What is BSc Biology?
The full form of BSc Biology is Bachelor of Science in Biology. It is a three-year undergraduate course. BSc Biology is the study of living things, their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, and ecological relationships.
Also Read: BSc Biology Course
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BSc Biology Course Highlights
The following table shows the subjects in BSc Biology and other course details -
Details | Particulars |
Course Name | BSc Biology |
Course Level | Undergraduate |
Course Full Form | Bachelor of Science in Biology |
Course Duration | 3 Years |
Course Types | Full-time/Distance Education |
Admission Process | Merit and Entrance Based. |
Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 in Science (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are mandatory subjects) with minimum of 50% marks from a recognized board. |
Entrance Exams | |
Course Fees | INR 30,000 – 3 Lakhs |
Top Colleges | Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, University of Calcutta, BITS Pilani, Loyola College and University of Mumbai. |
Average Salary in India | INR 2 – 8 LPA |
Job Profiles | Botanist, Microbiologist, Geneticist, Biotechnologist, Research Assistant, Lab Technician and Environmental Consultant |
Top Recruiters | Ranbaxy, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and Serum Institute of India |
Also Read: Best courses after 12th Biology except for MBBS
Subjects in BSc Biology
Biology is a multifaceted discipline that encompasses a wide range of subject areas, including but not limited to chemistry, physics, mathematics, and statistics. This interdisciplinary approach enables students to develop a broad understanding of the field of biology and its practical applications in research, medicine, biotechnology, and conservation biology.
Subjects in BSc Biology include topics on microbiology, genetics, ecology, plant physiology, animal physiology, molecular biology, and biotechnology, among others.
Further reading: Who is the Father of Biology?
Subjects in BSc Biology: Year-wise
The subjects in BSc Biology may differ from one college to another. Nevertheless, given below is a list of potential subjects in BSc Biology that students will study:
| BSc Biology Subjects: 1st Year | |
| Biological Chemistry | Cell Biology |
| Genetics | Biophysics and Instrumentation |
| Microbiology | Mathematics and Statistics |
| BSc Biology Subjects: 2nd Year | |
| Ecology and Environment | Plant Diversity and Physiology |
| Animal Diversity and Physiology | Evolutionary Biology |
| Biochemistry | Biostatistics |
| BSc Biology Subjects: 3rd Year | |
| Molecular Biology | Immunology |
| Biotechnology | Environmental Science |
| Applied Biology | Research Methodology and Biostatistics |
Also Read: BSc Syllabus and Subjects
Subjects in BSc Biology: Semester-wise
The duration of BSc Biology in India is 3 years, which is divided into six semesters. Given below is a list of potential subjects in the course, semester-wise:
Subjects in BSc Biology: 1st Year
Given below are the subjects in the BSc Biology first year:
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Cell Biology | Genetics and Molecular Biology |
Biomolecules and Metabolism | Plant Diversity and Physiology |
Diversity of Microbes and Cryptogams | Genetics and Molecular Biology |
Biophysics and Instrumentation | Invertebrate Zoology |
Environmental Science | Biostatistics |
Subjects in BSc Biology: 2nd Year
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
Microbial Genetics and Physiology | Plant Anatomy and Embryology |
Ecology land Animal Behavior | Animal Anatomy and Physiology |
Vertebrate Zoology | Developmental Biology |
Analytical Techniques in Biology | Evolutionary Biology |
Applied Biotechnology | Science Communication |
Subjects in BSc Biology: 3rd Year
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
Immunology and Biomedical Techniques | Biomedical Instrumentation and Diagnostic Techniques |
Plant Biotechnology and Plant Breeding | Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Biology |
Animal Biotechnology and Reproductive Physiology | Gene Regulation and Expression |
Molecular Genetics and Genomics | Bioprocess Engineering and Technology |
Research Methodology | Dissertation/Project Work |
Also Read: BSc Courses after 12th
Subjects in BSc Biology: University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is home to several renowned institutions, including Miranda House, Ramjas College, Hindu College, Hansraj College, and Gargi College, all of which offer BSc Biology. These institutions are known for their high academic standards and excellent faculty.
