BA in Biology—Quantitative Biology Specialization
The requirements for BA in Biology—Quantitative Biology Specialization include seven principal courses beyond CAS BI 107 and 108 (or 118), BI/MA 196, five mathematics courses beyond MA 129, plus courses in physics and chemistry. (See below for detailed requirements). A grade of C or higher is required for credit toward the quantitative specialization in all of the following: biology courses numbered 191 or higher, prerequisite math courses, required related courses, and optional related courses. A grade of C− or higher is required for credit toward the two prerequisite semesters of Introductory Biology (CAS BI 107 and BI 108 or 118) and prerequisite and corequisite chemistry courses (CAS CH 101/102 or 109/110 or 111/112) and CH 203 (or 211).
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)
Prerequisite Mathematics Courses
- CAS MA 123 and MA 124 or
- CAS MA 127 or
- CAS MA 129
Principal Courses (7, including breadth requirements)
Of these seven courses, five must be taken in the Biology Department, at least three courses must be at the 300–500 level, and three must have a laboratory or field component. A 300–500-level course with a laboratory simultaneously counts toward both requirements.
Breadth requirements (3):
- Cell & Molecular Biology (CM): CAS BI 203 (or BI 213)
- Physiology and Neurobiology (PN): CAS BI 315 or BI 325 (or NE 203)
- Ecology, Behavior, Evolution (EBE): CAS BI 303, or BI 306, or BI 309, or BI 407
Electives (4):
- CAS MA/BI 565 or ENG/CAS BF/BI 571
Plus three courses from the following QB elective courses:
- CAS BI 206 (or 216)
- CAS BI 309
- CAS BI 385
- CAS BI 407
- CAS BI 410
- CAS BI 421
- CAS BI 422
- CAS BI 423
- CAS BI 443
- CAS BI 445
- CAS BI 481
- CAS BI 502
- CAS BI 508
- CAS BI 513
- CAS BI 519
- CAS BI 552
- CAS BI 553
- CAS BI 556
- CAS BI 572
- CAS BB 522
- CAS CN 510
- CAS CN 520
- CAS GE 275
- CAS GE 365
- CAS GE 516
- CAS MA/BI 565
- ENG BF 527
- ENG/CAS BE/BI 561
- ENG/CAS BE/BI 567
- ENG/CAS BF/BI 571
Undergraduate Research Options
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 QB 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
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)
Note: CH 204 (or CH 212 or CH 214) is required for the biochemistry sequence and for premedical requirements.
Required Mathematics Courses
Six additional courses in mathematics beyond the math prerequisites (*recommended):
- CAS MA (or BI 196)
- CAS MA 213
- CAS MA 214
- CAS MA 225* (or MA 230)
- CAS MA 226* (or MA 231)
- CAS MA 242* (or MA 442)
Required Physics Courses
Two physics courses in sequence (*recommended):
- CAS PY 241/242*; or
- CAS PY 105/106; or
- CAS PY 211/212
Optional Related Courses
CN:
- CAS CN 530
- CAS CN 540
- CAS CN 550
- CAS CN 560
- CAS CN 570
- CAS CN 580
CS:
- CAS CS 111
- CAS CS 112
- CAS CS 232
GE:
- CAS GE 302
- CAS GE 440
- CAS GE 445
- CAS GE 565
MA:
- CAS MA 555
- CAS MA 556
- CAS MA 575
- CAS MA 581
- CAS MA 583
