2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/integrative-biology-bslas/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Integrative Biology
In the School of Integrative Biology (SIB), students receive interdisciplinary training to prepare them for 21st-century scientific roles. We occupy a unique position on campus. Our majors explore how scales of life interact, from molecules through global cycles, to solve grand challenges such as addressing global change, improving human health, mitigating biodiversity loss, and contributing to ecosystem restoration and sustainable food and biofuel production. The SIB community collaborates extensively on both research and teaching, leading to multi-disciplinary courses grounded in active learning and highly transferable, higher-order processing skills such as application, interpretation, and evaluation. Students build laboratory skills spanning from tall grass prairie restoration to modern genome-editing techniques. The IB curriculum includes preparation in genomics and evolution; comparative anatomy, physiology, and development; ecology and behavior; phylogenetic systematics and molecular biology; and mathematical modeling and informatics. Graduates are well-equipped for a broad range of careers in fields including healthcare, biotechnology, genetic counseling, wildlife management, and environmental sciences.
For students interested in the 5-year, combined BSLAS & MS in Integrative Biology program visit the Integrative Biology, BSLAS-MS catalog page.
For students interested in adding educational licensure to the BSLAS in Integrative Biology, visit the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching catalog page.
Students pursuing a degree in Integrative Biology will not be allowed to double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Distinction for Excellence in Research
Students are eligible for graduation at the following levels: Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction. Distinction will be determined by the SIB Distinction Committee and the level of Distinction will be based on the information below. To be eligible for graduation with Distinction for Excellence in Research a student must:
- Be enrolled as an Integrative Biology or Integrative Biology Honors major
- Have a completed distinction evaluation form submitted by their Faculty Research Advisor
- To be eligible for Distinction, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA within the major at the end of the penultimate semester. Students must also give a poster presentation at the SIB Distinction Symposium or other approved venue.
- To be eligible for High or Highest Distinction, students must maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA within the major at the end of the penultimate semester. Students must also submit a written thesis and give an oral presentation at the SIB Distinction Symposium or other approved venue.
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Finally, all students regardless of Distinction level must either:
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Complete two or more semesters of IB 390/IB 490 for 2-credit hours or more each semester. The student should enroll in IB 490 the semester they intend to graduate, which counts towards the two required semesters.
OR 2. Complete at least 180 hours of mentored research. The research experience must last a minimum of 20 weeks (the weeks need not be consecutive and summer research counts toward this total) and students should enroll in one semester of IB 490 for a minimum of 1-credit hour prior to or during the semester they intend to graduate. Example: a student could be eligible if they complete a 10-week summer research experience combined with enrolling in IB 490 the following spring semester, the same term they intend to graduate.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Integrative Biology
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to to 66-75 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | fulfilled by IB 203 | | | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by CHEM 102 and CHEM 104, or CHEM 202 and CHEM 204; PHYS 101 and PHYS 102, or PHYS 211 and PHYS 212; IB 150, MCB 150 | | | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | fulfilled by MATH 220 or MATH 221; STAT 212; PHYS 101 and PHYS 102, or PHYS 211 and PHYS 212 | | | | Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | | 0-20 |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Orientation and Professional Development | | | | LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 | | OR | | | | LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 | | OR | | | | LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 | | Total Hours | | 1 or 3 |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Major Core Requirements and Electives | | | | IB 150 | Organismal & Evolutionary Biol | 4 | | MCB 150 | Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life | 4 | | MATH 220 | Calculus (sections that start with 'X' are strongly recommended) | 4-5 | | or MATH 221 | Calculus I | | | Select one group of courses: | | 8-10 | | CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | | | CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | | | CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II | | | CHEM 105 | General Chemistry Lab II | | | or | | | | CHEM 202 | Accelerated Chemistry I | | | CHEM 203 | Accelerated Chemistry Lab I | | | CHEM 204 | Accelerated Chemistry II | | | CHEM 205 | Accelerated Chemistry Lab II | | | Select one group of courses: | | 5-6 | | CHEM 232 & CHEM 233 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I and Elementary Organic Chem Lab I | | | CHEM 236 & CHEM 237 | Fundamental Organic Chem I and Structure and Synthesis | | | Select one group of courses: | | 8-10 | | PHYS 101 & PHYS 102 | College Physics: Mech & Heat and College Physics: E&M & Modern | | | PHYS 211 & PHYS 212 | University