The detailed course structure of the University of Delhi is given below for reference:
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 1st Year | |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Light and Life | Biodiversity & Bioprospecting |
| Chemistry | Bio-resources and Management |
| Physics and Applications to Biology | Ecology: Concepts and Management |
| Mathematics & Statistics | Technical writing & Communications in English |
| Light and Life Laboratory | Biodiversity & Bioprospecting Laboratory |
| Chemistry Laboratory | Bio-resources and Management Laboratory |
| Physics and Applications to Biology Laboratory | Ecology: Concepts and Management Laboratory |
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 2nd Year | |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Bio-organic & Bioinorganic Chemistry | Growth & Reproduction |
| Metabolism, Integration and Adaptation | System Physiology & Behaviour |
| Cell Biology I | Cell Biology II |
| Molecular Biology I | Molecular Biology II |
| Bio-organic & Bioinorganic Chemistry Laboratory | Growth & Reproduction Laboratory |
| Metabolism, Integration and Adaptation Laboratory | System Physiology & Behaviour Laboratory |
| Cell Biology I Laboratory | Cell Biology II Laboratory |
| Molecular Biology I Laboratory | Molecular Biology II Laboratory |
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 3rd Year | |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Defense Mechanisms | Applied Biology |
| Evolution & Adaptation | Differentiation & Morphogenesis |
| Biomaterials | Genetics & Genomics II |
| Genetics & Genomics I | Applied Biology Laboratory |
| Defense Mechanisms Laboratory | Differentiation & Morphogenesis Laboratory |
| Biomaterials Laboratory | Microbiology: Principles and applications Laboratory |
| Genetics & Genomics I Laboratory | Genetics & Genomics II Laboratory |
Related Article: Best Courses After 12th Biology
Subjects in BSc Biology: Galgotias University
Galgotias University's BSc Biology course prepares students for a variety of biological science occupations, including research, teaching, healthcare, biotechnology, and environmental management.
The detailed course structure of Galgotias University is given below for reference:
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 1st Year | |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Chemistry | Environmental Science |
| Fundamentals of Cell Biology | Functional English – II |
| Biochemistry | Bioinstrumentation-I |
| Light and Life | Ecology |
| Biological Science Lab-I | Hormone: Biochemistry and Function |
| Hands on Workshop on Basic Analytical Techniques and Measurements | Biological Science Lab-II |
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 2nd Year | |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Fundamentals of Molecular Biology | Programming Languages |
| Bioinstrumentation - II | Biotechnology |
| Fundamental of Microbiology | System Physiology |
| Biochemistry of Metabolism | Bioinformatics/Biostatistics/Biophysics/Organic Farming/Biofertilizers and Pesticides (Electives) |
| Biological Science Lab-III | Biological Science Lab-IV |
| Web based Course/Seminar | Programming Languages Laboratory |
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 3rd Year | |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Minor Project | Dissertation |
| Concept of Immunology | Web-based Course/Seminar-II |
| Inheritance Biology | - |
| Growth and Reproduction | - |
| Evolutionary Biology | - |
| Nanobiotechnology/Bioresource Management/Biosafety and IPR/Mushroom Culture Technology/Parasitology (Electives) | - |
| Biological Sciences Lab-V | - |
Subjects in BSc Biology: Amity University
Amity University's BSc Biology course is meant to provide students with a wide understanding of numerous parts of biology, such as genetics, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, ecology, and environmental sciences.
