Overview
The biology program at North Greenville University provides an intellectually stimulating and comprehensive experience that prepares students to explore the complexities of life and the beauty of God’s creation. Through rigorous coursework, hands-on laboratory experience, and committed faculty mentorship, students are trained to become critical thinkers, effective communicators, and leaders equipped to make meaningful contributions to church and society, whether in health, research, education, industry, or public policy. Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in biology leave with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, veterinary, agricultural, ecology, academia, secondary education, and other professional and graduate schools. Many of our graduates are employed in medical settings, industry (pharmaceutical, hospitals, clinics, and others), government agencies, environmental consulting firms, as well as education.
The biology major offers three concentrations, allowing students to customize their learning experience and design a course of study based on their interests and career goals.
- The pre-professional concentration is designed for students who are interested in furthering their education in professional schools (medical, dental, veterinarian, etc.) or graduate research.
- The animal and environmental concentration prepares students for careers or graduate studies in wildlife, natural resource management, environmental policy, and animal science.
- The biology concentration is for students who want to pursue employment that may not require further graduate education, or who are considering our dual-degree transfer agreements in nursing, chiropractic, or pharmacy.
In addition to the standard requirements set by the university, students must meet the following grade minimums to graduate with a biology major: overall 2.5 GPA in BIOL courses and a C or higher (in each, not average) in BIOL-1410 and BIOL-1470, CHEM-1450 and CHEM-1460, ENGL-1310 and ENGL-1320, and the biology capstone course BIOL-4200.
Biology majors who are interested in earning a second degree from one of the partner schools above (in addition to the BS from NGU) should select the Biology Concentration. The Biology Concentration allows students to choose the prerequisite requirements for the articulation agreement. Dual-degree programs are designed to allow biology majors who are on or ahead of schedule to transfer to the partner institution after three years at NGU. The student then transfers credits back to NGU from the first year of coursework at the partner institution to total the 126 credits required for the BS in biology from NGU. After matriculation to the partner institution and successful completion of the first year of coursework, students must send transcripts to NGU and successfully apply for graduation from NGU to commence in the semester of their choosing.
Degree Requirements
Core Curriculum
Required Courses
Communication
Choose one course from the list below.
Literature
Choose one course from the list below.
Fine Arts
Choose one course from the list below.
Civic Awareness
Choose one course from the list below.
Mathematics
Choose one course from the list below.
Major Requirements
Pre-Professional Concentration Requirements
Biology Electives
Choose two hours from the list below.
BIOL-4395: Variable credits 1-3, can be completed multiple times.
BIOL-4530: 1 credit, can be completed multiple times.
Animal and Environmental Concentration Requirements
Biology Electives
Choose four hours from the list below.
BIOL-4530: 1 credit, can be completed multiple times.
Biology Internship Option
Choose one course from the list below.
| BIOL-4390 | Internship in Environmental Science | 3 |
| BIOL-4400 | Au Sable Institute Environmental Topics | 1-4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42 |
Biology Concentration Requirements
Biology Electives
Choose 28 hours from the list below. Hours can be met by courses from various articulation agreements (ANAT, PAPH, PHCH, NURS, or PRX).
BIOL-4530: 1 credit, can be completed multiple times.
Biology Group Options
Complete all requirements in one group, shown below.
Group 1
Group 2
| CHEM-2480 | Principles of Organic and Biochemistry | 4 |
| CHEM-2481 | Principles of Organic and Biochemistry Lab | 0 |
| BIOL-2470 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL-2471 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 0 |
| BIOL-2480 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOL-2481 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 0 |
Group 3
Group 4
Special Topics, Internship, or Project
Choose two hours from the list below.
BIOL-4395: Variable credits 1-3, can be completed multiple times.
BIOL-4530: 1 credit, can be completed multiple times.
| Total Free Elective Requirements |
12 |
| Total Degree Requirements |
126 |
Mary Black School of Nursing Articulation Agreement
Mary Black School of Nursing at USC Upstate agrees to accept up to eight suitably qualified and duly enrolled, full-time students annually from North Greenville University (NGU) who satisfy all of the agreed criteria. The admission of these candidates shall occur on a non-competitive basis with respect to the applicant pool as a whole.
Qualified students, meeting all admissions criteria as described in the Mary Black academic catalog and identified by NGU, are invited to apply in their junior year. NGU will provide a ranked list of up to eight students to be considered under the agreement prior to October 1st for August start date and March 1st for January. Identified students with completed applications will be guaranteed acceptance, conditional on final completion of any prerequisites, CPR certifications, immunizations and a positive recommendation from the Dean of Humanities and Sciences at NGU.
