Advising Information for Students Planning a Major in Biology
August 2003
The Core Curriculum
A foundation in Biology is provided by the core curriculum and is required of all majors. The core curriculum consists of:
A. Three Introductory Courses:
* Biology 141, Introductory Biology-Zoology (no prerequisites) or equivalent (e.g., AP Biology)
* Biology 142, Introductory Biology-Botany (no prerequisites)
* Biology 230, Molecular and Cellular Biology (prerequisites: BIOL 141, 142, CHEM 120)
B. One Upper Level Course:
* Biology 365, Genetics (prerequisite: BIOL 230)
The three introductory courses must be taken before proceeding to most of the upper level courses. Biology 365 can be taken any time after the introductory courses. Prerequisite courses are indicated in parentheses after the upper level courses.
Upper Level Courses
Upper level courses build upon the core curriculum and provide both breadth and specialization in biology. This combination is achieved through required categories that allow choice of courses to accommodate the specific interests and goals of the student.
I. Organismal Biology and Systematics – Two courses (8 semester hours) required, one in each category, A and B. One course must be an animal biology course (Biology 223, 320, 326, or 327) and one must be a plant biology course (Biology 213, 315/316, 331, or 332). Thus, students choose courses from Categories A and B using either Option 1 or Option 2.
| A. Biodiversity and Phylogeny (choose one): | B. Structure and Function (choose one): | |
| Option 1. | Biology 213, Systematics of Non-Vascular Plants (141, 142) | Biology 326, Animal Physiology (230 and 223 or 320) |
| Biology 315/316, Systematics of Vascular Plants I/II (141, 142) | Biology 327, Neuroscience (141, 215, PSYC 101) | |
| Option 2. | Biology 213, Systematics of Non-Vascular Plants (141, 142) | Biology 326, Animal Physiology (230 and 223 or 320) |
| Biology 223, Vertebrate Biology (141, 142) | Biology 331, Plant Anatomy (230; 316 recommended) | |
| Biology 320, Invertebrate Zoology (141, 142) | Biology 332, Plant Physiology (230, CHEM 220) |
II. Integration and Synthesis – One course (3-4 semester hours) required from among:
| Biology 328, Animal Behavior (141, 215, PSYC 101) | Biology 343, Behavioral Ecology (141, 215, PSYC 101) |
| Biology 335, Evolution (365) | Biology 366, Basic Biochemistry (230, CHEM 320) |
| Biology 340, Developmental Biology (230; 223 or 320) | Biology 415, Advanced Molecular Biology (365 or 366) |
| Biology 341, General Ecology (213, 223, 316, or 320) | Interdisciplinary 388, Bioinformatics |
| Biology 342, Marine Ecology (213, 223, 316, or 320) |
III. Electives – Two courses (6-8 semester hours) required. Courses may be selected from any of the above (I and II) or from:
| Biology 215, Experimental Methods (PSYC 101) | Biology 338, Microbiology (230) |
| Biology 234, Human Anatomy and Physiology | Biology 344, Conservation Biology |
| (120 or 141, CHEM 115 or 120) | Biology 347, Primate Behavior and Ecology |
| Biology 300, Field Biology (141, 142) | Biology 368, Intermediate Biochemistry (366) |
| Biology 302, Field Botany (141, 142 | Biology 378, Immunology (230) |
| Biology 303 Field Zoology and Ecology (141, PSYC 101) |
IV. Apprenticeship Experience – 3 or 4 semester hours required from among:
- Education 423, Student Teaching (see education requirements) plus 1 hr Biology 498, Internship (permission)
- Biology 481, Independent Research (permission)
- Biology 482, Techniques in Biological Research (permission)
- Biology 498, Internship (permission)
Apprenticeship in Biology
The apprenticeship experience (or APEX) is designed as the culmination of a student’s program in biology. The APEX experience allows the student to apply his or her expertise in a variety of contexts. This concrete experience can be achieved through an independent or collaborative research project, an internship, or student teaching of biology in middle or secondary school. All students will prepare and submit a scientific paper to the faculty supervisor, and will present a public lecture based upon the apprenticeship experience.
Majors are required to meet with their Biology faculty advisor no later than the advising period in the fall semester of the junior year to discuss options for the apprenticeship experience.
Required Correlative Courses
Modern biologists need background in other disciplines to enhance their insight into biological phenomena and to understand the role of the life sciences in society. The following correlative courses are required:
Chemistry 120, Structure and Bonding; 121, Intr. To Chemical Analysis; and Chemistry 220, Intr. To Organic Chemistry
Physics 113, Principles of Physics I; or 213, Fundamentals of Physics I
Mathematics 108, Statistics; or 198, Calculus I
One course addressing the ethical, historical, or social aspects of science, chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor in the Biology department, is strongly recommended. Examples include: Interdisciplinary courses 301, 302, 306, 307, 309, 311, 317, 318, 321, 344, 360, 361, 362, 370, 374, 375; or Philosophy 265 or 270.
Please note that further courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics are required for admission to most professional schools (e.g., medicine, veterinary medicine) and some graduate programs. Biology students planning to attend professional or graduate schools should investigate the specific requirements for these programs, including the possible need of a reading knowledge of a foreign language or facility in a computer programming language.
Minor in Biology
The minor requires a minimum of 6 courses including Biology 141, 142, and 230, and 3 additional courses that are approved by the student’s Biology faculty advisor. A student wishing to minor in Biology must have a Biology faculty member as an advisor, in addition to an advisor in the student’s major department.
Frequency of Course Offerings
| Courses offered twice/year: | 120#, 141, 142, 215, 230*, 365; | ||
| Courses offered once/year: | 223, 250, 326, 327, 328, 338, 366, | ||
| Courses Offered in Alternate Years: | 2003/04 --- 213, 241, 331, 335, 341, 344, 415 | 2004/05 --- 234, 315/316, 320, 332, 340, 342, 368, 378, 483 |
*in 2003/04 offered Fall 12 week only
Courses not listed here are offered on a 3-year rotation, or as part of the International Studies program or summer field courses, in which case the frequency of offering varies.
Planning Your Coursework for a Biology Major
Many sequences of beginning courses in the sciences are possible for students majoring in Biology, pre-med, pre-vet, and other pre-professional health sciences programs. What is important is to get started early with courses that are prerequisites both for upper level biology courses and for application to professional and graduate schools. We recommend that you speak with a Biology department professor if you have any questions.
For students with good preparation in high school chemistry we recommend that you complete three or four of the following courses by the end of your first year: Chem 120, Chem 121 (you can place into this course the first semester with a high score on the Chemistry placement exam), Biol 141, Biol 142, Math 198. We recommend that you take no more than two science lab courses in one 12-week session. By the end of your second full year of study we also recommend that you take an additional four lab science courses or math courses including those that you did not complete in the first year from the list above and other courses selected from: Chem 220, Chem 320, and Biol 230. By completing seven or eight of these courses in the first two years, you will have more options for courses in your last two years.
For students with weak or no preparation in high school chemistry we recommend that you complete two or three of the following courses by the end of your first year: Chem 115, Chem 120, Chem 121, Biol 141, Biol 142. We recommend that you take only one lab science course during the Fall 12 week. By the end of your second full year of study we also recommend that you take an additional 3 or 4 lab science or math courses including those that you did not complete from the first year and other lab science or math courses including Biol 230, Math 108. By completing six courses in your first two years, you will be on track for completing biology major.
#in 2003/04 offered Fall 3 only