Biology Major

Requirements for the Major

Learning Outcomes of the Program in Biology

The Biology major aims to provide students with skills and knowledge to effectively engage and evaluate biological issues and innovations in the wider world, and to prepare them as leaders in research, biotechnology, and health-related career fields.

We see the following specific student learning goals as critical to achieving the above:

1. Understand the foundational scientific principles and findings In the student’s major field of biology.
2. Develop critical thinking and analytical skills by developing specific hypotheses and designing controlled experiments to test those hypotheses.
3. Read, understand and critique original research articles.

Courses required for the Biology major:

• BIOL 043L KS , BIOL 044L KS , or BIOL 040L KS  and BIOL 044L KS , or both semester of the AISS course;
• CHEM 014L KS , CHEM 015L KS  (or CHEM 029L KS ), or CHEM 040L KS  and CHEM 015L KS , or both semesters of the AISS course;
• CHEM 116L KS , CHEM 117L KS ;
• MATH 030 PZ  (should be taken before Physics);
• PHYS 030L KS , PHYS 031L KS  (or PHYS 033L KS , PHYS 034L KS ), or both semesters of the AISS course;
• Six (6) advanced courses in biology (including three laboratory courses) chosen in consultation with the Biology faculty, so as to obtain depth in one area of biology (e.g., cellular/molecular, organismal, or population-level) or breadth across all areas. Students completing a two-semester thesis normally take BIOL 188L KS  during the fall semester of their senior year and BIOL 190L KS  in the spring. BIOL 191 KS , One-Semester Thesis in Biology is required of all majors in Science not completing BIOL 188L KS  and BIOL 190L KS .