Program Overview

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Introduction to the Undergraduate Program in Cancer Biology

The Undergraduate Program in Cancer Biology was established in 2020 as a joint program between the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology (CDIB) in the Heersink School of Medicine. This program is the only one of its kind in the US to specifically train students in cancer biology.

Mission and Objectives

The central mission of the new Cancer Biology undergraduate major is to provide students with a strong educational and research background that maximizes their chances to achieve career goals in cancer biology in particular and life sciences in general. This program is unique in that students will gain a broad background in the biomedical sciences by exposure to courses that support the current requirements of the biomedical enterprise and are applicable to academic, private and government settings.

Admissions

The Undergraduate Cancer Biology Program is designed for graduating high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores with an outstanding academic record and the desire to pursue a career in biomedical research, medicine or the health professions. Successful applicants to the program should meet the admissions criteria below.

• First-time freshmen applicants must have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and an ACT composite score of 28 or higher (or the SAT combined V+Q score at 1300 or higher).
• High school students who do not meet these requirements may be accepted into the program as pre-Cancer Biology majors.
• Any student who is admitted as a pre-Cancer Biology major must have an overall GPA ≥3.0 after ~20-30 credits of work at UAB, a GPA ≥3.0 in their Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics (preferably BY 123/123L, BY 124/124L, CH115/116, CH117/118, PH 201/202, and MA 105, MA 106, MA 107, MA 125, or MA 168) coursework, and have taken a freshman year curriculum that is compatible with the Program.

GPA and Graduation Requirements

Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in order to remain in good academic standing in the program. Students will not meet graduation requirements if the overall GPA is below 3.0. If a student's overall GPA falls below 3.0, they will have one semester to bring their overall grade to 3.0 or better or must switch majors.

Bachelor of Science in Cancer Biology Requirements

The requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Cancer Biology include:

Blazer Core Curriculum Requirements

• Local Beginnings: 3 hours
• Academic Foundations: 9 hours
• Thinking Broadly 1: 12 hours
• City as a Classroom: 3 hours

Biology Courses

• BY 123 & 123L: Introductory Biology I and Introductory Biology I Laboratory
• BY 124 & 124L: Introductory Biology II and Introductory Biology II Laboratory
• BY 210: Genetics
• BY 330: Cell Biology

Chemistry Courses

• CH 115 & CH 116: General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory
• CH 117 & CH 118: General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory
• CH 235 & CH 236: Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
• CH 237 & CH 238: Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
• CH 460: Fundamentals of Biochemistry

Cancer Biology Courses

• CNBY 210: Colloquium in Cancer Biology
• CNBY 320: Introduction to Cancer Biology
• CNBY 410: Proliferation and Carcinogenesis
• CNBY 420: Genetic Basis of Cancer
• CNBY 480: Journal Club in Cancer Biology
• CNBY 495: Undergraduate Research in Cancer Biology
• CNBY 499: Senior Undergraduate Research Capstone Course

Other Required Courses

• PHL 116: Bioethics
• CAS 112: Success in College
• PSDO 200: Introduction to Research
• MA 125 or MA 168: Calculus I or Mathematics of Biological Systems I
• MA 180 or PUH 250: Introduction to Statistics or Biostatistics
• PH 201 or PH 221: College Physics I or General Physics I
• PH 202 or PH 222: College Physics II or General Physics II

Major Electives

Students must take two of the following courses:

• CH 461: Advanced Biochemistry
• CH 463 or CH 464: Biochemistry Laboratory or Physical Biochemistry Laboratory
• CH 471: Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery
• CH 472: Chemistry of Natural Products
• CH 477: Radiochemistry for the Life Sciences
• CNBY 430: Tumor Survival and the Microenvironment
• CNBY 440: Cell Signaling and Cancer
• CNBY 460: Tumor Pathobiology and Immunology
• CNBY 470: Cancer Treatment

General Electives

11 hours of general electives are required.

Course Descriptions

CNBY 210: Colloquium in Cancer Biology

This course will introduce students to current topics in cancer biology.

CNBY 320: Introduction to Cancer Biology

This course will introduce students to cancer biology, including the history of cancer, hallmarks of cancer biology on a cellular level, common cancers in the body, cancer treatment, and prevention and risk factors.

CNBY 410: Proliferation and Carcinogenesis

This course will cover the basic tenets of cell biology as they apply to cancer.

CNBY 420: Genetic Basis of Cancer

This course will provide an overview of genomic organization transcription and translation, prior to commencing an in-depth study of cancer genetics and the roles of oncogenes, tumor suppressors, RNA, DNA methylation, gene amplification and the control of gene expression and the viral causes of cancer.

CNBY 425: Sex Differences in Cancer

This course will provide an overview of the sex differences in cancer with regards to incidence, prevalence, and mortality of various cancers.

CNBY 430: Tumor Survival and the Microenvironment

This course will examine cancer cell physiology in terms of the tumor microenvironment, nutrients and angiogenesis.

CNBY 435: Pediatric Cancers

This course will provide an overview of the cancers that primarily affect children.

CNBY 440: Cell Signaling and Cancer

In this course the major cell signaling pathways involved in cancer cell development will be examined.

CNBY 445: Cancer Neuroscience

This course will provide an overview of the various types of cancers that grow in the brain from a neuroscience perspective.

CNBY 455: Cancer Bioinformatics

This course introduces the integration of various data types into cancer biology research.

CNBY 460: Tumor Pathobiology and Immunology

This course will examine the pathological changes that occur in cancer cells and tissues.

CNBY 470: Cancer Treatment

Major advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple cancers.

CNBY 480: Journal Club in Cancer Biology

This journal club will be appropriate for senior students.

CNBY 495: Undergraduate Research in Cancer Biology

In this major, students will be required to undertake a research project and register for 6 credit hours of CNBY 495 Undergraduate Research.

CNBY 499: Senior Undergraduate Research Capstone Course

In this major, students will be required to undertake a research project and register for this CNBY 499 Senior Research Capstone course during their final semester of research.

Four-Year Plan

The four-year plan for the Bachelor of Science in Cancer Biology includes:

Freshman

• First Term: CAS 112, CH 115 & CH 116, EH 101, MA 168 or MA 125, Blazer Core Course
• Second Term: BY 123 & 123L, CH 117 & CH 118, EH 102, PHL 116, PSDO 200

Sophomore

• First Term: BY 124 & 124L, CH 235 & CH 236, CNBY 210, Blazer Core Course, Blazer Core Course
• Second Term: BY 210, CH 237 & CH 238, CNBY 210, CNBY 320, Blazer Core Course

Junior

• First Term: BY 330, CH 460, CNBY 420, PH 201 & 201L, PUH 250 or MA 180
• Second Term: CNBY 410, CNBY 495, PH 202 & 202L, Blazer Core Course, Blazer Core Course

Senior

• First Term: CNBY 480, CNBY 495, Elective CH or CNBY 400 level course, General Elective, General Elective
• Second Term: CNBY 480, CNBY 499, Elective CH or CNBY 400 level class, General Elective, General Elective

Total credit hours: 120