The Biological Sciences Department offers three majors and a one
minor. The three majors available are Biological Sciences (BioSci), for
students seeking a broad base in the
biological sciences, without specialization. Molecular and
Cellular
Biology (MCB), for students with specific interests in the molecular
and cellular aspects of biology, including but not limited to
biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, developmental biology,
microbiology, molecular biology, and molecular genetics. Ecology,
Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB), for students seeking a
foundation for advanced training in ecology, evolutionary biology,
conservation/environmental biology, or related subdiscipline. The
department offers a minor in Biological Sciences for students majoring
in other disciplines.
All three majors require:
- Two semesters of general chemistry and lab (Chemistry 102a,b and
104a,b) and two semesters of organic chemistry and lab (Chemistry
219a,b and 220a,b).
- It is strongly recommended that students in all
three majors take one year of calculus or calculus/statistics and one
year of physics.
- A total of 30 hours of Biological Sciences courses,
including the 8 hours of 110a,b and 111a,b, are required in all majors.
All Biological Sciences courses count toward the major except 100, 105,
and 115.
- Students with specialized interests within either of the
specialized majors may substitute one of the intermediate courses with
an upper level course with the permission of one of the Directors of Undergraduate Studies and the Biological Sciences Curriculum Committee.
(Intermediate Biological Sciences courses: 201, 202, 205, 210, 211,
218, 219, 220, 221, 237, 238).
- Students may declare only one of the majors offered by the Department
of Biological Sciences; double or triple majors within the department
are not permitted.
- Additional requirements listed below
Additional major requirements:
Biological Sciences (BioSci) Major
At least 30 hours satisfying the general requirements above, and including the following:
- Introductory Courses—BSCI 110a, BSCI 110b and labs (111a, 111b)
- Intermediate Courses—205, 210, and one other intermediate lecture course; one intermediate laboratory course
- Laboratory Two laboratory courses (202, 211, 218, 219, 237, or 253), or one lab course and two semesters of directed and/or independent research (BSCI 283, 286, 296).
- Seminar/Independent Studies—A minimum of 2 credit hours of 275, 282, 283, 286, or 296 is required. Only one seminar (275) may count toward the major. A total of no more than 6 credit hours of 282, 283, and 286 may be counted toward the major.
- For students intending to perform Honors research, at least two Biological Sciences lecture courses must have a t least two Biological Sciences lecture courses must have a course number of greater than 221.
Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Major
At least 30 hours satisfying the general requirements above, and including the following:
- Introductory Courses—BSCI 110a, BSCI 110b and labs (111a, 111b)
- Intermediate Courses—201, 210, 220, and either 202or 211
- Laboratory—One additional laboratory course (202, 211, 218, 219, 237, or 253), or two semesters of directed and/or independent research (BSCI 283, 286, 296).
- Seminar/Independent Studies—A minimum of 2 credit hours of 275, 282, 283, 286, or 296 is required. Only one seminar (275) may count toward the major.
- A total of no more than 6 credit hours of 282, 283, and 286 may be counted toward the major.
- Of the remaining courses, at least two must be from the following: 205, 226, 230, 240, 243, 245, 246, 247, 252, 256, 258, 265, 266, 267, 268, 273, 274, 279, Honors Research (296).
- For students intending to perform Honors research in the MCB major, 265 must be taken; an alternate advanced lecture course may be substituted with the permission of one of the directors of undergraduate studies.
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) Major
At least 30 hours satisfying the general requirements above, and including the following:
- Introductory Courses—BSCI 110a, BSCI 110b and labs (111a, 111b)
- Intermediate Courses—205, 210, and 218 or 219 or 238; one intermediate lab course.
- Laboratory One additional laboratory course (202, 211, 218, 219, 237, or 253), or two semesters of directed and/or independent research (BSCI 283, 286, 296).
- Seminar/Independent Studies—A minimum of 2 credit hours of 275, 282, 283, 286, or 296 is required. Only one seminar (275) may count toward the major. A total of no more than 6 credit hours of 282, 283, and 286 may be counted toward the major.
- Of the remaining courses, at least two must be from the following: 230, 235, 238, 239, 246, 247, 257, 266, 270, 273, Honors Research (296); or 218, 219, or 238 if not used for the intermediate course requirement.
- For students intending to perform Honors research in the EEOB major, one of the following courses must be taken: 230, 238, 239, 246, 247, 257, 270.
Additional requirements for Honors:
- A minimum GPA of 3.25 in courses that count toward the major
- At least 10 of the 30 hours of Biological Sciences course work must be directed and/or independent research, with a minimum of 8 hours being Honors research (BSCI 296)
- An Honors thesis and oral defense.
Specific track requirements for Honors:
Declaring a Minor
Requirements:
A minor in Biological Sciences requires a minimum of 18 hours made up
as follows:
- 8 hours of BSCI 110a,b and 111a,b
- BSCI 210 and one
other intermediate lecture course
- Two other Biological Sciences
courses, at least one of which must be a 3 hour lecture course,
excluding 282, 283, 286, and 296.
- Biological Sciences 110a–110b and 111a–111b serve as prerequisites for
all higher numbered courses (except 115) for students in any of the
three majors or the minor offered by the department.
With planning, it is possible to combine a major in Biological
Sciences with another major. While it is more common for double majors
to consider related fields such as chemistry and mathematics, students
have combined Biological Sciences majors with such diverse areas as
foreign languages, music, and fine arts. Consult the appropriate DUS as
early as possible. Double or triple majors entirely within the Biological Sciences department are not permitted.
Minors are usually taken either to extend the student's interest in
biological sciences, or to provide contrast. It should be noted that
most minors can be easily accomodated if they are started in good time.
Please contact a Director of Undergraduate studies for more
information.
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