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Bachelor of Science- Fall 22 Curriculum

Starting in Fall 2022, the Biology department will offer a new curriculum for the incoming students of Fall 22 or later.

The principles upon which new curriculum is designed are:

  1. The curriculum will be student-centered (i.e. based on learning outcomes and student needs).
  2. The curriculum will allow biology majors to build up skills and mastery of concepts in a gradual manner as they progress through their college years.
  3. The curriculum will allow more flexibility and give students the ability to focus more on their interests, without compromising on a well-rounded biological education.

 

Biology course requirements

1)  All Biology majors will complete (or place out of, e.g. through AP credit) BIOL 101 and BIOL 101 lab.

2)  All Biology majors will complete 2 fundamental courses and 1 fundamental lab/recitation.

BIOL 103- How cells function.

BIOL 104- Biodiversity.

BIOL 105L– Biological research skills.

*There is no specific order by which the fundamentals need to be taken. We strongly encourage students to take all fundamentals in the early stages of their college career. All of the three need to be completed before taking any 400-level biology elective.

 

3) Biology BS majors will complete 6 courses beyond the fundamental courses.

These courses will include at least of 2 of the 5 following core intermediate level courses:

  1. Cell Biology- BIOL 240
  2. Ecology- BIOL 260
  3. Evolution- BIOL 250
  4. Molecular Genetics- BIOL 220
  5. Organismal biology- a choice from a group of classes.

Each core class requires one (and only one) specific biology fundamental.

4) Biology BS majors will complete at least 3 biology labs (2 labs starting Fall 24)

*Not including BIOL 101L and 105L

*A single semester (and no more than a single semester) of BIOL 395 can serve as a lab.

5) Biology BS majors will complete at least of 2 upper-level biology courses (≥ 400).

 

 

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Non-Biology STEM requirements

 

1) Biology BS majors will be required to complete the following chemistry courses (total of 3 classes):

• CHEM 101/L (general chemistry I and lab)
• CHEM 102/L (general chemistry II and lab)
• CHEM 261 (organic chemistry I)

2) Biology BS majors will be required to complete the following STEM courses (total of 6 classes):

• MATH 231 (Calculus I)
• PHYS 114 or PHYS 118 (physics I)

• 2 of the following 4 options:
1. MATH 232 (calculus II_
2. PHYS 115 or PHYS119 (physics II)
3. Programming class (COMP 110 or COMP 116 or BIOL 222)
4. STOR 120 or STOR151 or STOR155

• 2 allied science courses from an approved list

 

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Sample scenarios

Please note, these are only sample scenarios. There is no one-size-fits-all scenario. Make sure you meet with Dr. Gidi Shemer, the biology faculty advisor as well as with gen-ed advisors to plan your own path.

 

A pre-med/pre-dental BIO BS major with a BIOL 101/L placement

In addition to the BIO BS requirements, this student is recommended to take chem 241/L and chem 262/L as well as choose chem 430 and biol 252/L as electives.

First year-        Fall: Biol 103, Statistics (or 104) , Biol 105L

                         Spring: Chem 101/L, BIOL 104 (or statistics)

Second year-   Fall: , Chem 102/L, BioL 220 (Genetics)

                          Spring: Chem 261, Biol 252/L

Third year-        Fall: Phys 114, Chem 262, Biol 240 (Cell biology)

                          Spring: Phys 115, Chem 430, bio w/L (e.g. research)

Fourth year-     Fall: Biol (400-level), Chem 241/L

                          Spring: Bio w/L; Chem 262L

 

A pre-med/pre-dental BIO BS major without a BIOL 101/L placement

In addition to the BIO BS requirements, this student is recommended to take chem 241/L and chem 262/L as well as choose chem 430 and biol 252/L as electives.

First year-       Fall: Biol 101/L, Statistics, Biol 105L

                        Spring: Biol 103; Chem 101/L

Second year-  Fall: Biol 220; Chem 102/L

                        Spring: Chem 261, Biol 104, Biol 240

Third year-      Fall: Phys 114, Chem 262, Biol 252

                        Spring: Phys 115, Chem 430

Fourth year-    Fall: Biol w/L (400-level), Chem 241/L

                        Spring: Biol w/L, Chem 262L

 

A student interested pursuing research or work in molecular or cellular biology

In addition to the BIO BS requirements, this student is recommended to take chem 262 as well as choose chem 430 as one of their electives.

First year-        Fall: Biol 103, BIOL 104, Biol 105L

                         Spring: Chem 101/L, Statistics

Second year-   Fall: Chem 102/L, Biol 220 (Genetics)

                          Spring: Chem 261, Biol 240 (Cell biology)

Third year-        Fall: Phys 114, Biol 395 (research)

                          Spring: Phys 115, Chem 262

Fourth year-     Fall: Biol (400 level), Biol w/L

                          Spring: Biol w/L, Chem 430

 

A student interested pursuing research or work in ecology/conservation biology

First year-        Fall: Biol 104, Statistics, Biol 105L

                         Spring: Chem 101/L, Biol 103

Second year-   Fall: Chem 102/L, Organismal Biology w/L

                          Spring: Chem 261, Biol 260 (Ecology)

Third year-        Fall: Phys 114, Biol 395 (research)

                          Spring: Phys 115, Biol w/L

Fourth year-     Fall: Biol (400 level)

                          Spring: Biol (400 level)

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