Integrative Biology
School Office: 286 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, (217) 333-3044
Students in Integrative Biology focus on the disciplines of genetics, physiology, behavior, ecology and evolution. In Integrative Biology, the emphasis is on bringing multiple disciplines to bear on complex scientific questions. From genomics to global change, Integrative Biology seeks to discover the complex interrelationships between organisms and the physical and biological environment in which they live. This major prepares students for careers in medicine and the health professions, research, organisms, and the environment. The School of Integrative Biology also sponsors two minors. The Minor in Integrative Biology is designed for students intending to have a career for which a background in integrative biology is complementary, e.g. law, technology, bioinformatics, business, scientific writing, and engineering. The Minor in Ecology and Conservation Biology prepares students for diverse careers, including environmental lawyer, environmental consultant, conservation technician, environmental educator, and environmental engineer.
Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum
Integrative Biology Concentration
E-mail: ibhonors@life.uiuc.edu
The Integrative Biology Concentration provides students with a solid preparation
in genetics and evolution, anatomy and physiology, ecology and molecular biology. After completion
of the core 100- and four 200-300-level core courses in IB, students may complete
the required advanced coursework by taking a variety of IB and other
courses or focus on a limited area of IB. Plans for the student's
combination of advanced courses are developed in consultation with
an adviser.
All undergraduates in this field are required to have a strong background
in the biological and physical sciences. Students who do not begin
mathematics, chemistry, and biology in their freshman year generally
will be at a disadvantage.
Students pursuing a degree in Integrative Biology will be allowed
to earn a second degree in the Specialized Curriculum in Biochemistry.
Students pursuing a degree in Integrative Biology will not be allowed
to double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum Required Courses normally equate to 67-76 hours.
General Education: Students must complete the Campus
General Education requirements.
Minimum Hours Required for Graduation: 120 hours
Integrative Biology Distinction: To be eligible for distinction a student must graduate with a grade-point average of at least 3.25 and submit a report of an independent student project (IB 490) about one month prior to graduation for approval by the Integrative Biology Distinction Committee.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4-5 | MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I |
| 3 | Statistics (an approved introductory statistics course) |
| 8-10 | Select one group of courses: |
CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I and |
|
| 5-6 | Select one group of courses: |
|
|
| 8-10 | Select one group of courses: |
|
|
| 4 | IB 150 - Organismal & Evolutionary Biol |
| 4 | MCB 150 - Molec & Cellular Basis of Life |
| 4 | IB 202 - Anatomy and Physiology1 |
| 4 | IB 203 - Ecology |
| 4 | IB 204-Genetics |
| 4 | IB 302-Evolution1 |
| 14-18 | At least four additional courses at the 200- to 400-level are required as follows: |
| At least one course in each of two of the following three areas: Area I: Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Area II: Behavior, Ecology, and the Environment Area III: Integrative Anatomy, Physiology, and Molecular Biology |
|
| One course chosen from either the Area Courses or the Approved List of Additional IB Courses | |
| One course from the Area Courses, the Approved List of Additional IB Courses, or MCB 244, or MCB 250. (NOTE: MCB 244, and MCB 250 DO NOT count towards the 21 advanced hours required by LAS). | |
| One of the four courses selected above must have a laboratory and/or field component. |
Integrative Biology Honors Concentration
Integrative Biology Honors is designed for superior students wishing to pursue an intensive program in integrative biology and, concurrently, to gain a strong background in the physical sciences and mathematics. Admission is by interview in spring of the freshman year prior to registration for fall. An overall 3.0 GPA is required to apply for admission. Integrative Biology Honors provides preparation suitable for graduate and professional training in biology, as well as for biology careers in the private and public sectors.
E-mail: ibhonors@life.illinois.edu
Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required courses normally equate to 82-89 hours including 25 hours of 300- and 400-level courses.
Students earning the Integrative Biology Honors Concentration will automatically complete the Chemistry minor.
Students pursuing a degree in Integrative Biology Honors will be allowed to earn a second degree in the Specialized Curriculum in Biochemistry. Students pursuing a degree in Integrative Biology Honors will not be allowed to double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction: In addition to the above requirements, candidates for distinction must:
1. Consult with an IB Honors adviser no later than the beginning of their junior year to discuss their proposed research plan.
