Bachelor's Degree Study Programme in Biology

Programme Contents
Biology is the science which studies all living organisms. Traditionally, the science is divided in the following branches: botany (plants), mycology (fungi), and zoology (animals). The study of biology at the University of Tromsø is deeply rooted in three academic communities: Medical Biology at the Faculty of Medicine (Med.fak.), Terrestrial Biology at the Faculty of Science (Mat.nat.), and Aquatic Biology at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH). The three academic communities co-operate closely in order to provide the Biology students with the best possible education in biology. The Bachelor's Degree Programme culminates in an academic degree which may be expanded into a Master's Degree. The Biology teaching at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science takes arctic research as its point of departure. The approaches in arctic research include primary and secondary production, energy transportation, stock analysis, the environment, nature values, pollution, physiology, etc.

Qualification awarded
Students who have passed all the exams in the programme will achieve the title Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Study Environment
As a Biology student at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH), you will meet many academic challenges, but also many social and cultural possibilities. Everything will be arranged in order for you to be successful in your studies. At the lectures, you will meet committed lecturers. Self-tuition may be carried out in the reading rooms or in the computer lab. There is a wealth of possibilities for pursuing leisure activities, hobbies, the outdoors, and cultural activities in and around the student city of Tromsø.

Teaching Methods and Forms of Examination
The teaching is provided by the Faculty of Science, The Faculty of Medicine and the Norwegian School of Fishery Science. The individual elements taught in the various courses may vary. The forms of examination may consist in an oral exam or a written exam, journals, reports, participation in laboratory work or fieldwork approved by the teacher. There will often be a combination of the different elements. The teaching may consist in lectures, laboratory work, seminars/student colloquiums, fieldwork, etc. Further information about the content of individual courses may be found in the course catalogue.

Study Programme Objectives
The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biology provides a broad and thorough introduction to basic biology and related science subjects. The study programme will provide students with a good basis for further study choices and specialisation within the science of Biology.

Admission Requirement
In order to be admitted to the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biology, students must meet the Higher Education Entrance Qualification requirements. It is recommended that applicants have completed in-depth courses in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology equal to courses 2 MX, 3 KJ, and 3 BI or 2 FY. Applicants who do not meet the Higher Education Entrance Qualification requirements may still apply and be evaluated for entry based on the applicant's prior learning and work experience. From the autumn semester 2005, new admission requirements for the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biology will be introduced: Upper secondary school in-depth studies in Mathematics (2MX or equivalent), and one of the upper secondary school third year level subjects Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology or Physics (3 MX, 3 KJ, 3 BI, or 3 FY).

Study Programme Description
The common compulsory section of the study programme consists of the courses Exam Philosophicum, Calculus in Applications, Introduction to Chemistry and the Chemistry of Biology, and 60 credits of Biology courses, comprising a total of 90 credits. All courses comprise 10 credits, except BIO-1001 Cell and Molecular Biology, which comprises 20 credits. For students choosing Marine Ecology or Freshwater Ecology as their field of study, BIO-2501 Aquatic Biodiversity (20 credits) is a compulsory course. Further descriptions of course content and lecture plans are available from the University of Tromsø course catalogue.

Sem 1	FIL-0700 Examen philosophicum/ BIO-0001	MAT-0001 Calculus in Applications	KJE-1001 Introduction to Chemistry and the Chemistry of Biology
Sem 2	BIO-1001 BIO-1001 Cell and Molecular Biology		BIO-1002 Zoology
Sem 3	BIO-1004 Physiology	BIO-1003 Botany	BIO-1005 Ecology and Evolution
Sem 4	BIO-2501 Aquatic Biodiversity		BIO-2502 Marine Biology
Sem 5	Elective course	Elective course	Elective course
Sem 6	Elective course/Abroad*	Elective course/Abroad*	Elective course/Abroad*

The table above is an example of a course plan which leads to a Bachelor's Degree in Science, with Marine Ecology as the field of study.

Study Programme Progression
In the first semester, you will take the following courses: Exam philosophicum, Calculus in Applications, and Introduction to Chemistry and the Chemistry of Biology. These courses contain important course components which will be required in the biology courses as well as the technology courses. In the second semester, you will take the course Cell and Molecular Biology, which comprises 20 credits. This course consists of the following elements: Cell Biology, Genetics, Micro Biology and Biochemistry. You will in addition take the course Zoology, which provides a good overview of both terrestrial and aquatic zoology. In the second year of the study programme, you will be trained in Botany, Physiology, and Evolution and Ecology. From the fourth semester, you will choose one of the fields of study available at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science, The Faculty of Medicine, or the Faculty of Science.

Fields of Study
At the Norwegian College of Fishery Science, five different fields of study are available for the Biology students. In addition to the common courses in the first three semesters, the students must in the fourth and/or fifth semester choose special courses which will qualify for admission in the different Master's Degree programmes.

• Marine Ecology (BIO-2501 and BIO-2502 are compulsory)
• Freshwater Ecology (BIO-2501 and BIO-2503 are compulsory)
• Aquatic Ecophysiology (BIO-2305, BIO-2505/BIO-2506 and BIO-2504 are compulsory)
• Fish Biology/Fishing Gear Technology (BIO-2505/BIO-2506, BIO-2507 and MTE-2001 are compulsory. By making this choice, students may specialise in either Fisheries Biology or Fishing Gear Technology on Master's Degree level)
• Marine Biotechnology (BIO-2601 and BIO-2300 are compulsory).

Student Exchange Programmes
With regards to the possibility for studying abroad, the university faculties, the Norwegian College of Fishery Science, and the University of Tromsø will provide information on the current student exchange programmes. As a rule, students who plan to study abroad should make plans for the exchange in good time. For the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biology students, the most practical period for studying abroad will be in either the 5th or the 6th semester.

Qualification Awarded
The completed 3-year Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biology qualifies for the degree Bachelor of Science, with Biology as the field of study.

Professional Prospects
Following the Bachelor's Degree Programme, many students choose to take the one-year teacher education course in order to obtain teaching qualification. Students choosing the teaching qualification option should make sure they obtain teaching qualification in at least one other subject in addition to biology. Many students choose science subjects, but it is also possible to choose other subjects. Teaching qualification for upper secondary school requires at least 60 credits for each subject taught, whereas 30 credits are required per subject in order to be qualified for teaching in lower secondary school. Many biologists find employment as public administration advisers, and those who wish to pursue this type of career are advised to combine biology with e.g. administrative subjects or economy subjects.

Access to further studies
A Bachelor's Degree in Biology provides the basis for further studies in one of our Master's Degree Programmes in Biology. Specific biology courses are required for the different fields of study. The Master's Degree Programme admission application form is available here.

Programme Coordination
The Faculty of Science is the administrative coordinator of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Biology. The Faculty of Science co-operates closely with the Faculty of Medicine and the Norwegian College of Fishery Science on the Bachelor's Degree Programme teaching.

Contact

• Senior Executive Officer Randi Storhaug, telephone 77645476
• Senior Executive Officer Helene Eng, telephone 77644609
• Senior Executive Officer Stig Sandberg, telephone 77646012

The Biology Programme Board consists of: Board Director Jan A. Olafsen, Bård Smedsrød, Lennart Nilsen, Eli Skoglund (student), Elizabeth Aarag (student) and Petter Johansen (student).

Secretary for the Biology Program Board: Randi Storhaug.