Department Co-Chair: Kanchana Mendes, 847.376.7184, biologychair@oakton.edu
Department Co-Chair: Nicole Perry, 847.376.7086, biologychair@oakton.edu

The following pre-major is recommended for students who are considering completing a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Biology after transferring to a four-year institution. It is designed for students who have not decided upon a specific four-year college or university. Once a transfer school is selected, students are strongly encouraged to consult the Office of Advising, Transitions, and Student Success and the transfer institution’s catalog to select courses that will meet both Oakton and transfer institution requirements.

For more information on course selection or program-specific advising, contact the department chair. Part time students should also consult the Office of Advising, Transitions, and Student Success for part-time pre-major recommendations. General Education courses should be selected from the list of IAI General Education Courses.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Semester OneHours
EGL 101 Composition I 3
SPE 103 Effective Speech 3
MAT 250 Calculus I 1 5
CHM 121 General College Chemistry I 4
 Hours15
Semester Two
EGL 102 Composition II 3
BIO 121 General College Biology I 4
CHM 122 General College Chemistry II 4
Select one of the following: 3-4
EGL 131
 Multicultural Literature in the U.S. 2
HUM 121
 Western Culture and the Arts: Renaissance through the 20th Century
HUM 142
 Women and Creativity 2
PHL 205
 World Religions 3
Modern Language Course (202 3 or higher) 4
 Hours14-15
Second Year
Semester One
BIO 122 General College Biology II 4
Select one of the following: 4-5
CHM 207
 Elementary Organic Chemistry
CHM 221
 Organic Chemistry I 7
CHM 223
 Organic Chemistry I 7
Select one of the following: 8 3-4
BIO 104
 Human Genetics 5
BIO 105
 Human Genetics 5
BIO 106
 Introduction to Environmental Science 3
BIO 107
 Ecological Restoration
BIO 109
 Plants and Society 3
BIO 110
 Sex, Gender and Health
BIO 112
 Essentials of Nutrition
BIO/CHM 240
 Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Laboratory Research
Select one of the following: 3
PSC 101
 American Government
PSY 101
 Introduction to Psychology
SOC 101
 Introduction to Sociology 2
SOC 103
 Social Problems 6
Select one of the following: 3
ART 114
 Art History: Art of the Non-Western World 3
HUM 124
 African-American Culture and the Arts 2
HUM 131
 Introduction to Theater
HUM 142
 Women and Creativity 2
MUS 236
 Music Literature and History
 Hours17-19
Semester Two
Select two of the following: 6
ANT 102
 Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
PSC 202
 International Relations 3
PSY 120
 Human Development
SOC 230
 Sociology of Sex and Gender 2
SOC 232
 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity 2
Select one of the following: 3
ART 114
 Art History: Art of the Non-Western World 3
EGL 131
 Multicultural Literature in the U.S. 2
HUM 131
 Introduction to Theater
MUS 236
 Music Literature and History
Select two of the following: 8 6-8
BIO 104
 Human Genetics 5
BIO 105
 Human Genetics 5
BIO 106
 Introduction to Environmental Science 3
BIO 107
 Ecological Restoration
BIO 109
 Plants and Society 3
BIO 110
 Sex, Gender and Health
BIO 112
 Essentials of Nutrition
BIO/CHM 240
 Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Laboratory Research
BIO 251
 Microbiology
CHM 222
 Organic Chemistry II 7
CHM 224
 Organic Chemistry II 7
MAT 131
 Elementary Statistics
MAT 251
 Calculus II 9
 Hours15-17
 Total Hours61-66
1

Students who do not place into MAT 250 need to work with an academic advisor, math placement coordinator, and/or Biology department chair to determine how to sequence math courses for Biology Pre-major.

2

Course fulfills the U.S. Diversity Studies requirement. At least one U.S. Diversity Studies course is required for degree completion.

3

Course fulfills the Global Studies requirement. At least one Global Studies course is required for degree completion.

4

Any Modern Language Intermediate II course can meet the Humanities and Global Studies requirements. Transfer institutions may have a language requirement.

5

Credit cannot be received for both BIO 104 and BIO 105.

6

Course fulfills both the Global Studies and U.S. Diversity Studies requirements.

Transfer-related Notes:

7

Students should check with their transfer institution to determine if they need one semester of organic chemistry or two semesters of organic chemistry. Students who need one semester of organic chemistry should take CHM 207. Students who need two semesters of organic chemistry should take either CHM 221/CHM 222 or CHM 223/CHM 224. Students may take CHM 221 and CHM 222 in place of CHM 223 and CHM 224. However CHM 221 and CHM 222 are only offered in the summer, and CHM 223 and CHM 224 are offered during the academic year. Students should check with their transfer institution to determine if they need to have organic chemistry with one three hour lab per week (CHM 221/CHM 222) or two three hour labs per week (CHM 223/CHM 224).

8

Students need to check with their transfer institution to determine if BIO 104, BIO 105,  BIO 106, BIO 107, BIO 109, BIO 110, BIO 112, BIO 231, BIO 232, BIO 240 or BIO 251 will transfer as Biology electives. BIO 104, BIO 105, BIO 106 and BIO 109 are IAI-approved courses. The best major elective may depend on the biology major pathway at the transfer institution.

9

Students should check with their transfer institution to determine if they need one semester of calculus or two semesters of calculus for a biology major. Students who do not take MAT 251 may need to take MAT 131 as an elective. Students who need two semesters of calculus can choose MAT 131 as a major elective. This will depend greatly on the transfer institution and biology major pathway at that institution. Students should also check with their transfer institution to determine the level Physics that is needed at their transfer institution. Some Biology majors require calculus based Physics whereas some Biology majors only required algebra based physics (PHY 131/PHY 132).

Note: Pre-major is a recommended sequence and selection of courses. For degree requirements see Associate in Arts (A.A.).