Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 University Catalog 
    
2017-2018 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Genetics, BS


About the Program

Genetics is the science of information transfer from one generation to another. We learn the laws of inheritance in all creatures big and small, how they evolve and how they change. On the molecular level we learn about DNA and RNA, on the cellular level we discover what makes a cell cancerous, and on an organismal level we examine the reproductive habits of various organisms. Crucial principles include the structure, function, and transmission of genes. Laboratory techniques explore genetic engineering from the “inside.” Genetics is crucial to all of biology, hence a genetics major has great flexibility. This is excellent preparation for advanced study in biological sciences, law, genetic counseling, and many health-related professions.

Genetic Biology Website

Curriculum and Degree Requirements


A College of Science degree is conferred when a student successfully completes all requirements in their degree program.  Students will complete coursework or approved experiential learning activities to meet the following three degree components:

  1. Major
  2. Science Core Curriculum
  3. Free Electives

Students may use any of the following options to meet College of Science degree requirements:

  • Purdue Coursework
  • Ap, IB, and CLEP credit.  The use of AP and IB coursework varies between College of Science degree plans.
  • Transfer Credit. Students should consult the Admissions Transfer Credit Resource page for all available transfer options.

College of Science degree programs vary widely in their approval and use of the proceeding options and thus students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their academic advisors and to regularly consult their MyPurduePlan to view the use of each option in their degree plan. 


Most College of Science degree programs contain free elective credits students may use to pursue courses that relate to their interests or which support their major area of study. The elective area of a degree plan may also be used to complete minors, second majors and certificates such as the Entrepreneurial Certificate. With the exception of courses on the No Count List, any Purdue course may be used to meet the free elective area of a student’s degree plan.

College of Science Core Requirements

All Students starting Purdue University Fall semester, 2007 or later are required to pursue the 2007 Science Core curriculum.

The College of Science Core Curriculum requires the completion of approved coursework and/or experiential learning opportunities in the following academic areas:

Earning Core Curricular Requirements through Experience

Students may meet selected core curriculum requirements through approved experiential learning opportunities. Interested students should contact their academic advisor for more information on this option and incorporating experiential learning into their four-year program of study. For more information on earning requirements through experience, please click here.

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Courses (34-37 credits)


*A 2.0 average is required in these courses

*Intermediate Biology Selective (3-4 credits)


Select one; cannot also be used for Major Selectives below

  • Intermediate Biology Selective (Req #9) - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00

*Major Selectives - Select course for each requirement (6 credits)


  • 500 Level Biology Selective (Req # 14) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Biology Selective (Req # 14) - Credit Hours: 3.00

Other Departmental /Program Course Requirements (64-76 credits)


  • Organic CHM 1 Selective - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • Organic CHM 2 Selective - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • Chemistry Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • PHYS 1 Selective - Select from PHYS 23300  or 17200  (satisfies Science Selective for core) - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • PHYS 2 Selective - Select from PHYS 23400  or 27200  - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • Computer Science Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  •  

  • (satisfies Written Communication for core); (satisfies Information Literacy Selective for core)
  • or

  • (satisfies Written Communication for core); (satisfies Information Literacy Selective for core)
  •  

  • Language & Culture 1 Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Language & Culture 2 Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Language & Culture 3 Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • (satisfies Oral Communication for core)
  • General Education 1 Selective (satisfies Human Culture Behavioral/Social Science for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education 2 Selective (satisfies Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education 3 Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Teambuilding & Collaboration Selective - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 3.00
  • Great Issues Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Multidisciplinary Selective - Credit Hours: 1.00 - 3.00

Electives (7-22 credits)


University Core Requirements


  • Human Cultures Humanities
  • Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
  • Information Literacy
  • Science #1
  • Science #2
  • Science, Technology, and Society
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • For a complete listing of course selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.

Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.

Additional Requirements


Select here  for additional lists.

Program Requirements


16-18 Credits


Spring 1st Year


16-19 Credits


15 Credits


14-15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • Biology Selective (Req # 14) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • PHYS 1 Selective - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • General Education 2 Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

16 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


14-15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


15-17 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • Biology Selective 500 Level (Req # 14) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Base Lab Requirement (Req #13) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 4.00
  • Great Issues Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

14-16 Credits


Notes


2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree.

Foreign Language Courses


Foreign Language proficiency requirements vary by program.  For acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor:

American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, (ancient) Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical. A Critical Course is one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.