Bachelor of Science in Biology

Biology studies ‘life’ in all its diversity and on all organization levels. Studying the complexity of living systems requires a solid knowledge of different sub-disciplines of biology. The programme contains field work as well as a fair amount lab work, depending on your choice of specialization.

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Bachelor's Programme

3 year 180 credits

Faculty of Sciences

Dutch

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About the programme

Programme summary

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Off to a good start

Postgraduate studies

First year

(version 10 )

Course schedule 1st semester Course schedule 2nd semester

1 General Courses

Subscribe to course units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

In period 3 of the first standard learning path you can subscribe to no less than 30 and no more than 60 credits units from the study programmes of another European institute for higher education. Distributed over the first standard learning path as follows: 30 credit units in period 3 (first semester) or 60 credit units in period 3 (first and second semester). Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biodiversity of Plants	1	sem 1	nl	Lars Chatrou	5

Biodiversity of Invertebrates	1	sem 1	nl	Tom Moens	5

Ecology	1	sem 2	nl	Luc Lens	5

Cell Biology and Genetics	1	sem 1	nl	Geert De Jaeger	5

Physics I	1	sem 1	nl	Bartel Van Waeyenberge	5

Physics II	1	sem 2	nl	Bartel Van Waeyenberge	5

Chemistry I: Structure of Matter	1	sem 1	nl	Klaartje De Buysser	5

Chemistry II: Changes in Matter	1	sem 2	nl	Isabel Van Driessche	5

Mathematics I	1	sem 1	nl	Koen Thas	5

Mathematics II	1	sem 2	nl	Koen Thas	5

Organic Chemistry	1	sem 2	nl	Johan Winne	5

Geology: System Earth	1	sem 2	nl	Stephen Louwye	5

Second year

(version 10 )

Course schedule 1st semester Course schedule 2nd semester

1 General Courses

Subscribe to course units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Vertebrates: Histology and Comparative Anatomy		2				4

Biodiversity of Vertebrates		2	sem 1	nl	Dominique Adriaens	4

Mycology		2	sem 1	nl	Annemieke Verbeken	5

Molecular Genetics I		2	sem 1	nl	Sofie Goormachtig	5

Biochemistry I: Biomolecules		2	sem 1	nl	Bart Devreese	4

Biochemistry II: Metabolic Diversity		2	sem 2	nl	Leander Meuris	4

Programming	UKV	2	sem 1	en	Peter Dawyndt	5

Plantphysiology		2	sem 1	nl	Bartel Vanholme	4

General Microbiology		2	sem 2	nl	Anne Willems	5

Cell Biology		2	sem 2	nl	Esther Hoste	4

Population Ecology		2	sem 1	nl	Luc Lens	4

Biogeography		2	sem 2	nl	Wim Vyverman	5

Biological Excursions		2	year	nl	Jan Van Uytvanck	4

Arthropoda		2	sem 2	nl	Marleen De Troch	3

Third year

(version 10 )

Course schedule 1st semester Course schedule 2nd semester

1 General Courses

Subscribe to course units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Community and Ecosystem Ecology	3	sem 1	nl	Wim Vyverman	4

Evolution	3	sem 1	en	Olivier De Clerck	5

Animal Physiology	3	sem 1	nl	Bart Braeckman	5

Introduction to Biostatistics	3	sem 1	nl	Lieven Clement	5

Field Training Biological Research	3	sem 2	nl,en	Bram Vanthournout	4

Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Law	3	sem 2	nl	Maurice Hoffmann	5

Systematics and Diversity of Flowering Plants	3				4

2 Elective Courses

Subscribe to 1 module from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Students who have followed the Educational Track, can enter directly into the educational master's programme.

2.1 Biology Track

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Molecular Genetics II	3	sem 1	nl	Geert De Jaeger	4

Developmental Biology	3	sem 1	nl	Tom Beeckman	5

Phycology and Protistology	3				4

Terrestrial Ecology	3	sem 2	nl	Sander Jacobs	3

Aquatic Ecology	3	sem 2	en	Wim Vyverman	3

Scientific Methods and Bachelor Dissertation	3	sem 2	nl	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	9

2.2 Educational Track

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Powerful Learning Environments	3	sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

Teaching Methodology: Sciences	3	year	nl	Katrien Strubbe	6

Reference Internship: Sciences	3	year	nl	Katrien Strubbe	3

2.2.1 Elective Courses Biology

Subscribe to 13 credit units from the following list, with

no less than 4 and no more than 5 credit units from the courses with reference a,
3 credit units from the courses with reference b.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Developmental Biology	a	3	sem 1	nl	Tom Beeckman	5

Phycology and Protistology	a	3				4

Terrestrial Ecology	b	3	sem 2	nl	Sander Jacobs	3

Aquatic Ecology	b	3	sem 2	en	Wim Vyverman	3

Scientific Methods and Bachelor Dissertation		3	sem 2	nl	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	6

Full programme

(version 10 )

Print

1 General Courses 152

Subscribe to course units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biodiversity of Plants		1	sem 1	nl	Lars Chatrou	5