Physics: Mechanics and University Physics: Elec & Mag | | | Note: An optional IB Honors concentration may be elected, please talk to an advisor. Students who do not elect an optional concentration are required to take the IB major coursework below. | | | | STAT 212 | Biostatistics | 3 | | IB 202 | Physiology (IB 202 requires animal dissection and no equivalent alternative is available. IB majors are required to enroll in the 4-hour version of this course.) | 4 | | IB 203 | Ecology | 4 | | IB 204 | Genetics | 4 | | IB 302 | Evolution | 4 | | Advanced Free Elective (300- or 400-level course from IB or any other unit on campus) | | 3 | | Integrative Biology Advanced Area Courses | | 15-20 | | At least two courses from the following areas. At least one course must be a lab and the courses must be in different areas. | | | | Area I: Organismal and Evolutionary Biology | | | | IB 360 | Evolution and Human Health | | | IB 362 | Marine Biology | | | IB 368 | Vertebrate Natural History (lab) | | | IB 401 | Introduction to Entomology (lab) | | | IB 407 | Plant Diversity and Evolution (lab) | | | IB 461 | Ornithology (lab) | | | IB 462 | Mammalogy (lab) | | | IB 463 | Ichthyology (lab) | | | IB 464 | Herpetology (lab) | | | IB 467 | Principles of Systematics (lab) | | | IB 468 | Insect Classification and Evol (lab) | | | IB 471 | Fungal Diversity and Ecology (lab) | | | Area II: Behavior, Ecology, and the Environment | | | | IB 329 | Animal Behavior | | | IB 361 | Ecology and Human Health | | | IB 405 | Evolution of Traits and Genomes | | | IB 430 | Animal Behavior Lab (lab) | | | IB 431 | Behavioral Ecology | | | IB 432 | Genes and Behavior | | | IB 439 | Biogeography | | | IB 440 | Plants and Global Change | | | IB 444 | Insect Ecology (lab) | | | IB 451 | Conservation Biology (lab) | | | IB 452 | Ecosystem Ecology | | | IB 453 | Community Ecology | | | IB 455 | Ecotoxicology and Human Health | | | IB 481 | Vector-borne Diseases (lab) | | | IB 482 | Insect Pest Management (lab) | | | IB 494 | Theoretical Biology + Models (lab) | | | Area III: Integrative Anatomy, Physiology, and Molecular Biology | | | | IB 303 | Anatomy (lab) | | | IB 364 | Genomics and Human Health | | | IB 411 | Bioinspiration | | | IB 420 | Plant Physiology | | | IB 421 | Photosynthesis | | | IB 426 | Env and Evol Physl of Animals | | | IB 433 | Insect Physiology | | | IB 435 | Critical Evaluation of Herbal Remedies | | | IB 438 | How Organisms Move (lab) | | | IB 460 | Evol of Intelligent Systems (lab) | | | IB 465 | Methods in Molecular Genetics and Genomics | | | Remaining courses to total 15 hours minimum may be selected from any of the area courses listed above or from the following list: | | | | IB 348 | Fish and Wildlife Ecology | | | IB 392 | Translating Your IB Degree Into Career Success | | | IB 416 | Population Genetics | | | IB 436 | Evolutionary Neuroscience | | | IB 442 | Evolution of Infectious Disease | | | IB 454 | Science Writing & Presentation | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 478 | Advanced Plant Genetics | | | IB 479 | Plant Growth and Development | | | IB 484 | Paleoclimatology | | | IB 490 | Independent Study (up to 2 hours may count toward this requirement) | | | IB 496 | Special Courses | | | IB 497 | Science Communication | | | IB 499 | Discussions in Integrative Biology | | | MCB 300 | Microbiology | | | MCB 314 | Introduction to Neurobiology | | | MCB 450 | Introductory Biochemistry | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Integrative Biology
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| LAS 101 | 1 |
| IB 150 | 4 |
| CHEM 102 or 202 | 3 |
| CHEM 103 or 203 | 1 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Composition I or MATH 220 (or MATH 221) | 4 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| MCB 150 | 4 |
| CHEM 104 or 204 | 3 |
| CHEM 105 or 205 | 1 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| MATH 220 (or MATH 221) or Composition I | 5 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| IB 203 | 4 |
| IB 204 | 4 |
| CHEM 232 or 236 | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| IB 202 | 4 |
| IB 302 | 4 |
| CHEM 233 or 237 | 2 |
| STAT 212 | 3 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours 13 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Advanced IB course | 3 |
| PHYS 101 or 211 | 5 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Advanced IB Course | 4 |
| PHYS 102 or 212 | 5 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Advanced IB Course | 4 |
| Advanced IB Course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Advanced IB Course | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours 13 |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Integrative Biology
By the time they graduate, an Integrative Biology major should be able to:
- Synthesize and apply core knowledge in Integrative Biology, including anatomy, development, ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and/or systematics.
- Apply predictive models to biological phenomena and engage with the process of scientific inquiry.
- Critically evaluate and communicate complex, dynamic scientific information.
- Employ curiosity, inquiry, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking in problem solving.
- Create solutions for global and local biological challenges using interdisciplinary strategies.
- Develop professional skills including ethics, proficiency in oral and written scientific communication, data analysis and interpretation, collaboration, and the ability to critically evaluate science-related news and information.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Integrative Biology
School of Integrative Biology
School of Integrative Biology website\ School of Integrative Biology faculty
Advising
SIB Advising website\ advising@sib.illinois.edu
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website
Admissions
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions