Program Courses

Brief Description

In the face of global challenges such as climate change and environmental management, population growth and food security, and biotechnology and human health, the Biological Sciences have never been more important. Recent discoveries in the field have advanced at breathtaking speeds with beneficial outcomes for mankind. 

ACT’s four-year BS program in Biological Sciences is the culmination of its 15-year past experience in developing and delivering STEM curriculum in collaboration with leading American educational institutions, such as Northeastern University and Washington University.

This degree provides graduates with a solid foundation of scientific knowledge from the molecular to the ecosystemic level, but also equips them with practical laboratory experience and research skills which are essential and valuable in a wide range of advanced studies or employment options. 

Degree Requirements

In order to receive the BS degree, the student must have fulfilled all the GEP and major requirements and have completed at least 124 US credit hours with an overall G.P.A of 2.0 or better. All Biological Science majors must complete a two-semester course sequence: Thesis I and Thesis II. According to NECHE Standards, students must complete at least one fourth of their undergraduate program, including advanced work in the major or concentration, at the institution awarding the degree. As a consequence, all candidates for an ACT degree must have been in residence at the College for at least during the last two semesters of full time instruction, assuming availability and equivalency of transferable courses.

Open University degree structure

The program in Biological Sciences is currently validated by Open University: under this scheme, 19 are out of the 36 courses (360 UK credits) required for the Bachelor degrees are validated by Open University. Students must necessarily take the fourth year courses at ACT. Successful students will receive a Bachelor’s degree from Open University in addition to the ACT degree for a single course of studies by meeting the following common set of requirements (in addition to meeting General Education Requirements)—courses highlighted in bold are validated by Open University. For more information, check the student handbook. The OU Regulations can be found here.

Biological Sciences Requirements

• Anatomy and Physiology 115: Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology I (OU)
• Anatomy and Physiology 116: Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• Biology 112: Principles of Biology (OU)
• Biology 113: General Biology 2 (OU)
• Biology 201: Foundations of Microbiology (OU)
• Biology 230: Genetics and Molecular Biology (OU)
• Biology 299: Inquiries in the Biological Sciences
• Biology 320: Biochemistry (OU)
• Biology 330: Cell Biology and Histology (OU)
• Biology 350: Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (OU)
• Biology 410: Principles of Epidemiology and Public Health (OU)
• Biology 420: Environmental Health and Toxicology (OU)
• Biology430: Biotechnology Principles and Applications (OU)
• Biology 450: Immunology (OU)
• Biology 493: Thesis I (OU)
• Biology 494: Thesis II (OU)
• Chemistry 117: Chemistry for Biological Sciences (OU)
• Chemistry 215: Organic Chemistry I (OU)
• Chemistry 216: Organic Chemistry II (OU)
• Computer Science 105: Introduction to Programming I
• Mathematics 120: Calculus I for Science and Engineering
• Philosophy 310: Bio Ethics
• Physics 120: University Physics I, for Science and Engineering
• Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology
• Statistics 211: Statistics with R (OU)
• Nutrition 130: Fundamentals of Human Nutrition (OU)
• Biology 400: Senior Seminar
• One Free Elective
• Practicum 300 - Internship (Optional)

Senior Seminar (topics)

• Topics in Community health
• Topics in Development and Differentiation
• Topics in Evolutionary Medicine
• Topics in Human Genetics
• Topics in Immunology
• Topics in Neuropathological Mechanisms
• Topics in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Topics in Social Medicine

General Education Requirements (GER)

In addition to the above major courses, student must complete the following GER courses

• Economics 101: Introductory Macroeconomics
• English 101: Composition I
• English 102: Composition II
• English 204: Business/Professional Communication
• History 120: The Modern World
• One Art course from (English 120: Introduction to Literature or Art 120: Art Appreciation: Principles of Design or ART 130: Introduction to Photography from Analog to Digital Era, or Music 120: Traditional and Contemporary Greek Music).
• Philosophy 101: Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Reasoning
• Politics 101: Contemporary Politics

Suggested Program of Studies

Year One

• Biology 112: Principles of Biology (OU)
• Biology 113: General Biology 2 (OU)
• Chemistry 117: Chemistry for Biological Sciences (OU)
• Mathematics 120: Calculus I for Science and Engineering (GER)
• CSC 101: Digital Literacy or CSC 105: Introduction to Programming I – Structured Programming (GER)
• English 101: Composition I (GER)
• English 102: Composition II (GER)
• English 204: Business/Professional Communication GER
• Nutrition 130: Fundamentals of Human Nutrition (OU)
• Physics 120: University Physics I, for Science and Engineering
• One Art course from (English 120: Introduction to Literature or Art 120: Art Appreciation: Principles of Design or ART 130: Introduction to Photography from Analog to Digital Era, or Music 120: Traditional and Contemporary Greek Music).

Year Two

• Anatomy and Physiology 115: Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology I (OU)
• Anatomy and Physiology 116: Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• Biology 201: Foundations of Microbiology (OU)
• Biology 230: Genetics and Molecular Biology (OU)
• Biology 299: Inquiries in Biological Sciences
• Statistics 211: Statistics with R (OU)
• Politics 101: Contemporary Politics (GER)
• History 120: The modern world (GER)
• Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology (GER)

Year Three

• Biology 320:  Biochemistry (OU)
• Biology 330: Cell Biology and Histology (OU)
• Biology 350: Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (OU)
• Chemistry 215: Organic Chemistry I (OU)
• Chemistry 216: Organic Chemistry II (OU)
• Economics 101: Introductory Macroeconomics (GER)
• Philosophy 101: Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Reasoning (GER)
• Philosophy 310: Bio Ethics (GER)

Year Four

• SNCB 400: Senior Seminar
• Biology 410: Principles of Epidemiology and Public Health (OU)
• Biology 420: Environmental Health and Toxicology (OU)
• Biology 430: Biotechnology Principles and Applications (OU)
• Biology 450: Immunology (OU)
• Biology 493: Thesis I (OU)
• Biology 494: Thesis II (OU)
• Free Elective