Biology Major

Major requirements

The major in Biology consists of a minimum of 15 credits

Core Courses - Biology

Note: BIO 111 and BIO 112 can be taken in any order

BIO 111 - Evolution and Ecology
BIO 112 - Cells and Genes
Four 200-level courses, at least three of which must have a laboratory
Three 300-level courses, at least two of which must have a laboratory
Biology courses above the 100-level must include a minimum of one course from: Cells and Molecules, Organisms and Systems

Core Courses - Other

CHEM 153 - Chemical Principles
CHEM 232 - Aqueous Equilibria or
CHEM 253 - Organic Chemistry I
Three related courses normally from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science or Physics or other courses as approved by the department, including PSY 225 , PSY 226 and PSY 227 . One of the related courses is to be a math course typically either Statistics or Calculus at any level.

Additional Courses

Courses beyond the 100-level must include at least one course from each of the following areas:

Cells and Molecules
BIO 211 - Genetics (L)
BIO 219 - Cell Biology (L)
BIO 221 - Microbiology (L)
BIO 254 - Developmental Biology (L)
BIO 305 - Biochemistry (L)
BIO 316 - Molecular Biology and Genomics (L)
BIO 321 - Immunology
BIO 324 - Neurobiology (L)
Organisms
BIO 226 - Comparative Animal Behavior
BIO 244 - Introductory Physiology (L)
BIO 252 - Parasitology and Symbiosis (L)
BIO 255 - Vertebrate Evolution and Anatomy (L)
BIO 261 - Economic Botany (L)
BIO 290 - Biology of Whales *
BIO 291 - Introduction to Marine Mammals *
BIO 298 - Biology of Sharks
BIO 330 - Comparative Biomechanics (L)
BIO 375 - Ornithology (L)
BIO 390 - Biology of Fishes *
Systems
BIO 201 - Environmental Science
BIO 215 - Ecology (L)
BIO 231 - Marine Biology
BIO 303 - Evolution (L)
BIO 317 - Molecular Ecology and Evolution (L)
BIO 318 - Tropical Field Biology (L)
BIO 320 - Evolution of Invertebrates (L)
BIO 364 - Freshwater and Marine Botany (L)
BIO 380 - Wetlands Ecology, Hydrology, Restoration *
BIO 398 - Conservation Science

Capstone

With departmental approval, one of the following can count as the Senior Capstone

BIO 401 /BIO 402 Senior Seminar
BIO 499 Approved Independent Research
BIO 500 Public Presentations of honor thesis work

Honors

Biology departmental honors will be awarded on the basis of a B+ or better average in the major, an overall average of B or better, and a grade of B+ or better on the individual research project.

Notes

(L) Course with Lab

*Offered through the Boston Marine Studies Consortium (usually off campus)