Biology Major

Requirements for the Major

Foundation Courses (normally completed in the first and sophomore years)

BIO 110Evolution, Biodiversity, Ecology

4

BIO 210Introduction to Genetics

4

BMB 210Introduction to Biochemistry and Cell Biology

4

 

CHE 135Accelerated General Chemistry

4

Or Both

CHE 131General Chemistry-I

4

AND

CHE 132General Chemistry-II

4

 

CHE 241Organic Chemistry-I

4

 

MAT 130Introduction to Statistics

3

OR

MAT 205Statistical Modeling

3

 

PHY 110Introduction to Physics

4

OR

CSC 160Web, Data, and Design

4

OR

CSC 220Programming and Problem Solving

4

OR

BIO
A BIO course numbered 200 or higher (excluding BIO 400-405)

3-4

NOTE: Students planning to attend graduate school in biology should take at least one calculus course. Biostatistics (BIO 390) and additional math, chemistry, physics and computer science courses are also recommended for graduate school. Many professional schools (e.g., medical, dental, nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, etc.) may require calculus and additional biology, chemistry and/or physics courses. Students should consult with the appropriate pre-health advisor regarding professional school requirements.

Upper-level Courses (normally completed in the junior and senior year)

A minimum of seven upper-level biology courses are required for the major. The seven courses must be selected according to the following criteria: One course from each of the following groups (A, B, and C):

Group A Cell and Molecular Biology:

BIO 335Developmental Biology

4

BIO 345Histology

4

BIO 355Immunology

3

BIO 385Cellular Neurobiology

3

BIO 386Cancer BIology

3

BIO 392Bioinformatics and Genomics

4

BIO 455The Biology of Viruses

3

BMB 310Macromolecules

3

BMB 320Cellular Metabolism

3

BMB 330Molecular Genetics

3

BMB 340Cell Biology

3

Group B Organisms:

BIO 310Invertebrate Biology

4

BIO 320Natural History of Vertebrates

3

BIO 325Comparative Anatomy

4

BIO 330Entomology

4

BIO 340Microbiology

4

BIO 350Comparative Vertebrate Physiology

4

BIO 360Plant Biology

4

Group C Ecology and Evolution:

BIO 300Macroevolution

3

BIO 305Microevolution and Speciation

3

BIO 308Paleontology:The History of Life

3

BIO 315Freshwater Ecology

4

BIO 365Plant-Herbivore Interactions

3

BIO 370Principles of Ecology

4

BIO 371Behavioral Ecology: Avian Reproductive Strategies

3

BIO 372Caribbean Ecology

3

BIO 373Invasive Species Ecology in New Zealand

3

BIO 375Conservation Biology

3

BIO 381Forest Ecology

4

BIO 395Organisms in Extreme Environments

3

Three additional three or four credit hour BIO courses numbered 300 or higher, including BIO courses not listed above (excluding BIO 400-405).

The BMB courses listed above and/or BNS 330 can also be used toward this requirement. No more than two courses applied toward the upper-level requirements can be courses taught in another program (BMB or BNS).

At least three of the six upper-level requirements must have a lab component (four credit hour courses).

At least one of the upper-level requirements must have a field-biology component. The BIO courses with a field-biology component include:

BIO 315Freshwater Ecology

4

BIO 330Entomology

4

BIO 360Plant Biology

4

BIO 370Principles of Ecology

4

BIO 372Caribbean Ecology

3

BIO 381Forest Ecology

4

One capstone course:

BIO 500Senior Seminar

3

Completion of a senior biology exam as determined by the program.