General information About the B.A. Degree Option   (printable pdf version)

 

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree serves as the centerpiece of liberal arts education, promoting broad intellectual cultivation of the student.  The intent is to develop in students the ability to know how to know.  Through a liberal education, students struggle with the ways we perceive the world around us, from philosophical, historical, scientific and other perspectives.  Truman, as a liberal arts institution, strives to develop creativity, competence, and compassion in its students, and at the same time, give them the ability to pursue and adapt to demands of any career path they may select.

 

In keeping with the liberal arts mission of Truman, the B.A. in Biology provides a broadly based foundation that will serve many different life goals, yet is flexible enough to allow students to tailor it to their particular interests.  This degree option will allow a student to broaden his or her experience and to pursue an interest in education, biological research, medicine, environmental law, biological illustration, or a multitude of other paths. 

 

In contrast to the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, the B.A. degree requires intermediate language proficiency, 15 fewer credit hours of formal Biology electives, and one, rather than two semesters, of Organic Chemistry.  Students must still take at least 26 hours of Biology courses, and many opt to take the full sequence of Organic Chemistry, as required by the B.S. major.  The full Organic Chemistry sequence is required for entrance into most medical schools, as well as a variety of other professional and graduate schools.

 

An integral component of the Biology B.A. that allows for creative tailoring is the “Learning Plan.” In consultation with his or her academic advisor, students custom-design a suite of courses (at least 15 credit hours) that best matches their life-long learning and career goals.  For example, a student interested in becoming a pediatrician might elect to take courses from five different majors: chemistry (Biochemistry), exercise science (Physical Activity for the Young Child), psychology (Child Development),  communications (Rhetoric and Medicine), and business (Accounting for Business Operations).

 

Examples of potential learning plans that display the spirit of this degree option can be found on the back of this sheet.  Learning Plans must be approved by a committee of Biology faculty members, and it is recommended that this occur by the end of the student's sophomore year.  Previously approved Learning Plans are available in the Science Division office for students to review. 

 

 

B.A. Degree Requirements

 

Categories & Courses	Credit Hours
Liberal Studies Program	32-57
Missouri Statute	1-3
Required Support	31-35
MATH 198: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I*	5
BIOL 107:  Introductory Biology I*	4
PHYS 185: College Physics I*	4
PHYS 186: College Physics II*	4
CHEM 120: Chemical Principles I*	5
CHEM 121: Chemical Principles II*	5
CHEM 320: Foundations of Organic Chemistry*             Or B.S. Organic Chemistry Sequence (329, 330, 331, 332)      *	4 8
*May be used to fulfill Liberal Studies Program requirements.
B.A. Requirement	0-6
Intermediate Language Proficiency
Major Requirements (Biology Core)	22
BIOL 145: Freshman Seminar	1
BIOL 108: Introductory Biology II	4
BIOL 200: Cell Biology	4
BIOL 300: Genetics	4
BIOL 301: Introduction to Ecology	4
BIOL 315: Physiology or BIOL 405: Plant Physiology	4
BIOL 545: Senior Seminar	1
Learning Plan	15
Students will design an individualized Learning Plan in consultation with their academic advisor.  This plan, to which very few restrictions apply, is intended to meet the life-long needs of the student.  Such a plan might include an existing minor in a discipline other than Biology, additional Biology courses, or a mixture of courses from several disciplines.  Learning plans must be submitted to and approved by a committee of Biology faculty members.
Electives	to total 124

 

 

Examples of B.A. Learning Plans

 

 

Student 1 - Pediatrics

 

In order to prepare for a career in pediatric medicine and for opening his own practice, this student tailored his Learning Plan to include courses from a variety of disciplines. 

 

CHEM 421:  Biochemistry

ES 235:  Physical Activity for the Young Child

PSYC 332:  Child Development

ACCT 211: Accounting for Business Operations

COMM 375:  Rhetoric and Medicine

 

 

Student 2 - Scientific Illustration

 

This student chose to combine an artistic talent with a love of biology and become a scientific illustrator. Therefore, he chose a variety of courses in the fine arts and from Biology electives with emphasis on structural and anatomical features.

 

BIOL 302: Comparative Anatomy

BIOL 309:  Histology

BIOL 313:  Plant Anatomy

ART 115:  Drawing I

ART 215:  Drawing II

ART 213:  Creative Photography I

 

 

Student 3 - Culinary Arts

 

This student intended to enroll in culinary school after receiving her B.A and pursue a career as a chef and restaurant owner. Her Learning Plan focuses on Biology, Agriculture, and Business courses.

 

BIOL 313:  Plant Anatomy

BIOL 317:  Economic Botany

BSAD 325:  Principles of Marketing

BIOL 509:  Comparative Plant Morphology

AGSC 316:  Food, Fiber, and the Consumer

 

 

Student 4 - Journalism

 

In order to pursue a career in journalism as a science writer, this student built his Learning Plan around a wide range of Biology courses, as well as courses in Communications.

 

BIOL 317:  Economic Botany

BIOL 304:  General Microbiology

COMM 251:  Media Writing

COMM 367:  News Reporting and Writing

COMM 375:  Rhetoric and Medicine

 

 

Student 5 - Bioinformatics

 

This student was planning to pursue a career in bioinformatics and used her Learning Plan to shape her coursework around this interest.

 

BIOL 513:  Microbial Genetics                             

BIOL 518:  Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics                 

BIOL 518: Bioinformatics

CS 275:  Programming for Scientists

CS 420:  Database Systems

 

 

Student 6 - Philosophy

 

This student discovered that although she wanted to pursue a career in Biology, she had a strong interest in Philosophy and the interface between Philosophy and Biology.  Her Learning Plan allowed her to explore this interest.

 

PHRE 186:  Introduction to Philosophy

PHRE 370:  Epistemology

PHRE 386:  Religion and Science

PHRE 383:  Philosophy of Language

PHRE 374:  Faith and Reason

 

 

Student 7 - Justice Systems

 

This student was planning to pursue a career in forensic science and thus directed her Learning Plan to include Justice Systems courses.

 

JUST 205:  Introduction to Justice Systems

JUST 212:  Scientific Investigation

JUST 335:  Rehabilitative System

JUST 331:  Criminology

JUST 281:  Introduction to Forensic Science

 

 

Student 8 - Biological Consultant

 

This student wished to open her own business as a biological consultant.  She chose a variety of courses from business and environmental sciences.

 

ACCT 211: Accounting for Business Operations

BSAD 325:  Principles of Marketing

BIOL 363:  Human Ecology

BIOL 510:  Ecology

AGSC 218:  Introduction to Horticulture