The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's ecology and evolutionary biology bachelor's degree provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.
The Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of undergraduate course descriptions is available.
Year One
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UN 1015 Composition | 3 | |
| MA 1135 Calculus for Life Sciences | Yes | 4 |
| BL 1100 Gen Bio I | 3 | |
| BL 1110 Gen Bio I Lab | Co-Req | 1 |
| CH 1150 University Chemistry I | Yes | 3 |
| CH 1151 University Chemistry I lab | Yes | 1 |
| Essential Education: Michigan Tech Seminar BL 1580 | 1 | |
| Total | 16 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: Foundations of the Human World | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Essential Education: Arts and Culture | 3 | |
| BL 1200 Gen Bio II | 3 | |
| BL 1210 Gen Bio II Lab | Co-Req | 1 |
| CH 1160 University Chemistry II | Yes | 3 |
| CH 1161 University Chemistry II Lab | Yes | 1 |
| Total | 15 |
Year Two
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BL 2003 Field Experience | Yes | 1 |
| BL 3490 Principles of Ecology and evolution | Yes | 4 |
| *Organismal Biology Elective | Yes | 4 |
| **Related Science and Math elective | Yes | 3-4 |
| Essential Education: Comm and Comp | 3 | |
| Total | 16 |
*Choose 2 options from Botany, Zoology , Environmental Microbiology (Spring only) and Fish Biology (Fall only)
**Choose from Organic Chem, Intro to programming, Physics or Calculus II.
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: Intercultural Competency | 3 | |
| BL 3003 Data Interpretation and Critical Analysis | Yes | 1 |
| *Organismal Biology Elective 3-4 | 3-4 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| BL 2200 Genetics | Yes | 3 |
| BL 2210 Genetics Lab | Yes | 1 |
| MA 3715 Biostatistics | Yes | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
Year Three
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Social Ecology Elective | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 4 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Essential Education: SHAPE | 3 | |
| Total | 14 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: Experience | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
Year Four
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| BL 3782 Writing Practicum | 2 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 14 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BL 4600 Prof | Yes | 1 |
| BL Exp Learning Capstone | 5 | |
| Major elective | 4 | |
| Major elective | 4 | |
| Total | 14 |
Grand Total = 120 Credits
Essential Education Requirements (24 total credits)
Required courses are:
- Essential Ed Seminar (UN 1013 or UN 2013, 1 credit),
- Composition (UN 1015-3 credits),
- a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
- a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
- an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
- an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
- an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
- and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.
For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.
Additional Notes
- Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent
course.
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
- Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned 60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
- Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult with your advisor)
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score, the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
- Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).
This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.
For 2025-2026. Revised Summer 2025.