MAJORS IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

The Biology Department offers majors in biology in the liberal arts program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Bachelor of Science degree, and to the Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. The Department also offers a Minor in Biology.

Declaring a Major in Biology

Courses in these programs should be selected with the assistance and approval of a Departmental Advisor. Student are assigned a Faculty Advisor (and subsequently formally declare a Major) by contacting the Dept. Secretary Mrs. Marcia Schultz in Jennings 231 to obtain and fill-out a blue "Advisor Assignment Form", and a "Declaration of Major" form. You will then choose an Academic Concentration in Biology. The Department has nine Academic Concentrations from which to choose:

General Biology (includes all Secondary Educ. Majors)
Aquatic/Marine Biology
Biotech., Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology (MCDB)
Botany
Environmental Biology
Microbiology
Physiology
Pre-Professional (Pre-Med., Pre-Vet., Pre-Dental, etc.)
Zoology

Return the completed Advisor Assignment Form to Mrs. Schultz (leave the "Dept. Advisor" field blank). You will then be assigned an Advisor, and this assignment will be periodically posted in the hallway outside of the Dept. office. Next, take the Declaration of Major form to your newly assigned Advisor. Your Faculty Advisor will offer academic advice and career planning, assist in course scheduling, provide a registration PIN, and sign your Declaration of Major form. Then request the signature of the Dept. Chair Dr. Burian, and finally submit the completed form to the Registrar's Office in the Wintergreen building.

Degree & Course requirements

* To see a visual flowchart of the departments course offerings, the term offered, and the prerequisites, please click here. Bear in mind that course offerings change, so be sure to check the Banner system for the most up-to-date information.

Biology majors are required to take CHE 120-121 and
enrollment is recommended in the freshman year. Additional
requirements are listed below.

All majors must take a minimum of 34 credits (10 courses).

The following 12 credits (3 courses) must be taken:
         BIO 102 - Zoology
        BIO 103 - Botany
        BIO 320 - Genetics

One course must be selected from each of the following four content areas, 16 credits (4 courses):

1. Anatomy/Comparative Biology
        BIO 230 - Morphology of Vascular Plants
        BIO 231 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
       BIO 232 - Morphology of Non-Vascular Plants
        BIO 350 - Anatomy of Vascular Plants

2. Physiology
        BIO 239 - Introduction to Physiology
        BIO 339 - Plant Physiology
        BIO 340 - Animal Physiology

3. Cell/Molecular Biology
        BIO 233 - General Microbiology
        BIO 435 - Developmental Biology
        BIO 436 - Cell Biology

4. Biodiversity/Ecology
        BIO 228 - Vertebrate Zoology
        BIO 229 - Invertebrate Zoology
        BIO 400 - Ecology
        BIO 429 - Aquatic Biology
        BIO 430 - Marine Biology

The remaining 8 credits (3 courses) may be chosen from
any of the courses offered by the Biology Department.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Candidates for this degree must satisfactorily complete
the following cognate requirements: one year of general
chemistry (CHE 120-121 or equivalent); one semester of earth
science (ESC 200 or above); one semester of mathematics
(MAT 108 or above).
For students contemplating graduate professional study,
the following courses are highly recommended: one year of
organic chemistry (CHE 260-262); one year of physics (PHY
[200-201], or 210, or [230-231]); one year of calculus (MAT
150-151). This degree also requires completion of the fourth
semester of a foreign language.

Bachelor of Science Degree

Candidates for this degree must satisfactorily complete the
following cognate requirements: one year of general chemistry
(CHE 120-121); one semester of earth science (ESC 200 or
above); one semester of mathematics (MAT 108, or above);
and PHY [200-201], or 210, or [230-231].
For students contemplating graduate professional study, the
following courses are highly recommended: one year organic
chemistry (CHE 260-262); one year of calculus (MAT 150-
151); and at least one semester of computer science.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education

Secondary education majors are required to complete in
addition to the courses required for the biology major, one
year of general chemistry (CHE 120-121); one semester of
earth science (ESC 120, 140, 200, or 320 are recommended);
one semester of mathematics (MAT 108, 139, or above), and
PHY [200-201], or 210, or [230-231]. A course in computer
science is recommended. The specific professional requirements
for Initial Teaching Certification in Connecticut are
listed under the heading major programs in secondary
education section of the School of Education.

MINOR IN BIOLOGY

Students seeking a minor in biology must complete a
minimum of 20 credits in biology including: BIO 102,
103, 320, and two additional courses at the advanced level
(300-400).