Bachelor of Science in Biology
PROGRAM MISSION
The Bachelor of Science in Biology degree at Diné College is a classic program of courses surveying a wide range of disciplines, including molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels of biology. It is designed to promote enhanced knowledge and appreciation of the students’ own life and life on earth, while also providing courses and training that will enable students to succeed in our program, develop a career path, pursue graduate studies, obtain employment and promotion in the workforce, and serve the Navajo Nation.
PROGRAM GOALS
BS Biology
1. Students will take the core discipline courses for biology to prepare them for a variety of relevant careers, or for further graduate work in biology or related areas.
2. Students will be able to integrate traditional Diné cultural knowledge with the western biological knowledge to improve their sense of self and career fulfillment.
3. Students will understand the importance of graduate work, research, and leadership, relevant to their advancement in the field of biology and knowledge in general.
4. Students will understand the biologically-related problems on the Navajo Nation and how they can help these issues improve through their career and graduate studies and research
PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
PSLO 1: Students will be able to recognize and describe the evolutionary and developmental relationships among structure, function, and processes at all biological levels
PSLO 2: Working on advanced course lab projects and research internships, students will solve problems, apply appropriate scientific methodologies, and quantitatively interpret results through oral and written communication capable of publication and conference oration.
PSLO 3: Students will integrate their understanding and experience and apply it to understand biological and ecological systems, and conservation of those systems.
PSLO 4: Students will use and integrate biological themes (evolution, developmental, ecological, conservational) into the Dine way of life, articulating their relationship and importance in presentations and scientific papers.
PSLO 5: Students will reflect on their competencies, progress within the biology major, and formulate a plan to advance their goals, personal and academic.
PROGRAM MATRIX
Program Outcomes for BS in Biology Majors | BIO 326 Ecology Junior Fall | BIO 365 Writing in Biology Junior Fall | BIO 340 Genetics Junior Spring | BIO 370 Vertebrate Zoology Junior Spring | BIO 344 Cell Biology Senior Fall | CHM 360 Bio-chemistry Senior Fall | BIO 435 Evolution Biology Senior Spring | BIO 498 Senior Seminar Senior Spring | BIO 499 Contem-porary Develop-ments Senior Spring |
Nitsáhákees – biological knowledge | |||||||||
Outcome # 1: Students will understand the unity of life and its sequential manifestations. |
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Measure #1: Atomic, Molecular, Cellular Levels |
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Measure #2: Organismal Level |
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Nahat’a – modes of inquiry | |||||||||
Outcome #2: Students will experience the unity of life from the perspectives of different modes of inquiry. |
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Measure #1: Field Work | Art5 |
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Measure #2: Indoor lab |
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Iiná – application of biological knowledge and inquiry | |||||||||
Outcome #3: Students will integrate their understanding and experience and apply it for the betterment of mankind. |
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Measure #1: Describe the impact of climate change on biological systems | Art6 |
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Outcome #4: Students will integrate western knowledge and Diné knowledge of life. |
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Measure #1: “Explain” the relationships between western levels of knowledge and Dine knowledge |
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Siihásin – evolution of knowledge and inquiry | |||||||||
Outcome # 5: Students will reflect on their competencies and progress within the biology major and formulate a plan to advance their goals, personal and academic. |
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Measure #1: Obtain a professional position or advance to graduate school |
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Measure #3: Show advancing abilities in understanding areas of biological interest |
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Art1 – paper/rubric
Art2 – lab report
Art4– pre/post test
Art5 – lab report/rubric
Art6 – paper—Climate change effects on the Navajo Nation
Art7 – lab report/rubric
Art8 – paper/rubric
