BIOLOGY MAJOR

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A minimum of 37 credits in biology courses is required for the major. (No more than 8 credits of 300-level electives can be applied to this total. In addition, two 400-level BIO courses with labs must be among the 37 credits). An additional requirement is 16 credits of chemistry, 8 credits of physics, and 3-4 credits of calculus or statistics. Pre- Health Professions students should refer to Pre-Health Profession: Biology Major Guidelines.

 

Sequence #1 – For students placed into MTH111

Recommended Courses in the Freshman Year 

First Semester     Second Semester

  • BIO 201 General Biology I

  • MTH111 College Algebra

  • *Students with successful completion of Chemistry in HS or College (>85%) may add CHM205

  • BIO 202 General Biology II
  • CHM205 General Chemistry I*
  • MTH122 Precalculus


Recommended Courses in the Sophomore Year

First Semester Second Semester

  • BIO321 or 303 or 323

  • PHS205 General Physics I

  • MTH201 Calc I or MTH243 Stats
  • BIO322 or 303 or 323
  • PHS210 General Physics II
  • CHM206 General Chemistry II

NOTE: BIO 201, 202; CHM 205, 206 are prerequisites for BIO 310, 311 and BIO 302.



Sequence #2 – For students placed into MTH122

Recommended Courses in the Freshman Year

First Semester
Second Semester
  • BIO 201 General Biology I
  • CHM205 General Chemistry I
  • BIO 202 General Biology II
  • CHM206 General Chemistry II
  • MTH122 Precalculus

Recommended Courses in the Sophomore Year

First Semester
Second Semester
  • BIO302 Genetics
  • CHM305 Organic Chemistry I
  • MTH201 Calc I or MTH243 Stats
  • BIO310 Biological Chemistry
  • BIO311 Biological Chemistry Lab
  • CHM306 Organic Chemistry II



Sequence #3 – For students placed into MTH201 Calc or MTH243 Stats

Recommended Courses in the Freshman Year

First Semester
Second Semester
  • BIO 201 General Biology I
  • CHM205 General Chemistry I
  • BIO 202 General Biology II
  • CHM206 General Chemistry II
  • MTH201 Calc I or MTH243 Stats

Recommended Courses in the Sophomore Year

First Semester
Second Semester
  • BIO302 Genetics
  • CHM305 Organic Chemistry I
  • BIO310 Biological Chemistry
  • BIO311 Biological Chemistry Lab
  • CHM306 Organic Chemistry II

NOTE: Grades of at least a C must be obtained in BIO 201 and 202 to advance to BIO302, 310 and 311.

Further Recommendations

Students need to be aware of the sequential nature of some courses in biology, chemistry and physics, and of the prerequisites for upper-division science courses. Care must be taken in planning the student’s program because not all courses are offered every semester.

 

Transfer Students

Transfer students in particular need to be aware of the sequential nature of some courses in biology, chemistry, and physics, and of the prerequisites for upper-division science courses. They should take the appropriate freshman and sophomore science courses so they can seamlessly transition into the upper-division curriculum.

Last Updated 7/1/20

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