Program Overview

Biology, Bachelor of Arts

The B.A. degree in biology is designed to provide students with a thorough grounding in modern biology, with special emphasis on the molecular aspects of the discipline.

Biology Major Requirements (B.A.)

All courses required for the biology major must be taken for a letter grade (not S/U) and be passed with a grade of C- or better with one exception. The department will accept one passing grade below C- in the senior year provided that the average for all formal lecture and laboratory courses is at least 2.0.

Writing and Communication Requirement in the Major

Students must complete at least 6 credits of Writing and Communication Foundational Ability coursework in one major. Students can fulfill this requirement by selecting 6 credits from a combination of core and elective courses in the major that are designated as FA#1: Writing and Communication.

Course Requirements

The following courses are required for the B.A. in Biology:

• Mathematics:
  • AS.110.106: Calculus I (Biology and Social Sciences) (4 credits)
  • AS.110.107: Calculus II (For Biological and Social Science) (4 credits)
• Physics:
  • AS.171.101: General Physics: Physical Science Major I (4 credits)
  • AS.171.102: General Physics: Physical Science Major II (4 credits)
  • AS.173.111: General Physics Laboratory I (1 credit)
  • AS.173.112: General Physics Laboratory II (1 credit)
• Chemistry:
  • AS.030.101 & AS.030.105: Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I (4 credits)
  • AS.030.102 & AS.030.106: Introductory Chemistry II and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II (4 credits)
  • AS.030.205: Introductory Organic Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • AS.030.206: Organic Chemistry II (4 credits)
  • AS.030.225: Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory (3 credits)
• Biology:
  • AS.020.151: General Biology I (3 credits)
  • AS.020.152: General Biology II (3 credits)
  • AS.020.303: Genetics (3 credits)
  • AS.020.304: Molecular Biology (3 credits)
  • AS.020.306: Cell Biology (3 credits)
  • AS.020.305: Biochemistry (3 credits)
  • AS.020.363: Developmental Biology (3 credits)
  • AS.020.315: Biochemistry Project lab (2-3 credits)
  • AS.020.340: Developmental Genetics Lab (3 credits)
  • AS.020.316: Cell Biology Lab (1 credit)
• Electives:
  • At least three courses totaling at least seven credits (see POS-Tag BIOL-UL in the Schedule of Classes) from the courses approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. At least one course must be taught by the Biology Department (AS.020.xxx) and be a 2 or 3 credit course.

Sample Program of Study

A sample program of study for the B.A. in Biology is provided below:

First Year

• First Semester:
  • AS.030.101: Introductory Chemistry I (3 credits)
  • AS.030.105: Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
  • AS.110.106: Calculus I (Biology and Social Sciences) (4 credits)
  • AS.020.151: General Biology I (3 credits)
  • AS.020.153: General Biology Laboratory I (1 credit)
• Second Semester:
  • AS.030.102: Introductory Chemistry II (3 credits)
  • AS.030.106: Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
  • AS.110.107: Calculus II (For Biological and Social Science) (4 credits)
  • AS.020.152: General Biology II (3 credits)
  • AS.020.154: General Biology Laboratory II (1 credit)

Second Year

• First Semester:
  • AS.030.205: Introductory Organic Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • AS.030.225: Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory (3 credits)
  • AS.020.304: Molecular Biology (3 credits)
• Second Semester:
  • AS.020.303: Genetics (3 credits)
  • AS.020.340: Developmental Genetics Lab (3 credits)
  • AS.030.206: Organic Chemistry II (4 credits)

Third Year

• First Semester:
  • AS.020.305: Biochemistry (3 credits)
  • AS.020.315: Biochemistry Project lab (2-3 credits)
  • AS.171.103: General Physics I for Biological Science Majors (4 credits)
  • AS.173.111: General Physics Laboratory I (1 credit)
• Second Semester:
  • AS.020.306: Cell Biology (3 credits)
  • AS.020.316: Cell Biology Lab (1 credit)
  • AS.171.104: General Physics II for Biological Science Majors (4 credits)
  • AS.173.112: General Physics Laboratory II (1 credit)
  • Upper Level Biology Elective (2-3 credits)

Fourth Year

• First Semester:
  • Upper Level Biology Elective (2-3 credits)
  • Upper Level Biology Elective (2-3 credits)
• Second Semester:
  • AS.020.363: Developmental Biology (3 credits)
  • Upper Level Biology Elective (2-3 credits)

Honors in Biology

Students completing the B.A. in Biology are eligible to receive their degree with honors. The B.A. in biology with honors requires, in addition to the regular requirements for the B.A. in biology, a 3.5 GPA for natural sciences and quantitative studies courses, two semesters of research, a presentation of a poster describing the independent research, and a recommendation from the research sponsor. The research requirement must be completed under the direction of a faculty member in a department associated with the Johns Hopkins University or the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. If the students research director for independent research is not a member of the Department of Biology, a Biology faculty member must serve as a sponsor and approve the recommendation from the research director.