The detailed course structure of Amity University is given below for reference:
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 1st Year | |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Environmental Studies | Biosafety and Bioethics Bioinformatics |
| Plant Diversity-I | Chemistry-II |
| Animal Diversity | Physics-II |
| Chemistry-I | Mathematics-II |
| Mathematics-I | Plant Diversity Lab |
| Plant and Animal Diversity Lab | Chemistry Lab-II |
| Chemistry Lab-I | Physics Lab-II |
| Physics Lab-I | Plant Diversity-II |
| Understanding Self for Effectiveness | Problem Solving and Creative Thinking |
| Effective Listening | Presentation Skills |
| - | Molecular Modelling |
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 2nd Year | |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Plant Anatomy | Plant Physiology |
| Animal Anatomy | Animal Physiology |
| Cell Biology | Microbiology |
| Genetics | Biostats & Bioinformatics |
| Plant & Animal Anatomy Lab | Ecology & Evolution |
| Cell Biology & Genetics Lab | Plant & Animal Physiology Lab |
| Project | Microbiology Lab |
| Group Dynamics & Team Building | Corporate Communication |
| Reading & Comprehension | Stress & Coping Strategies |
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 3rd Year | |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Immunology Lab | Recombinant DNA Technology |
| Biochemistry & Bioanalytical Lab | Genomics & Proteomics |
| Molecular Biology | IPR Biosafety & Bioethics |
| Biochemistry | Applied Biology |
| Immunology | Recombinant DNA Technology Lab |
| Bioanalytical & Biophysical Techniques | Applied Biology Lab |
| Biomaterials | Interpersonal Communication & Relationship Management |
| Molecular Biology Lab | Workplace Communication |
| Summer Internship Project Evaluation | - |
| Individual Society and Nations | - |
| Employability Skills | - |
Subjects in BSc Biology: BITS Pilani
The BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test) exam is used to determine admission to the BSc Biology program at BITS Pilani.
The detailed course structure of BITS Pilani is given below for reference:
| Subjects in BSc Biology: BITS Pilani | |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Biology Laboratory | Ecology and Environmental Science |
| General Biology | Introduction to Bioinformatics |
| Microbiology | Genetics |
| Cell Biology | Instrumental Methods of Analysis |
| Integrative Biology | Recombinant DNA Technology |
| Biophysics | Developmental Biology |
| Plant Physiology | Immunology |
| Animal Physiology | Plant Biotechnology |
| Molecular Mechanisms of Gene Expression | Environmental Biotechnology and Waste Management |
| Advanced and Applied Microbiology | Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology |
| Animal Cell Technology | - |
| List of Electives | |
| Cell and Tissue Culture Techniques | Laboratory |
| Molecular Biology of the Cell | Genetic Engineering Techniques |
| Biomolecular Modelling | Enzymology |
| Molecular Evolution | Reproductive Physiology |
| Biochemical Engineering | Bioprocess Technology |
| Microbial and Fermentation Technology | Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology |
| Molecular Immunology | Bio Interferon Technology |
| Cancer Biology | Biostatistics and Biomodelling |
| Bioremediation and Bio-metallurgy | Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology |
| Human Genetics | Membrane and Liposome Technology |
| Transgenic Technology | Experimental Techniques |
| Protein and Enzyme Bioengineering | Gene Toxicology |
| Bioconversion Technology | - |
BSc Biology Entrance Exam Syllabus
The syllabus for the BSc Biology entrance exam may vary slightly depending on the college or university. However, here are some common topics that are usually included in the syllabus:
| Subjects | Topics |
| Biology | Cell Biology, Genetics, Ecology, Evolution, Physiology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Biodiversity. |
| Chemistry | Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Environmental Chemistry. |
| Physics | Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Optics, Electricity, Magnetism, and Modern Physics. |
| Mathematics | Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, and Statistics. |
Subjects in BSc Biology: In Detail
Biology is a broad field that includes several sub-disciplines such as ecology, genetics, microbiology, physiology, and molecular biology. Given below are the subjects in BSc Biology, in detail:
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 1st Year | |
| Topic | Sub-topics |
