Course Selection Guidelines

Biology is a large and diverse field, and students enroll in Biology programs with a corresponding diversity of interests and goals. While we encourage students to sample broadly across the various biological disciplines during their undergraduate years, we recognize that many students wish to emphasize one or more general areas within Biology. To help students select courses that fit their interests and goals, we have identified three general areas in Biology:
A. Ecology and Evolution,
B. Organismal Biology,
C. Cell/Molecular Biology.

Below, we list courses associated with each area, and provide recommendations for designing individual programs at the third and fourth year levels.

IMPORTANT: Students should choose 2000 level courses in their second year with care, so that they will have the necessary pre-requisites to enroll in third and fourth year courses in their interest areas.

NOTE: These are not requirements. Students may select courses from any or all areas, provided they meet requirements for their degree program.

Ecology and Evolution

Ecology and Evolution (E&E) spans a broad range of concepts and applications from ecosystem ecology through population ecology to molecular evolution. A well-rounded course of study in Ecology or Evolution or both will include some courses in basic principles applicable to all organisms and habitats/ecosystems, as well as more specific courses on the details of how these principles play out in particular situations (e.g. taxa, habitats), and how these principles are applied to real world problems. In addition, a well-trained student in E&E should have both well-developed numerical skills as well as exposure to the application of E&E in broader society. Students wishing to emphasize E&E in their degree program should select courses from the following:

Principles: BIOL 3042, BIOL 3044, BIOL 3046, BIOL 3061, BIOL 3062, BIOL 3065, BIOL 3101, BIOL 4500

Biodiversity: BIOL 3080, BIOL 3221, BIOL 3301, BIOL 3322, BIOL 3327, BIOL 3620, BIOL 3622, BIOL 3626, MARI 3090

Ecosystems: BIOL 3101, BIOL 3623, BIOL 3624, BIOL 3664, BIOL 3761, BIOL 4002, BIOL 4323, BIOL 4370, BIOL 4661, BIOL 4666, OCEA 3001, OCEA 3002, OCEA 3003, OCEA 3004

Evolution: BIOL 3102, BIOL 3326, BIOL 4500, ERTH 2205, ERTH 2420, MARI 4090

Applications: BIOL 3060, BIOL 3063, BIOL 3225, BIOL 3226, BIOL 3328, BIOL 3329, BIOL 3580, BIOL 3601, BIOL 3623, BIOL 3624, BIOL 3634, BIOL 4001, BIOL 4065, BIOL 4160, BIOL 4335, BIOL 4369, BIOL 4500, HSTC 2204, MARI 3602, MARI 3603, MARI 3604

Methods and Data Skills: BIOL 3633, BIOL 3664, BIOL 3680, BIOL 4061, BIOL 4062, BIOL 4323, MARI 4600

Organismal Biology

Organismal biology includes areas such as development, physiology and anatomy, as well the study of particular taxonomic groups. Students interested in organismal biology are encouraged to select courses from the following:

Developmental Biology: BIOL 3050

Physiology/Anatomy: BIOL 3078, BIOL 3079, BIOL 3326, BIOL 3336, BIOL 3421, BIOL 3430, PHYL 3120

Microbes: BIOL 2004, BIOL 3101, BIOL 3102

Algae/plants: BIOL 3221, BIOL 3225, BIOL 3226

Animals: BIOL 3080, BIOL 3301, BIOL 3322, BIOL 3326, BIOL 3327, BIOL 3336, BIOL 3622, BIOL 3626, BIOL 4080, ERTH 2420, MARI 3090, MARI 3627, MARI 4090

Organisms in the environment: BIOL 3062, BIOL 3101, BIOL 3620, BIOL 3623, BIOL 3630, BIOL 3664, BIOL 4323, BIOL 4369, BIOL 4370

General: BIOL 3024, BIOL 3503, BIOL 3580, BIOL 4061, BIOL 4062, BIOL 4664

Cell/Molecular Biology

Cell/molecular biology includes areas such as cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, development, evolution and biotechnology. Students interested in cell/molecular biology are encouraged to consider the courses listed below. Note that Biology credit can be obtained for Microbiology, Biochemistry and Physiology courses above the 2000 level.

Biology: BIOL 3037, BIOL 3046, BIOL 3102, BIOL 4020, BIOL 4035

Microbiology: all MICI courses 2000 level or higher

Biochemistry: all BIOC courses 2000 level or higher

Neuroscience: NESC 2570, NESC 3970

Physiology: all PHYL courses 2000 level or higher