Art9 – resume or cover letter or letter of employment
Art10 – paper/rubric
Art11– research paper, with writing rubric
2025 – 2026 Checklist
Bachelor of Science Degree
Biology (120 credits)
| General Education Requirements (40–41 hrs) | Credits | Upper Division Requirements (56–80 hrs) | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications ENG 101 College Composition I (3.0) ENG 102 College Composition II (3.0) | 6 | Junior Semester I Required: BIO 326 Ecology (4.0) Required: BIO 365 Writing in the Biological Sciences (3.0) CHM 235 General Organic Chemistry I (5.0) Organic sequence note: For the 2-semester organic sequence, take CHM 301 this semester. For the 1-semester organic course, take Optional Elect now, then CHM 230 in SPR. Optional Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Fall Biology Electives: Biology Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Biology Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Semester Range: 13–20 hrs | 13–20 |
| Humanities / Fine Arts (6 hrs) Choose two courses with different prefixes from: ARH 110; ARH 211; CW 208; ENG 231; ENG 233; FA 106; FA 115; FA 178; HUM 152; LIB 110 Course 1: __________ (3.0) Course 2: __________ (3.0) | 6 | Junior Semester II Required: BIO 370 Vertebrate Zoology (4.0) Required: BIO 340 General Genetics (3.0) CHM 230 Fundamental Organic Chemistry (4.0) CHM 236 General Organic Chemistry II (4.0) Organic minimum note: If taking 1-sem organic minimum required, take CHM 230; otherwise CHM 236. Spring Biology Electives: Biology Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Biology Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Semester Range: 15–20 hrs | 15–20 |
| Mathematics (4 hrs) MTH 110 College Algebra (4.0) | 4 | Senior Semester III Required: CHM 360 Fundamental Biochemistry (3.0) Required: BIO 344 Cellular and Molecular Biology (4.0) Required: BIO 205 Microbiology (4.0) Fall Biology Electives: Biology Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Biology Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Semester Range: 14–20 hrs | 14–20 |
| Navajo Studies (9–10 hrs) NAV 101/102/201/202/211 (3.0/4.0) NIS 111 Foundations of Navajo Culture (3.0) NIS 221 Navajo History to Present (3.0) | 9–10 | Senior Semester IV Required: BIO 435 Evolutionary Biology (3.0) Required: BIO 498 Senior Seminar I (1.0) Spring Biology Electives: Biology Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Biology Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Optional Electives: Optional Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Optional Elective: __________ (3.0/4.0) Semester Range: 14–20 hrs Upper Division Credits: 56–80 hrs | 14–20 |
| Laboratory Sciences (9 hrs minimum) BIO 181 General Biology I (4.0) CHM 151 General Chemistry I (5.0) | 9 | Advisor Signature: ____________________________ Completed all requirements for: AS – ____ / ____ / Conferred: ____________________________ | — |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hrs) 1 HST plus 1 additional course HST (101/102/135/136) (3.0) Additional course: __________ (3.0) | 6 | — |
Lower Division Requirements (24–28 hrs)
| Required | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 182 General Biology II | 4.0 |
| CHM 152 General Chemistry II | 4.0 |
| MTH 190 Pre-Calculus | 4.0 |
Lower Division Option Groups
| Select one or more courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| MTH 213 / PSY 213 Statistics | 4.0 |
| MTH 251 Calculus for Life Science and Business | 4.0 |
| MTH 191 Calculus I | 4.0 |
| Choose one 2-semester physics sequence | Credits |
|---|---|
| PHY 110 / PHY 111 Algebra-based Physics I & II | 4.0 / 4.0 |
| PHY 121 / PHY 131 Calculus-based Physics I & II | 4.0 / 4.0 |
BIO 201 A&P; BIO 385 Comparative Invertebrate Zoology; BIO 425 Animal Physiology;
BIO 450 Bioinformatics; BIO 495 Cancer Biology; BIO 485; AGR 323 Molds & Mushrooms
Spring Biology Elective Examples:
BIO 202 A&P; BIO 284 Plant Biology; BIO 351 Developmental Biology; BIO 320 Pathophysiology;
BIO 426 Plants & Climate; BIO 488 Medical Microbiology; BIO 485; AGR 433 Plant Pathology
Biology electives in Senior year may include 500 level BIO or NAS courses.
Students can take more than 16 hrs/semester only with 3.00 GPA and Dean’s permission.
Students: Plan your 4 years of courses ahead of time, especially Jr and Sr year.
NOTE: Jr & Sr semesters must have 9 hrs of 300–400 level courses for ONNSFA.
Courses between double lines are required option groups.
Minimum 120 hrs required for degree; electives may be needed.
Optional electives: 200–400 AGR, BIO, CHM, ENV, GLG, NAV 231, PSY, PUH
Must pass all courses with “C” grades or higher
DEAN'S OFFICE
Acting Dean, School of STEM
Tuba City Campus
Phone: (928) 283-5113 ext. 07520
Research Labs: 7538, 7539
Email: stabassum@dinecollege.edu
Administrative Assistant
Tsaile Campus
Phone: 928-724-6731
Email: syazzie@dinecollege.edu