Academics

Department of Biology > Requirements

Biology Major
The minimum requirements for a major in biology are eight biology courses, two semesters of general chemistry, one semester of mathematics, and a minimum cumulative grade average of C in those courses counted toward the major. Details follow.

Four core courses in biology, normally taken in the following order and completed by the end of the sophomore year:

Biology 120: Organismal Biology

One of the Core Biological Inquiry courses (Biology 130-139)

Biology 220: Ecology and Evolution

Biology 221: Cellular and Molecular Biology

Students with AP, transfer, or other credit should consult their advisors about the appropriate sequence of core courses.

Three 300-level courses in biology from at least two of the three subject areas: cellular and molecular biology (320, 322, 324, 340, 346, 352), organismal biology (340, 342, 346, 347,348, 384), and ecology and evolution (344, 370, 375, 380, 384, 389). Two of the three courses must include a laboratory component.

A senior studies course.  For non-thesis students: a senior seminar course (topics change each semester).  For students engaged in senior thesis research: two course credits of Biology 494, Senior Thesis.

Two semesters of general chemistry with laboratory (Chemistry 110, 111) to be taken concurrently with the organismal biology core course (120) and a core biological inquiry course (130-139) and to be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

One course in mathematics; either Mathematics 110 or 150 is required and must be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

In courses to be counted toward the major (biology, chemistry, and mathematics), students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade average of C to qualify for a degree in biology.

Credit may also be earned toward the major by participating in the ACM field biology programs in Costa Rica and Tanzania and other approved off-campus programs.

Additional courses in organic chemistry, calculus or statistics, and physics are strongly recommended for biology majors, particularly for those who anticipate applying to medical and graduate schools.

Concentrations in the Major
Students interested in a concentration in cellular and molecular biology are encouraged to select the following courses in addition to the biology core: 320, 322, or 324; 340, 342, 346, or 352; plus an appropriate 400-level senior seminar, or successful completion of a senior thesis.  Organic chemistry (Chemistry 220, 221), and biochemistry (Chemistry 300) are highly recommended.

Students interested in a concentration in ecology and evolution should select from the following courses in addition to the biology core: 340, 344, 370, 375, 380, 382, or 389, plus an appropriate 400-level senior seminar or successful completion of a senior thesis.

Minor
The biology minor consists of the following requirements: 120, a Core Biological Inquiry course (130-139), 220, 221, and two 300-level biology courses. Note that Chemistry 110 and 111 are corequisites for the Organismal Biology core course (120) and the Biology Core Seminars (130-139), respectively.