B.S. in Applied Biology
The Applied Biology program is flexible, offering 20 hours of open electives that allow students to tailor upper-division coursework to their academic interests and career goals.
All students complete a capstone project, internship, or research experience in biology or chemistry tailored to their individual interests. Projects may include biomedical or microbiological laboratory research, environmental monitoring and GIS-based analysis, or aviation sustainability. Internship and experiential learning opportunities are available with partners such as KP Aviation, The Boeing Company, the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, and Yavapai Regional Medical Center, as well as with state and regional agencies.
Tracks
Students may pursue focused study through either the Health Sciences track or the Environmental Sciences track.
The Health Sciences track supports pathways into medical school, physician assistant programs, and graduate study through advanced laboratory coursework and applied biomedical experience. The Environmental Sciences track emphasizes applied environmental analysis, GIS and remote sensing, and aviation sustainability, equipping students to address biological challenges related to infrastructure, regulatory systems, and environmental monitoring.
Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Explain core concepts in biological sciences.
- Apply mathematics, physics, chemistry, and basic biological sciences including genetics, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, and ecology at a foundational level.
- Assess the historical context of biological discoveries and biology's role in modern society.
- Explain the major tenets in a specific area of expertise.
- Refine career-related or post-graduate goals through internships or capstone experiences.
- Apply modern biological techniques to critically evaluate and synthesize information in biological sciences.
Prescott Program Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 39 | |
| Core Requirements | 45 | |
| Track | 27 | |
| Open Electives | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Program Details
The Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology program requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. The program may be completed in eight semesters, or four years, assuming appropriate background and full-time enrollment. Students pursuing this undergraduate degree must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.00 for all work completed at the University. The program includes two tracks, Health Sciences and Environmental Sciences, allowing students to pursue specialized coursework aligned with their academic and career interests. Students are also required to complete a capstone, internship, or research experience as part of the degree requirements. The courses necessary to earn this degree are listed below.
Students should be aware that many courses have prerequisites and/or corequisites. Students must earn a grade of C or better in core biology and chemistry courses to progress through the program.
General Education Requirements
| Communication | 9 | |
| English Composition | ||
| Humanities - Lower Level | 3 | |
| Social Sciences - Lower Level | 3 | |
| Humanities/Social Sciences - Lower or Upper Level | 3 | |
| Humanities/Social Sciences - Upper Level | 3 | |
| Values and Ethics | ||
| Computer Science/Information Technology | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 7 | |
| Calculus and Analytical Geometry I | ||
| Business Statistics | ||
| Physical/Life Sciences | 8 | |
| Introductory Physics I | ||
| Introductory Physics I Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Physics II | ||
| Introductory Physics II Laboratory | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Core Requirements
| BIOL 120 | Foundations of Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 120L | Foundations of Biology I Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 121 | Foundations of Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 121L | Foundations of Biology II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 215 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 215L | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 216 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 216L | Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 110L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 111L | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 210L | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 304 | Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | 1 |
| or CHEM 304 | Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | |
| BIOL 304 | Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | 1 |
| or CHEM 304 | Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | |
| BIOL 304 | Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | 1 |
| or CHEM 304 | Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | |
| BIOL 308 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 308L | Principles of Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 310 | Research | 3 |
| or BIOL 490 | Senior Seminar | |
| or COIN 396 | Co-Operative Education | |
| EVSC 142 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| or SOSC 210 | Introduction to Sociology | |
| UNIV 101 | College Success | 1 |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Tracks
Health Sciences Track
| Choose from the Following: | 27 | |
| Instrumental Analysis and Trace Evidence and Instrumental Analysis and Trace Evidence Laboratory | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | ||
| Molecular and Cell Biology and Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Principles of Human Pathophysiology | ||
| Exercise Physiology and Human Performance | ||
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Biochemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Quantitative Analytical Chemistry and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Toxicology and Toxicology Laboratory | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Physiological Psychology | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Environmental Sciences Track
| Choose from the Following: | 27 | |
| Quantitative Analytical Chemistry and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Natural History of the Region and Natural Hist of the Region Laboratory | ||
| Instrumental Analysis and Trace Evidence and Instrumental Analysis and Trace Evidence Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Consulting | ||
| Wildlife and Airports | ||
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Biochemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Quantitative Analytical Chemistry and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Toxicology and Toxicology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing with GIS | ||
| Lidar Processing with GIS | ||
| Uncrewed Aircraft Systems | ||
| sUAS Flight and Mission Planning | ||
| Global Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Regulations | ||
| Uncrewed Sensing Systems | ||
| Data Science I: Introduction | ||
| Data Science II: Foundations | ||
| Data Acquisition and Manipulation | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Statistical Software | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology | ||
| Survey of Meteorology Laboratory | ||
| Applied Climatology | ||
| Weather Information Systems | ||
| Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere | ||
| Dynamics of the Atmosphere | ||
| All Hazards Support, Modeling and Mapping | ||
| Fundamentals of Computer Programming | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Introduction to Computer Forensics | ||
| Database Systems and Data Mining | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Open Electives
| Open Electives | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
Year One
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL 120 - Foundations of Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 120L - Foundations of Biology I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 110 - General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 110L - General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| COMM 122 - English Composition | 3 |
| MATH 241 - Calculus and Analytical Geometry I | 4 |
| UNIV 101 - College Success | 1 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL 121 - Foundations of Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 121L - Foundations of Biology II Laboratory | 1 |
| EVSC 142 - Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| CHEM 111 - General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 111L - General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| Humanities - Lower Level | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
Total Credits
Total Hours for All Requirements: 30
Year Two
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL 215 - Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 215L - Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 210 - Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 210L - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| Communication | 3 |
| Social Sciences - Lower Level | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL 216 - Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 216L - Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 304 - Critical Reading and Scientific Communication or CHEM 304 - Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | 1 |
| STAT 222 - Business Statistics | 3 |
| PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or SOSC 210 - Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Communication | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
Total Credits
Total Hours for All Requirements: 28
Year Three
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL 308 - Principles of Ecology and BIOL 308L - Principles of Ecology Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 113 - Introductory Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 113L - Introductory Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| Computer Science/Information Technology | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| PHYS 117 - Introductory Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 117L - Introductory Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 304 - Critical Reading and Scientific Communication or CHEM 304 - Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | 1 |
| Humanities/Social Sciences - Lower or Upper Level | 3 |
| Specified Elective | 4 |
| Specified Elective | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL 490 - Senior Seminar, COIN 396 - Co-Operative Education, or BIOL 310 - Research | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 3 |
Total Credits
Total Hours for All Requirements: 33
Year Four
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL 304 - Critical Reading and Scientific Communication or CHEM 304 - Critical Reading and Scientific Communication | 1 |
| HUMN 330 - Values and Ethics | 3 |
| Specified Elective | 4 |
| Specified Elective | 3 |
| Specified Elective | 3 |
| Specified Elective | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 |
| Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Open Elective | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
| Specified Elective | 3 |
| Specified Elective | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 12 |
Total Credits
Total Hours for All Requirements: 29