| Cell Biology | The Cell Theory Cell Structure and Function Cell Membrane Organelles Cell Cycle and Mitosis Meiosis |
| Genetics | Mendelian Genetics Non-Mendelian Genetics Chromosomes and Inheritance Gene expression and Regulation Genetic Engineering |
Biomolecules
| Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Enzymes Nucleic acids |
| Plant Diversity | Plant Classification Morphology of Flowering Plants Anatomy of Flowering Plants Plant Growth and Development Reproduction in Flowering Plants |
| Animal Diversity | Animal Classification Body Plans and Symmetry Coelom and Segmentation Digestive, Respiratory, and Circulatory Systems Reproductive Systems |
| Biostatistics and Computer Applications | Statistical Methods in Biology Data Analysis Programming in R And Python Bioinformatics Tools and Databases |
| Environmental Science | Ecology And Ecosystems Biodiversity and Conservation Pollution and Waste Management Climate Change and Global Warming Renewable Energy Sources |
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 2nd Year | |
| Topic | Sub-topics |
Plant Physiology
| Photosynthesis Respiration Transpiration Mineral Nutrition Plant Growth and Development |
Animal Physiology
| Nervous System Endocrine System Digestive System Circulatory System Respiratory System |
Ecology
| Habitat And Niche Population Dynamics Community Ecology Ecosystem Ecology Biogeochemical Cycles |
Microbiology
| Microbial Classification Microbial Growth and Nutrition Microbial Metabolism Microbial Genetics Microbial Diversity and Ecology |
Evolution
| Darwin's Theory of Evolution Mechanisms of Evolution Evidence for Evolution Evolutionary Biology and Genetics Molecular Evolution |
Biochemistry
| Macromolecules and their Functions Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics Metabolism and Energy Biochemical Pathways Signal Transduction |
Biotechnology
| Genetic Engineering Recombinant DNA Technology Bioprocessing Medical Biotechnology Agricultural Biotechnology |
| Subjects in BSc Biology: 3rd Year | |
| Topic | Sub-topics |
Immunology
| Innate Immunity Adaptive Immunity Antibodies and Antigens Immunological Techniques Vaccines and Immunotherapy |
Developmental Biology
| Fertilization and Embryogenesis Morphogenesis and Organogenesis Growth And Differentiation Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Aging and Senescence |
Molecular Biology
| DNA Replication and Repair Transcription and Translation Gene Regulation Recombination and Genetic Variability Genomics and Proteomics |
Neurobiology
| Neuron Structure and Function Neural Communication Neural Development Sensory and Motor Systems Brain Plasticity and Learning |
Applied Botany and Plant Biotechnology
| Crop Improvement and Breeding Plant Tissue Culture Plant-Microbe Interactions Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Phytopathology and Plant Disease Management |
Environmental Biotechnology
| Bioremediation Biodegradation Phytoremediation Biogeochemistry Biomonitoring |
Applied Zoology and Aquaculture
| Animal Breeding and Genetics Fisheries and Aquaculture Wildlife Conservation Animal Behavior and Welfare Pest Management |
Recommended Books for BSc Biology
Given below are the names of some recognized books along with their authors in the field of biology that a candidate must read to gain further knowledge in the course:
| Name of the Book | Author's Name |
| Biology | Neil A. Campbell and Jane B. Reece |
| Principles of Genetics | Gardner, Simmons, and Snustad |
| Environmental Biology | D.K. Mishra |
| Organic Chemistry | Paula Y. Bruice |
| Biology | P.N. Pandey and M.P. Bansal |
| Environmental Biology | K.S. Verma and B.P. Pandey |
Further Reading: BSc in India
Top BSc Biology Colleges
Given below is a list of the top BSc Biology colleges in India, along with their fees:
| Name of the College/University | Course Fees |
| Banaras Hindu University | INR 9,000 |
| BITS Pilani | INR 20 LPA |
| Jain University | INR 1.26 LPA |
| Miranda House, Delhi University | INR 10,000 |
| Hindu College, Delhi University | INR 15,000 |
| Ramjas College, Delhi University | INR 20,000 |
| Cochin University of Science and Technology | INR 54,000 |
| Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research | INR 3 LPA |
| Fergusson College | INR 25,000 |
| Bangalore University | INR 1 LPA |
| Ashoka University | INR 25 LPA |
| ST. Xavier's College | INR 40,000 |
| Amity University | INR 4 LPA |
| Suresh Gyan Vihar University | INR 2 LPA |
| Loyola College | INR 74,000 |
| Mount Carmel College | INR 1 LPA |
| Galgotias University | INR 2 LPA |
| The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda | INR 2 LPA |