Biodiversity of Invertebrates		1	sem 1	nl	Tom Moens	5

Ecology		1	sem 2	nl	Luc Lens	5

Cell Biology and Genetics		1	sem 1	nl	Geert De Jaeger	5

Physics I		1	sem 1	nl	Bartel Van Waeyenberge	5

Physics II		1	sem 2	nl	Bartel Van Waeyenberge	5

Chemistry I: Structure of Matter		1	sem 1	nl	Klaartje De Buysser	5

Chemistry II: Changes in Matter		1	sem 2	nl	Isabel Van Driessche	5

Mathematics I		1	sem 1	nl	Koen Thas	5

Mathematics II		1	sem 2	nl	Koen Thas	5

Organic Chemistry		1	sem 2	nl	Johan Winne	5

Geology: System Earth		1	sem 2	nl	Stephen Louwye	5

Vertebrates: Histology and Comparative Anatomy		2				4

Biodiversity of Vertebrates		2	sem 1	nl	Dominique Adriaens	4

Mycology		2	sem 1	nl	Annemieke Verbeken	5

Molecular Genetics I		2	sem 1	nl	Sofie Goormachtig	5

Biochemistry I: Biomolecules		2	sem 1	nl	Bart Devreese	4

Biochemistry II: Metabolic Diversity		2	sem 2	nl	Leander Meuris	4

Programming	UKV	2	sem 1	en	Peter Dawyndt	5

Plantphysiology		2	sem 1	nl	Bartel Vanholme	4

General Microbiology		2	sem 2	nl	Anne Willems	5

Cell Biology		2	sem 2	nl	Esther Hoste	4

Population Ecology		2	sem 1	nl	Luc Lens	4

Biogeography		2	sem 2	nl	Wim Vyverman	5

Biological Excursions		2	year	nl	Jan Van Uytvanck	4

Arthropoda		2	sem 2	nl	Marleen De Troch	3

Community and Ecosystem Ecology		3	sem 1	nl	Wim Vyverman	4

Evolution		3	sem 1	en	Olivier De Clerck	5

Animal Physiology		3	sem 1	nl	Bart Braeckman	5

Introduction to Biostatistics		3	sem 1	nl	Lieven Clement	5

Field Training Biological Research		3	sem 2	nl,en	Bram Vanthournout	4

Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Law		3	sem 2	nl	Maurice Hoffmann	5

Systematics and Diversity of Flowering Plants		3				4

2 Elective Courses

Subscribe to 1 module from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Students who have followed the Educational Track, can enter directly into the educational master's programme.

2.1 Biology Track

28

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Molecular Genetics II	3	sem 1	nl	Geert De Jaeger	4

Developmental Biology	3	sem 1	nl	Tom Beeckman	5

Phycology and Protistology	3				4

Terrestrial Ecology	3	sem 2	nl	Sander Jacobs	3

Aquatic Ecology	3	sem 2	en	Wim Vyverman	3

Scientific Methods and Bachelor Dissertation	3	sem 2	nl	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	9

2.2 Educational Track

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Powerful Learning Environments	3	sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

Teaching Methodology: Sciences	3	year	nl	Katrien Strubbe	6

Reference Internship: Sciences	3	year	nl	Katrien Strubbe	3

2.2.1 Elective Courses Biology

Subscribe to 13 credit units from the following list, with

no less than 4 and no more than 5 credit units from the courses with reference a,
3 credit units from the courses with reference b.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Developmental Biology	a	3	sem 1	nl	Tom Beeckman	5

Phycology and Protistology	a	3				4

Terrestrial Ecology	b	3	sem 2	nl	Sander Jacobs	3

Aquatic Ecology	b	3	sem 2	en	Wim Vyverman	3

Scientific Methods and Bachelor Dissertation		3	sem 2	nl	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	6

Full programme

(version 9 - re-enrol only)

Print

1 General Courses 151

Subscribe to course units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Biodiversity of Plants	1	sem 1	nl	Lars Chatrou	5

