Biological Sciences/BIO - IAI Major Course Recommendations
Biological Science programs vary widely in focus, with some emphasizing cellular and molecular biology and others concentrating on organismal, ecological, or evolutionary biology. Many universities also offer specialized tracks within the major. Students should identify their area of interest as early as possible, ideally by the beginning of their sophomore year.
Community college students are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree before transferring. Students should consult both community college and university biology advisors when selecting biology electives and planning for transfer.
To transfer as a junior into a bachelor's degree program in Biological Sciences, students should complete at least 60 semester credit hours, including the prerequisite science courses listed below. For maximum transferability, students are encouraged to complete the recommended general education, supporting science, and biology core courses.
Students should complete the entire two- or three-course introductory biology sequence at the same institution whenever possible. Because course content and sequencing vary among institutions, transferring after completing only part of a sequence may require repeating coursework.
The courses listed below are recommended for students who plan to begin at one Illinois institution and transfer to another. Courses recommended for teacher certification are identified where applicable. Be sure to consult your intended transfer institution to confirm course equivalencies and transfer requirements.
Note to Faculty and Course Submitters working with IAI Courses:
Before submitting to the IAI Biology major panel, please review the panel criteria and other important documents which are available at
Biological IAI Major Recommendation
Biology Major Courses(16-25 semester credits)
Biological Sciences Core Courses (16-25 semester credits)
BIO 910 - Introduction to Biological Sciences (8-10 semester credits)
The first course in the BIO 910 sequence fulfills the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) Life Sciences requirement. Because institutions may sequence biological sciences differently—some beginning with cellular and molecular biology and others with organismal biology—the core courses may be taken in either order. However, to ensure transferability, students should complete the entire BIO 910 sequence at the same institution before transferring.
Additional coursework should be selected based on the student's intended major, career goals, and transfer institution requirements.
BIO 920 - Anatomy and Physiology Course Sequence (8-10 Semester Credits) or
BIO 920C - Anatomy and Physiology Course Sequence (Lab with Cadaver) (8-10 Semester Credits)
Strongly Recommended Supporting Science Courses (10-15 semester credits)
CHM 912 - Chemistry II (4-5 semester credits)
Take 2 required courses in organic chemistry:
CHM 913 - Organic Chemistry I (3-5 semester credits)
CHM 914 - Organic Chemistry II (3-5 semester credits)
Biological Sciences Recommendations or Other Elective Courses (3-10 semester credits)
Students should consult a biology advisor when selecting additional biology coursework. Field biology, field botany, and comparative vertebrate anatomy are commonly accepted biology electives, although transferability may vary based on a student's intended specialization and transfer institution. Courses such as microbiology and human anatomy and physiology often transfer as credit for allied health programs but may not apply toward a Biology major.
To support success in a bachelor's degree program in Biology, students are encouraged to complete the following Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) courses: BIO 910 - Biology as Life Sciences with Lab, CHM 911 Chemistry I as Physical Sciences with Lab, and M1 900-1 General Education Calculus as the Math GECC requirement (see Gen Ed plan below).
Biological Sciences IAI GECC Recommendations (Minimum 37 semester credits)
These are the specific courses in the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC) that should be taken for this emphasis.
Communication: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select a two-course sequence in writing (6 semester credits) with a grade of "C" or better and, Select 1 course in oral communication (3 semester credits).
Mathematics: 1 course (3 semester credits)
Select M1 900-1 - General Education Calculus
Physical and Life Sciences: 2 courses (7-8 semester credits)
Select CHEM 911 - Chemistry I as Physical Sciences with Lab. This course fulfills the IAI GECC Physical Sciences requirement.
Select the first course in the BIO 910 - Biology as Life Sciences with Lab. This course fulfills the IAI GECC Life Sciences requirement. (See the major recommendations above for information on these 2 courses).
Humanities and Fine Arts: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select 1 course from Humanities, Select 1 course from Fine Arts and Select 1 from either Humanities or Fine Arts. - Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select 3 courses from at least 2 different disciplines (e.g., no more than 2 courses from, for example, psychology). - Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
Check the worksheet to see what courses you can take to fulfill your general education requirements. The worksheet allows you to see what courses to take to fulfill the IAI Gen. Ed. package (Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum) at any participating college or university in the State. You will find it helpful to use the major recommended general education courses shown above. You may want to print or copy a hard copy of this page.
Return to the Illinois Baccalaureate Majors' Recommendations (IAI Majors).