Students from NGU seeking admission to Mary Black under the terms of this agreement must satisfy all of the preadmission requirements listed below.
- Submit a completed application. If student plans to begin the program in August, a completed application must be submitted between October 1st and December 1st of the previous fall for guaranteed acceptance. If the student plans to begin the program in January, a completed application must be submitted between March 1st and May 1st of the previous spring for guaranteed acceptance. The application is considered complete once all the steps of the online application process on the Mary Black School of Nursing website have been completed. The application fee will be waived under this agreement.
- Meet minimum cumulative grade point average requirement. To be eligible to apply for admission under the terms of this agreement, a student must maintain a 3.0/4.0 or higher cumulative grade point average at the time of application and have a GPA of 2.5 on at least three of the required sciences. One class may be repeated one time.
- Clinical hours. Must complete the program requirements for clinical hours.
Admission is conditional, and applicants may not matriculate until they have completed the following:
- Meet minimum cumulative grade point average requirement. To matriculate as a student under the terms of this agreement, the student must have maintained a cumulative overall grade point average of 3.0 and no grade below a C for courses listed in the prerequisite coursework.
- Complete all required prerequisite courses. The required prerequisite courses (as listed in the Mary Black catalog) must be completed and must reflect a grade of C or higher.
- Technical standards. Candidate must be able to affirm that (s)he understands and meets the published “Technical Standards” stipulated for matriculation to Mary Black.
Students interested in this articulation agreement must be sure to complete the following courses as part of the concentration requirements for the BS in biology at NGU:
Required
Gregory School of Pharmacy Articulation Agreement
Students enrolled in a BS degree in biology at North Greenville University (NGU) who wish to prepare for a career in pharmacy may, upon completion of an approved three-year dual education curriculum, transfer to Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBAU) to complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in biology from NGU and a Pharm.D. degree in pharmacy from the Gregory School of Pharmacy (GSOP), if they satisfy all of the criteria outlined below. GSOP and NGU recommend a program of study at NGU that includes the core curriculum courses required by NGU. Additionally, courses are recommended that will facilitate timely progress toward this dual degree.
Students entering NGU as freshman will complete core requirements for the BS in biology to include the prerequisites for admission to the PBAU’s GSOP. They will matriculate to PBAU and, after successfully completing their first two semesters at the GSOP, be eligible for their BS degree from NGU in biology. After successfully completing their final semester at PBAU, they will receive a Pharm. D. in pharmacy from GSOP. Only courses with a C or higher from GSOP will transfer to NGU. Students must have successfully completed all identified courses in the first two semesters at the GSOP.
Palm Beach Atlantic University Gregory School of Pharmacy will guarantee admission of five (up to eight) students of North Greenville University who meet the provisions listed below. The admission of these candidates shall occur on a non-competitive basis with respect to the applicant pool as a whole.
- Students must have successfully completed the prescribed curriculum of the BS in biology.
- Students must have met the minimum C grade requirement in all required courses. No grade below a C for courses listed in the prerequisite coursework at the time of completion of their 3rd year from NGU will be accepted into the GSOP.
- Students must have earned a minimum 3.0/4.0 cumulative grade point average.
- Students must have earned a grade point average of 3.0 in the required science prerequisites.
- Qualified students, meeting all admissions criteria as described in the current academic catalog of GSOP and identified by NGU, are invited to apply in their junior year.
- NGU will provide a ranked list of qualified applicants for the positions to be considered under this agreement prior to December 1.
- Identified students with completed applications will be guaranteed acceptance, conditional on final and successful completion of all prerequisites and an admissions interview.
Students interested in this articulation agreement must be sure to complete MATH-1410 Calculus One (instead of or in addition to MATH-1335) as well as the following courses as part of the concentration requirements for the BS in biology at NGU:
Required
Sherman College of Chiropractic Articulation Agreement
Sherman College agrees to accept annually up to five suitably qualified and duly enrolled, full-time students from North Greenville University (NGU) who satisfy all of the admission criteria. The admission of these candidates shall occur on a non-competitive basis with respect to the applicant pool as a whole.
For students interested in early acceptance, the NGU advisor will notify Sherman College of qualified students at the end of their sophomore year that meet the admissions requirements. Admissions requirements as described in the Sherman College academic catalog must be completed. Additionally, a letter of recommendation from the Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, transcripts showing four semesters of coursework, and a plan for completing requirements in their junior year are required. Pending receipt of all available materials, “Provisional Acceptance” is given late spring/early summer preceding the general admissions cycle. If the student accepts the offer, a non-refundable deposit of $500 will be required at that time to hold a seat at Sherman College.