Biodiversity of Invertebrates	1	sem 1	nl	Tom Moens	5

Ecology	1	sem 2	nl	Luc Lens	5

Cell Biology and Genetics	1	sem 1	nl	Geert De Jaeger	5

Physics I	1	sem 1	nl	Bartel Van Waeyenberge	5

Physics II	1	sem 2	nl	Bartel Van Waeyenberge	5

Chemistry I: Structure of Matter	1	sem 1	nl	Klaartje De Buysser	5

Chemistry II: Changes in Matter	1	sem 2	nl	Isabel Van Driessche	5

Mathematics I	1	sem 1	nl	Koen Thas	5

Mathematics II	1	sem 2	nl	Koen Thas	5

Organic Chemistry	1	sem 2	nl	Johan Winne	5

Geology: System Earth	1	sem 2	nl	Stephen Louwye	5

Vertebrates: Histology and Comparative Anatomy	2	sem 2	nl	Dominique Adriaens	5

Biodiversity of Vertebrates	2	sem 1	nl	Dominique Adriaens	4

Mycology	2	sem 1	nl	Annemieke Verbeken	5

Molecular Genetics I	2	sem 1	nl	Sofie Goormachtig	5

Biochemistry I: Biomolecules	2	sem 1	nl	Bart Devreese	4

Biochemistry II: Metabolic Diversity	2	sem 2	nl	Leander Meuris	4

Statistics	2	sem 1	nl	Lieven Clement	4

Plantphysiology	2	sem 1	nl	Bartel Vanholme	4

General Microbiology	2	sem 2	nl	Anne Willems	5

Cell Biology	2	sem 2	nl	Esther Hoste	4

Population Ecology	2	sem 1	nl	Luc Lens	4

Biogeography	2	sem 2	nl	Wim Vyverman	5

Biological Excursions	2	year	nl	Jan Van Uytvanck	4

Arthropoda	2	sem 2	nl	Marleen De Troch	3

Community and Ecosystem Ecology	3	sem 1	nl	Wim Vyverman	4

Evolution	3	sem 1	en	Olivier De Clerck	5

Animal Physiology	3	sem 1	nl	Bart Braeckman	5

Biostatistics	3	sem 1	nl	Lieven Clement	4

Field Training Biological Research	3	sem 2	nl,en	Bram Vanthournout	4

Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Law	3	sem 2	nl	Maurice Hoffmann	5

Phylogeny of Seed Plants	3	sem 2	nl	Lars Chatrou	4

2 Elective Courses 29

Subscribe to 1 module from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Students who have followed the Educational Track, can enter directly into the educational master's programme.

2.1 Biology Track

29

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Molecular Genetics II	3	sem 1	nl	Geert De Jaeger	4

Developmental Biology	3	sem 1	nl	Tom Beeckman	5

Phycology and Protistology	3	sem 1	en	Koen Sabbe	5

Terrestrial Ecology	3	sem 2	nl	Sander Jacobs	3

Aquatic Ecology	3	sem 2	en	Wim Vyverman	3

Scientific Methods and Bachelor Dissertation	3	sem 2	nl	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	9

2.2 Educational Track

29

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Powerful Learning Environments	3	sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

Teaching Methodology: Sciences	3	year	nl	Katrien Strubbe	6

Reference Internship: Sciences	3	year	nl	Katrien Strubbe	3

Subscribe to 14 credit units from 1 module from the following list.

2.2.1 Elective Courses Biology

14

Subscribe to 14 credit units from the following list, with

5 credit units from the courses with reference a,
3 credit units from the courses with reference b.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Developmental Biology	a	3	sem 1	nl	Tom Beeckman	5

Phycology and Protistology	a	3	sem 1	en	Koen Sabbe	5

Terrestrial Ecology	b	3	sem 2	nl	Sander Jacobs	3

Aquatic Ecology	b	3	sem 2	en	Wim Vyverman	3

Scientific Methods and Bachelor Dissertation		3	sem 2	nl	Liliana D'Alba Altamirano	6

Learning outcomes

Competence field 1: Competence in one or more scientific disciplines

Understanding of basic concepts, processes, models and theories within the different subdisciplines in biology, such as biodiversity, ecology, functional biology and evolutionary biology.
Has a good perception of the interdisciplinary nature of scientific disciplines (mathematics, chemistry, physics, geology) within biology.
Manages to perform the basic practical skills from the different subdisciplines within biology, as performed in the field or in the lab.
Manages to perform basic practical skills from other sciences, as they are applicable to biological sciences.
Integrates multidisciplinary knowledge and skills when addressing biological questions.

Competence field 2: Scientific competence

Can link and understand the fundamental ecological and evolutionary interactions between organisms and their environment.
Can formulate, with guidance, research questions that rely on current theories and models within biological sciences.
With guidance, can initiate problem oriented and empirical biological research, and manages to complete that with success.
Applies methods for acquiring and analysing of biological data (e.g. statistics).
Integrates international scientific literature when addressing biological questions.

Competence field 3: Intellectual competence

Integrates and implements acquired knowledge in a critical and creative manner to tackle biological questions.
Can address in a logica l and efficient way biological questions and investigate them experimentally.
Demonstrates an attitude of being research minded, with the necessary critical look at developments within biology, and further improves knowledge and skills through self-sustained consulting of scientific (biological) literature.
Can extract relevant information (scientific problem, methods, results, …) from biological literature.

Competence field 4: Competence in collaboration and communication

Applies correctly biological-scientific nomenclature and terminologies.
Reports and communicates in a structured manner the results of personal research, in the language of the training.
Functions in a team to perform biological assignments in an organised manner.
Reports and communicates in an organised fashion relevant information (scientific problem, methods and results) from biological literature in the language of the training.

Competence field 5: Competence in social responsibility

Is aware of research ethics related to the use and collecting of living organisms.
Understands the ethical and societal implications of biological research.
Understands the implications of societal evolutions on living organisms and their ecosystem.

Competence field 6: Professional competences

Knows the possibilities for continued education at master level in Biology or associated disciplines.