined of either BIOL 394 or BIOL 395 may count toward minor elective units.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge base in the field of biology.
2. Effectively communicate scientific ideas and research orally.
3. Effectively communicate scientific ideas and research in writing.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in problem solving and applying the scientific method to scientific questions.
5. Demonstrate laboratory skills and techniques.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of relevant laboratory instrumentation.
7. Express a Christian worldview that integrates faith with their biology vocation.