B.A. Degree with a Major in Biology, with an Area of Concentration in Molecular, Cellular, and Systems Biology

Requirements for the Major

A major in Biology with an Area of Concentration in Molecular, Cellular, and Systems Biology is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:

Required Core Courses

BIO 110, 113, 114, 330, and one (1) approved 300- or 400-level field course (i.e. Field Botany, Dendrology and Forest Ecology, Parasitology, Invertebrate Zoology, Herpetology, or an approved field or field-station course)

Required Capstone Course

BIO 494

Required Concentration Courses

Four (4) course credits approved within the Molecular, Cellular, and Systems Biology Concentration, chosen from BIO 222, 323, 325, 331, 441, CHM 345, 370, 371, an approved BIO 386/486, or an approved Molecular, Cellular, and Systems Biology course.

CHM 370 and 371 each count as 1/2 course credits.

Courses within the concentration may include approved courses from any term, but at least three of the four selected concentration courses must be full Fall, Spring, or Summer One or Summer Two courses.

Required Collateral courses

MAT 115 (or waiver); CHM 131 or 134; and CHM 221 and 222. In addition, two terms of the same modern foreign language are required.

Exploring the Major

Students considering a major in Biology should waive or completed MAT 012 and enroll in BIO 110 and CHM 131 or 134. (Students should complete CHM 101 prior to enrolling in CHM 131/134 if they have a limited high-school chemistry background.) BIO 100, 101, 102, and 207 cannot be used toward the Biology major. These courses are general access courses or are service courses for other programs. Students interested in pursuing a pre-medical/dental/veterinary curriculum are encouraged strongly to pursue the General Biology Concentration option.

Admission to the Major

To be admitted to the Biology major, students must complete BIO 110, 113, and 114 with a combined GPA of 2.37 (two B- grades and one C- grade are the minimum requirement; grades below a C- are not acceptable).

This GPA requirement applies to entrance into the Biology major; it is not a graduation requirement.

Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within eight terms)

Students considering a major in Biology should waive or complete MAT 115 during their first year. If possible, students should complete BIO 110, 113, and 114 by the second term of their sophomore year. Students also are advised to complete their collateral Chemistry courses by their sophomore year whenever possible. BIO 494 (capstone) should be taken in Spring Term of senior year.

Other Considerations and Recommendations

Pre-medical/dental/veterinary students should enroll in CHM 131, rather than CHM 134, if possible. Students preparing for graduate or professional school are strongly encouraged to complete CHM 311, BIO 441&/or CHM 345 (both if pre-med), MAT 135 (or waiver), and PHY 217 & 218.

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