The Biology major is designed for students wishing to explore life science at multiple levels ranging from the molecular to the organismal to the ecosystem level. The curriculum seeks to develop organizational and communication skills, critical thinking and the ability to synthesize information. Graduates of the program are well prepared to undertake advanced study in graduate, medical or dental school, or for a career in business or education.
Course Sequence - Class of 2018 and Beyond
| Freshman Year | |
| Conversatio I | Conversatio II |
| English composition I / Core | English composition II / Core |
| Biology 103 | Biology 104 |
| Chemistry 130 | Chemistry 131 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Language I / Elective | Language II / Elective |
| Core | Core |
| Biology elective I / Biostats | Biology Elective I / Biostats |
| Chemistry 250 | Chemistry 251 |
| Junior Year | |
| Language III / Elective | Core |
| Core | Core |
| Physics 121 | Physics 122 |
| Biology Elective II | Biology Elective III |
| Senior Year | |
| Core | Core / Elective |
| Core | Elective |
| Biology Elective IV | Biology Elective VI |
| Biology Elective V / Biology 421 | Biology Elective VII / Biology 422 |
The Biology major is designed for students wishing to explore life science at multiple levels ranging from the molecular to the organismal to the ecosystem level. The curriculum seeks to develop organizational and communication skills, critical thinking and the ability to synthesize information. Graduates of the program are well prepared to undertake advanced study in graduate, medical or dental school, or for a career in business or education.
Major requirements include:
Biology:
- BI 103 - General Biology I
- BI 104 - General Biology II
- BI 345 - Biostatistics
Chemistry:
- CH 130 - General Chemistry I
- CH 131 - General Chemistry II
- CH 250 - Organic Chemistry I
Physics:
- One semester of Physics (PS121, 122, 131 or 132)
Additional requirements include:
Students must also select seven major elective courses from the department, with the following conditions.
- At least one biology course must be selected from each of the following two categories (two courses total).
- CH251 Organic Chemistry II OR an additional semester of Physics may count for one course of the seven.
- Directed Research in Biology (BI421-BI422 or BI423), Internship (BI451-454) or Washington Internship (BI450) may count for one course of the seven
- Six of the seven must be lab courses.
With permission of the chair, up to 3 upper-level courses on topics other than those listed below may be transferred in from study abroad or from domestic institutions.
Students must also successfully complete a written comprehensive examination. The examination is the Education Testing Service Major Field Test in Biology and is administered twice annually, once in November and once in February.
Category 1 - Cellular & Molecular Biology/Organismal Structure and Function
- BI 201 - Exercise Physiology
- BI 315 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
- BI 318 - Microbiology for Majors
- BI 327 - Genetics
- BI 331 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- BI 332 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- BI 333 - Cell Biology
- BI 334 - Animal Physiology
- BI 336 - Biochemistry
- BI 339 - Endocrinology
- BI 341 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry
- BI 344 - Nutrition (nonlab)
- BI 346 - Pharmacology (nonlab)
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(nonlab)
Category 2 - Evolution & Diversity/Global Issues & Environmental Science
- BI 205 - Biosphere at Risk (nonlab)
- BI 221 - Tropical Biology and
- BI 222 - Field Studies in Tropical Biology
- BI 319 - Aquatic Ecology
- BI 320 - Ecology
- BI 325 - Evolutionary Biology
- BI 328 - Conservation Biology
- BI 329 - Plant Biology
- BI 335 - Animal Behavior
- BI 338 - Invertebrate Zoology
- BI 347 - Ornithology