Program Overview

Program Overview

The Biology Major, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Specialization is a comprehensive program that provides students with a deep understanding of the principles of biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry. The program requires a total of 58 units, including both required and elective courses.

Program Requirements

• Total Units Required: 58
• Grade Requirement: All courses to be counted toward a major in biology must be taken for a letter grade if a letter grade is offered. A grade of C- or better must be earned in all of these courses.

Required Courses

• BIOL 2960: Principles of Biology I (4 units)
• BIOL 2970: Principles of Biology II (4 units)
• CHEM 1601: Principles of General Chemistry I (3 units) or CHEM 1701: General Chemistry I
• CHEM 1602: Principles of General Chemistry II (3 units) or CHEM 1702: General Chemistry II
• CHEM 1751: General Chemistry Laboratory I (2 units)
• CHEM 1752: General Chemistry Laboratory II (2 units)
• CHEM 2561: Organic Chemistry I With Lab (4 units)
• CHEM 2562: Organic Chemistry II With Lab (4 units)
• PHYSICS 1740: Physics I (3 units) or PHYSICS 1760: Focused Physics I
• PHYSICS 1741: Physics I Lab (1 unit)
• PHYSICS 1742: Physics II (3 units) or PHYSICS 1762: Focused Physics II
• PHYSICS 1743: Physics II Lab (1 unit)
• MATH 1510: Calculus II (3 units)
• MATH 2130: Calculus III (3 units) or MATH 3020: Elementary to Intermediate Statistics and Data Analysis or SDS 2020: Elementary Probability and Statistics
• Total Units: 40

Specialization Requirements

• Total units required (including the biology major requirements): 58
• Additional requirements include both CHEM 4810 and CHEM 4820 as well as either BIOL 3340 or BIOL 3490.
• The advanced laboratory course used to fulfill major requirements must be one of the following: BIOL 3423, BIOL 3491, BIOL 3492, BIOL 3493, BIOL 4342/BIOL 4343, BIOL 4346, BIOL 4522, BIOL 4523, BIOL 4525, or CHEM 4851.
• Additional biology courses recommended for students in this track include BIOL 4023, BIOL 4071, BIOL 4183, BIOL 4344, BIOL 4833, and BIOL 5312.

Additional Information

Research

Research opportunities are available during the student's first and second years through BIOL 2901, BIOL 2902, BIOL 2903, or BIOL 2904; such opportunities are available during the third and fourth years through BIOL 4950, BIOL 4951, BIOL 4952, BIOL 4953, or BIOL 4954. A research emphasis in the major requires at least 6 credits (two semesters) of independent research (BIOL 4950, BIOL 4951, BIOL 4952, BIOL 4953, or BIOL 4954) and an approved senior thesis on this research, which is presented at the undergraduate symposium. The research emphasis is acknowledged on the degree as a research milestone.

Senior Honors

Biology majors are encouraged to work for senior honors, which require a 3.30 grade point average in biology, a 3.30 GPA in nonbiological sciences (mathematics, chemistry, and physics courses), and a 3.65 overall GPA at the time of graduation. Also required are 6 units of BIOL 4950, BIOL 4951, BIOL 4952, BIOL 4953, or BIOL 4954 research and an approved thesis from this work, equivalent to the research emphasis described in the preceding paragraph. Students interested in senior honors should begin BIOL 4950, BIOL 4951, BIOL 4952, BIOL 4953, or BIOL 4954 no later than the spring of their junior year.

The Department of Biology awards the Marian Smith Spector Prize to an undergraduate who has an excellent academic record and who submits an outstanding honors thesis; it also awards the Ralph S. Quatrano Prize to the student whose thesis shows the greatest evidence of creativity in design, research methodology, and/or broader scientific implications. The Harrison D. Stalker Prize is awarded to a graduating senior whose college career is distinguished by scholarship, service, and breadth of interest.