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2019-2020 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Interdisciplinary Science, BS (Biology)
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 Return to: College of Science
About the Program
The interdisciplinary science major is designed to provide College of Science students with a broad base in the sciences. By combining a primary area of science study, an interdisciplinary science core, a supporting area of academic interest and the core curriculum shared by all College of Science programs, students explore how the disciplines of science come together to identify and solve scientific challenges. Students customize the major by selecting a departmental or interdepartmental primary area based in science and a supporting area that complements or enhances the primary area. This supporting area may be an approved minor from any college or school at the University or a concentration of 18 credits of courses with a unifying theme. There is a primary area representing each department in the College of Science, however, cross-disciplinary areas may be explored and added as appropriate. With the help of either a faculty member or an academic advisor, students are encouraged to petition for approval of their supporting area.
The Interdisciplinary Science Major is designed to give a student a broad base in the sciences with more depth in a Primary Area of Science and a Supporting Area, usually outside of Science. The Core courses are common across the major but the student customizes the major by selecting a departmental or interdepartmental Primary Area based in Science and a Supporting Area which may come from any college or school at the University. There is a Primary Area representing each department in the College of Science and cross-disciplinary areas will be explored and added as appropriate. Several Supporting Areas will be suggested and a student may petition for approval of others.
Students completing the interdisciplinary science major have gone on to a variety of careers - some in, and others out of, the world of science. These careers include medicine, lay and other advanced-study professions, scientific sales, technical and scientific writing, computer programming and engineering.
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Curriculum and Degree Requirements for College of Science
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:
- Major
- Science Core Curriculum
- 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 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 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 RequiredDepartmental/Program Major Courses (68-81 credits)
Required Interdisciplinary Core Courses (68-81 credits)
Required Biology Courses (7-8 credits)
Satisfies Science for core:
Required Chemistry Courses (5-10 credits)
Required Computing Option (3-4 credits)
Choose one of the following:
Required Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science Selective Courses (3-4 credits)
Select courses COULD satisfy Science for core:
Required Mathematics Courses (6-10 credits)
Satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core:
Required Physics Selective Courses (8 credits)
Required Statistics Courses (3 credits)
Choose one of the following: Required Biology Primary Area Courses (15-16 credits)
Required Supporting Area Courses (18 credits)
MUST BE APPROVED BY COLLEGE Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (18-41 credits)
- ENGL 10600 - First-Year Composition (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core) or
- SCLA 10100 - Transformative Texts, Critical Thinking And Communication I: Antiquity To Modernity or
- ENGL 10800 - Accelerated First-Year Composition (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core)
- Language I Option*: (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
- Language II Option*: (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
- Language III/Culture/Diversity Option*: (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
- General Education I Selective* (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Culture Behavioral/Social Science for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
- General Education II Selective* (Select courses COULD satisfy Human Cultures Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00
- General Education III Selective* - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Technical Writing Option and Technical Presenting Option: (Select courses COULD satisfy Oral Communication for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 6.00
- Teambuilding and Collaboration Experience* - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
- Great Issues Option: Credit Hours: 3.00
- Multidisciplinary Experience* (Select courses COULD satisfies Science, Technology, and Society Selective for core) - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 3.00
*Requirement may be met with a zero credit experiential learning option. See your advisor for more information.
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.
Spring 1st Year
- Calculus Option II - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 5.00
- Language I Option - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
- General Chemistry Selective II or Elective - Credit Hours: 4.00 - 5.00
- Biology Selective II - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
- Biology Selective II or Elective - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 2.00
Fall 3rd Year
- Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
- STAT Option - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Teambuilding and Collaboration Experience - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 4.00
- Computing Option - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
- General Education II Option - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Spring 3rd Year
- BIOL 28600 - Introduction To Ecology And Evolution
- EAPS Selective Course - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
- Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
- General Education III Option - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Technical Writing or Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 1.00
Fall 4th Year
- Biology Selective Course or Elective 3.00 - 4.00
- Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Multidisciplinary Experience - Credit Hours: 0.00 - 3.00
- Physics Selective I - Credit Hours: 4.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 5.00
Spring 4th Year
- Biology Selective Course or Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
- Supporting Area Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Great Issue Option - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Physics Selective II - Credit Hours: 4.00 - 5.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Note
- 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree.
Critical Course
The ♦ course is considered critical.
In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”.
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
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.
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Return to: College of Science
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