Accelerated B.S. Biology, Integrative Organismal Biology Concentration

Accelerated BS to MS Program

Students accepted into an accelerated undergraduate program may take departmentally approved graduate coursework as part of their undergraduate curriculum.  These credits will count towards both their bachelor's and master's degrees and can fulfill major requirements, upper-division requirements, and/or free electives.  For details on accelerated programs at Idaho State University, please see (Degree Requirements). 

Once accepted into an accelerated degree program, it is strongly recommended for students to stay in close communication with their advisor regarding pursuit of acceptance into the Graduate School and the master's degree program at Idaho State University. Acceptance into an accelerated program during the bachelor's degree program is the first step in the admissions process. A separate application to the Graduate School is necessary for all accelerated programs. For more information regarding application and admission to the Graduate School at Idaho State University, please see the Graduate Admissions section of the graduate catalog (http://coursecat.isu.edu/graduate/graduateadmissions/).

Biology Accelerated Criteria

This accelerated program gives outstanding bachelor’s degree students in Biology  a “fast-track” option to pursue their Master of Science in Biology degree.

Students accepted into the accelerated program may take up to 8 credit hours of 5000 level courses during the last two semesters of their bachelor’s program that will apply to both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements.  Students have to meet all requirements for both the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.

Additional requirements for students in this program are:

  • Students need to identify a suitable advisor for their MS program (see  https://www.isu.edu/biology/degree-programs/graduate-degrees/ms-biology/).

  • Students must earn at least a “B” (3.0) in each graduate-level course counted for the program.

Eligibility for this program:

  • Completion of at least 70 undergraduate credits applicable to the Bachelor of Science in Biology program at the time of application.

  • Overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.

Students who wish to enroll in this program should submit an application no later than the end of the second semester of their junior year.  Applicants are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test.

Meeting these eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the accelerated master’s degree programs.

Program Admissions Requirements

There are no program admission requirements for the BS in Biology, Integrative Organismal Biology concentration.

General Education

The listing below includes program requirements that also fulfill General Education requirements.

Objective 16
Objective 23
Objective 3 - MATH 1160 or MATH 11703
Objective 46
Objective 5 - BIOL 1101, BIOL 1101L, PHYS 11117
Objective 66
Students must fulfill Objective 7 or Objective 83
Objective 7
Objective 8
Objective 93
Total Credits37

 Major Requirements

BIOL 1101
1101L
Biology I
and Biology I Lab (Partially Satisfies General Education Objective 5)
4
BIOL 1102
1102L
Biology II
and Biology II Lab
4
BIOL 1191Wonder about Biology1
BIOL 2206
BIOL 2207
Cell Biology
and Cell Biology Laboratory 1
4
BIOL 2209
2209L
General Ecology
and General Ecology Laboratory
4
BIOL 3316Biometry Laboratory1
BIOL 3358Genetics3
BIOL 4417Organic Evolution3
BIOL 4491Seminar1
or BIOL 4492 Seminar
MATH 1160Survey of Calculus (Satisfies General Education Objective 3)3-4
or MATH 1170 Calculus I
MATH 3350Statistical Methods3
CHEM 1111
1111L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
5
CHEM 1112
1112L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
4
CHEM 3301
CHEM 3303
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
4
PHYS 1111
PHYS 1113
General Physics I
and General Physics I Laboratory (Partially Satisfies General Education Objective 5)
4
Select two of the following:7
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
General Physics II
and General Physics II Laboratory
Biochemistry
Integrative Organismal Biology Requirements
Anatomy, Physiology and Development (a minimum of 10 credits) *10
Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab
Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 2
and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab
Principles of Animal Physiology
and Principles of Animal Physiology Lab
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
and Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Lab
Developmental Biology
and Developmental Biology Lab
Plant Physiology
Plant Physiology Lab
General Parasitology
Microbial Physiology
Microbial Physiology Laboratory
Endocrinology
Psychopathology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Behavioral Neuroscience I
Learning and Behavior
Diversity or Evolutionary Courses - (a minimum of 7 credits) *7
Fall Flora
Spring Flora
General Parasitology
Herpetology
Herpetology Lab
Ichthyology
Ichthyology Lab
General Entomology
General Entomology Lab
Microbial Diversity
Microbial Diversity Lab
Vertebrate Paleontology
Ornithology
Mammalogy
Mammalogy Lab
Animal Behavior
Biology Electives - (a minimum of 7 credits)7
Any upper division BIOL course
Independent Problems
Independent Problems
Mentored Research Alliance
Total Credits79-80
1

BIOL 2233, BIOL 2233L, Principles of Microbiology and Lab, may substitute for BIOL 2206, BIOL 2207 in the ECB and IOB concentrations

*

at least one lab course

 Degree Totals

Program Admission Requirements0
General Education37
Major Requirements (Required General Education credits removed.)69
Upper Division Free Electives0
Free Electives14
Total Credits120

ISU Degree Requirements

ISU General Education

Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Master of Science in Biology