Qualified students, meeting all admissions criteria as described in the Sherman College academic catalog and identified by NGU, are also invited to apply in their junior year under this Agreement by May 1st. NGU will provide a ranked list of up to five students to be considered under this Agreement prior to July 1st. If the top five candidates fail to perform successfully during the interview, Sherman College will consider candidates ranked six and above until five acceptable candidates have been identified for admission using the aforementioned criteria. Identified students with completed applications will be guaranteed early acceptance, conditional on completion of any outstanding coursework at NGU. If the student accepts the offer, a nonrefundable deposit of $500 will be required at that time to hold a seat at Sherman.
Students from NGU seeking admission to Sherman College must satisfy all of the preadmission requirements listed below.
- A completed application must be submitted on or before May 1st for guaranteed acceptance and March 1st for early acceptance. This application shall include elements as outlined on the admissions page of the Sherman academic catalog, including but not limited to completed application form, recommendation forms, official transcripts, observation hours documented (if requested) and essays. The application fee will be waived under this agreement.
- Meet minimum cumulative grade point average requirement. To be eligible to apply for admission under the terms of this agreement, a student must maintain a 3.0/4.0 or higher cumulative grade point average at the time of application and have no grade below a C for courses listed in the prerequisite coursework described in the Sherman academic catalog.
- Recommendation. A letter of recommendation from the Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences at NGU is required. This will help identify students that are requesting admission through the terms of this agreement.
- Observation hours. Must complete the program requirements for observation hours.
Admission is conditional, and applicants may not matriculate until they have completed the following:
- To matriculate as a student under the terms of this agreement, the student must have maintained a cumulative overall grade point average of 3.0 and no grade below a C for courses listed in the prerequisite coursework at the time of graduation from NGU.
- Complete all required pre-requisite courses. The required prerequisite courses (as listed in the Sherman catalog) must be completed and must reflect a grade of C or higher.
- Candidate must be able to affirm that (s)he understands and meets the published technical standards stipulated for matriculation to Sherman.
Students interested in this articulation agreement must be sure to complete the following courses as part of the concentration requirements for the BS in biology at NGU:
Required
Mission Statement and Outcomes
Mission Statement
North Greenville University’s biology program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the living world as God's dynamic creation, equipping them to continue in science-based careers that require critical, independent thinking. By investigating living systems, from molecular to organismal and ecological in scale, students develop scientific inquiry and reasoning skills and learn to integrate a Christian worldview while preparing for their vocations, so that they can serve as stewards of creation in academic, professional, personal, and social settings.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Identify and explain biology core competencies (structure and function, evolution, metabolism and energy transfer, information flow, and biological systems).
- Apply content knowledge to design and conduct experiments.
- Organize, analyze, and interpret data.
- Evaluate, integrate, and communicate scientific information in oral and written form.
- Explore the integration of faith and scientific knowledge to articulate and defend their worldview.
Plan of Study
Freshman Year - Fall
-
| Freshman Year Experience | 1-2 |
| BIOL-1470 | Comparative Biology | 4 |
| CHEM-1450 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| ENGL-1310 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
-
| | |
| MATH-1310 | College Algebra | 3 |
-
| Or | |
| MATH-1335 | Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15-16 |
Freshman Year - Spring
| BIOL-1410 | Principles of Biology I | 4 |
| CHEM-1460 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| ENGL-1320 | Composition and Literature | 3 |
| MATH-1335 | Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry | 3 |
-
| Additional core curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Sophomore Year - Fall
| BIOL-3445 | Genetics | 4 |
-
| | |
| BIOL-2470 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
-
| Or | |
| BIOL-1450 | Environmental Science | 4 |
-
| | |
| CHEM-2450 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
-
| Additional core curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Sophomore Year - Spring
Junior Year - Fall
Junior Year - Spring
| PHYS-1420 | College Physics II | 4 |
-
| Additional core curriculum, concentration, or other credits | 12-13 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-17 |
Senior Year - Fall
| BIOL-4440 | Pathophysiology | 4 |
-
| Or | |
| BIOL-3300 | Creation, Faith, and Science | 3 |
-
| | |
| BIOL-4200 | Biology Senior Seminar | 2 |
-
| | |
| BIOL-3465 | Embryology | 4 |
-
| Or | |
| BIOL-4390 | Internship in Environmental Science | 3 |
-
| | |
-
| Additional core curriculum, concentration, or other credits | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14-16 |
Senior Year - Spring
| BIOL-3460 | Ecology | 4 |
-
| Or | |
| BIOL-3300 | Creation, Faith, and Science | 3 |
-
| | |
-
| Additional core curriculum, concentration, or other credits | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15-16 |