2. Present an acceptable written report on the research to the Integrative Biology Distinction Committee about a month prior to graduation. The research must have been an in-depth experience and produced substantial results to be considered eligible for distinction. Additional details on requirements, procedures, and deadlines are available at sib.illinois.edu.
Students must consult with their Integrative Biology honors adviser at least once each semester.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | IB 150 - Organismal and Evolutionary Biol |
| 4 | MCB 150 - Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life |
| 5 | IB 270 - Evolution of Molecules and Cells |
| 5 | IB 271 - Organismal Biology |
| 5 | IB 372 - Ecology and Evolution1 |
| 11-12 |
MATH 220 - Calculus, or MATH 221 - Calculus I, and MATH 231 - Calculus II, and MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 14-16 | Select one group of courses: |
CHEM 202 - Accelerated Chemistry I and |
|
| 3 | MCB 450 - Introductory Biochemistry, and |
| 4 | BIOC 455 - Technqs Biochem & Biotech |
| 8-12 | Select one group of courses |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - Univ Physics, Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - Univ Physics, Elec & Mag |
| Or | |
| PHYS 101 - College Physics, Mech & Heat, and | |
| PHYS 102 - College Physics, Elec & mag & Modern, and | |
| One 400-level course in biological or earth systems modeling3 | |
| 3 | An approved 300- or 400- level course in statistics4 |
| 6 | IB 490 - Independent Research (2 semesters) |
| 10 | 300- or 400- level courses in the biological sciences |
Twelve hours 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.
No more than 8 hours of credit in 100-level courses in SIB or SMCB may be counted toward graduation.
Students may count toward graduation no more than a combined maximum of 10 hours of IB 390 and IB 490 credit offered for independent study.
Substitutions or other changes in the requirements given above may be made only by petition to and approval of the director of the Integrative Biology Honors Concentration.
1. Continuation in the Integrative Biology Honors Concentration requires a grade of B or better in each of IB 270, 271, and 372 and a 3.0 GPA.
2. Introductory chemistry should be completed prior to enrolling in IB 270.
3. Current suitable courses are aTMS 421 or ANSC 448.
4. MATH 461/STAT 451 or STAT 400 are recommended, as is additional training in statistics. Suitable courses for those taking more than one course are CPSC 440 and MATH 464/STAT 410.
Minor in Integrative Biology
The minor, administered by the School of Integrative Biology, is designed for students intending to have a career in a field other than biology, but for whom a background in biology is nevertheless complementary, e.g. law, technology, bioinformatics, business, scientific writing, and engineering. A minor in integrative biology provides an understanding of fundamental principles for one major subdiscipline of biology, whether this be organismal and evolutionary biology; behavior, ecology and the environment; or integrative anatomy, physiology, and molecular biology.
Students must contact an SIB advisor for acceptance into the minor.
Web address for School advising information: http://sib.illinois.edu/advising/minors/index.html.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | One of the following: |
IB 150 - Organismal and Evolutionary Biology or |
|
| 7-8 | Two of the following: |
|
|
| 6-8 | Two additional courses at the 300 or 400 level (3-4 hours, some 5 hours) These courses to be selectred from SIB Area Courses or Approved List of Additional Courses for the IB Major. The prerequisite course(s) must be taken if specified by an advanced course. |
| 17-20 | Total Hours |
Other possible combinations of courses are possible for the Integrative Biology minor, if an SIB advisor approves the combination.
Minor in Ecology and Conservation Biology
The minor, administered by the School of Integrative Biology, is designed for students interested in gaining strength in this subdiscipline of biology. Preparation for many careers is advanced by coursework in ecology and conservation, e.g. environmental lawyer, environmental consultant, conservation technician, environmental educator, and environmental engineer.
Students must contact an SIB advisor for acceptance into the minor.
Web address for School advising information: http://sib.illinois.edu/advising/minors/index.html.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | IB 150 - Organismal and Evolutionary Biology |
| 4 | IB 203 - Ecology |
| 4 | IB 204 - Genetics |
| 6-8 | Two additional courses from the following courses: |
|
|
| 18-20 | Total Hours |