Molecular & Cellular Biology, BSLAS
Program Overview
Molecular and Cellular Biology, BSLAS
The Molecular and Cellular Biology major provides students with a solid preparation in molecular biology, molecular genetics, microbiology, cellular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and structural biology. Students will also acquire a strong background in chemistry, math, and physical sciences. After completion of the core curriculum in MCB, students may complete the required advanced course work by taking a variety of MCB courses or by selecting a more focused group of courses in any of the following areas: biochemistry, cells and tissues, developmental biology, infection and immunity, microbiology, genetics, neurobiology, and physiology.
Undergraduate Degree Programs in Molecular & Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry, BS
- Molecular & Cellular Biology, BSLAS
- Molecular & Cellular Biology Honors Concentration, BSLAS
- Neuroscience, BSLAS
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours. Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: 67-71, including 21 hours of 300-/400- level courses. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Course List
| Course List Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| fulfilled by MCB 150, IB 150, CHEM 102 or CHEM 202, CHEM 104 or CHEM 204, PHYS 101 or PHYS 211, PHYS 102 or PHYS 212 | ||
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| fulfilled by MATH 220 or MATH 221 & MATH 231 or STAT 212 | ||
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-20 |
Major Requirements
| Course List Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 220 | Calculus | 4-5 |
| or MATH 221 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| or STAT 212 | Biostatistics | |
| Select one group of courses: | 8-10 | |
| CHEM 102 & CHEM 103 & CHEM 104 & CHEM 105 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I and General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II | |
| CHEM 202 & CHEM 203 & CHEM 204 & CHEM 205 | Accelerated Chemistry I and Accelerated Chemistry Lab I and Accelerated Chemistry II and Accelerated Chemistry Lab II | |
| CHEM 232 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 233 | Elementary Organic Chem Lab I | 2 |
| Select one group of courses: | 10-12 | |
| PHYS 101 & PHYS 102 | College Physics: Mech & Heat and College Physics: E&M & Modern | |
| PHYS 211 & PHYS 212 & PHYS 213 & PHYS 214 | University Physics: Mechanics and University Physics: Elec & Mag and Univ Physics: Thermal Physics and Univ Physics: Quantum Physics | |
| IB 150 | Organismal & Evolutionary Biol | 4 |
| MCB 150 | Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life | 4 |
| MCB 250 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| MCB 251 | Exp Techniqs in Molecular Biol | 2 |
| MCB 252 | Cells, Tissues & Development | 3 |
| MCB 253 | Exp Techniqs in Cellular Biol | 2 |
| MCB 354 | Biochem & Phys Basis of Life | 3 |
| At least four additional courses at the 300- to 400-level from the Approved List of Advanced Courses for MCB Majors are also required, including one lab course. | 15-16 |
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
First Year
- First Semester:
- Free elective course | 1
- MCB 150 | 4
- CHEM 102 or 202 | 3
- CHEM 103 or 203 | 1
- MATH 220 (or MATH 221) or Composition I | 5
- Total | 14
- Second Semester:
- IB 150 | 4
- CHEM 104 or 204 | 3
- CHEM 105 or 205 | 1
- General Education course | 3
- MATH 220 (or MATH 221) or Composition I | 4
- Total | 15
Second Year
- First Semester:
- MCB 250 | 3
- MCB 251 | 2
- CHEM 232 | 4
- CHEM 233 | 2
- General Education course | 4
- Total | 15
- Second Semester:
- MCB 252 | 3
- MCB 253 | 2
- STAT 212 | 3
- General Education course | 3
- Language other than English (3rd Level) course | 4
- Total | 15
Third Year
- First Semester:
- MCB 354 | 3
- PHYS 101 or 211 | 5
- General Education course | 3
- Language Other Than English (4th level) course | 4
- Total | 15
- Second Semester:
- Advanced MCB course | 3
- PHYS 102 or 212 | 5
- General Education course | 3
- General Education course | 3
- Total | 14
Fourth Year
- First Semester:
- Advanced MCB course | 3
- Advanced MCB Lab course | 2
- Free Elective course or PHYS 213 | 2
- Free Elective course or PHYS 214 | 2
- General Education course | 3
- Free Elective course | 4
- Total | 16
- Second Semester:
- Advanced MCB course | 4
- Advanced MCB course | 3
- General Education course | 3
- Free Elective course | 3
- Free Elective course | 3
- Total | 16
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Molecular & Cellular Biology undergraduate curriculum, students will be able to:
- Understand and appreciate the diversity of life as it evolved over time by processes of mutation, selection, and genetic change.
- Illustrate that fundamental structural units define the function of all living things.
- Explain that the growth, development, and behavior of organisms are activated through the expression of genetic information in context.
- Summarize that biological systems grow and change by processes based upon chemical transformation pathways and are governed by the laws of physics.
- Illustrate that living systems are interconnected and interacting across scales of space and time.
- Design a scientific process and employ the scientific method, demonstrating that biology is evidence-based and grounded in the formal practices of observation, experimentation, and hypothesis testing.
- Execute quantitative analysis to interpret biological data.
- Construct and utilize predictive models to study and describe complex biological systems.
- Apply concepts from other sciences in order to interpret biological phenomena.
- Communicate biological concepts and understanding to members of a diverse scientific community as well as to the general public.
- Identify social and historical dimensions of biological investigation.