BA in Biology—Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Genetics Specialization

The BA in Biology—Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Genetics Specialization requires two introductory biology courses, three foundation courses in cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology, and four courses chosen from a list of advanced electives. In addition, there are Biology breadth requirements in physiology/neuroscience and ecology/behavior/evolution, as well as standard requirements in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Course titles and full descriptions are located in the Courses portion of this bulletin.

Prerequisite Biology Courses

• CAS BI 107
• CAS BI 108 (or 118)

Required Core Courses (fulfill PN and EBE breadth requirements)

• Physiology and Neurobiology (PN): CAS BI 315 or BI 325 (or CAS NE 203)
• Ecology, Behavior, Evolution (EBE): CAS BI 260 or BI 303 or BI 306 or 309 or BI 407

Foundation Courses

• CAS BI 213 recommended (or 203)
• CAS BI 216 recommended (or 206)
• CAS BI 552

Advanced Electives

Choose four additional courses from the following list and/or from the undergraduate research and non-departmental options below (a maximum of two of the non-departmental courses can be used for advanced elective concentration credit).

• CAS BI 309
• CAS BI 311
• CAS BI 315
• CAS BI 325 (or CAS NE 203)
• CAS BI 385
• CAS BI 410
• CAS BI 421
• CAS BI 422
• CAS BI 425
• CAS BI 442
• CAS BI 445
• CAS BI 446
• CAS BI 455
• CAS BI 481
• CAS BI 485
• CAS BI 502
• CAS BI 513
• CAS BI 549
• CAS BI 551
• CAS BI 553
• CAS BI 554
• CAS BI 556
• CAS BI 572
• CAS BI 575
• CAS BI 576

Note: Among the required core courses and advanced electives, at least three must be at the 300–500 level, and three must have a laboratory component. A 300–500-level course with a laboratory simultaneously counts toward both requirements.

Undergraduate Research

CAS BI 191/192 or BI 291/292 may be taken for elective credit by freshmen and sophomores, respectively; these courses may only be taken for 2 credits per semester.

To receive credit toward the major, research must be done on an approved topic.

A maximum of 8 credits (two courses) from the following courses may be counted as advanced electives, but no more than 4 credits (one course) will apply toward the laboratory requirement.

• CAS BI 391, 392 or
• CAS BI 401, 402 or
• CAS BI 491, 492

Non-Departmental

A maximum of two of the following courses can be used as advanced electives for major credit:

• CAS BB 522
• CAS CH 525
• ENG BF 527
• ENG BF 571

Prerequisite and Corequisite Chemistry Courses

• CAS CH 101 (or 109 or 111) and
• CAS CH 102 (or 110 or 112) and
• CAS CH 203 (or 211) and
• CAS CH 204 (or 212 or 214)

Required Mathematics or Computer Science Courses

Two courses in mathematics or one each in calculus and computer science:

Calculus courses:

• CAS MA 121 and 122 or
• CAS MA 123 and 124 or
• CAS MA 196 or
• CAS MA 127 or
• CAS MA 129

Note: MA 127 or MA 129 can be taken to satisfy both biology math requirements.

Statistics courses:

• CAS MA 115 and 116 or
• CAS MA 213 and 214

Computer Science courses:

• CAS CS 108 or
• CAS CS 111

Combinations:

Any one course in calculus plus any one course in statistics from those listed above.

Any one course in computer science from those listed above plus any one course in calculus from those listed above.

Required Physics Courses

Two courses in physics:

• CAS PY 105/106 or
• CAS PY 211/212 or
• CAS PY 241/242

Note: A student may take PY 211 and PY 106 to satisfy the physics requirement.