Academics Major Requirements

Biology Major Course Requirements - Effective Fall 2010

Course Descriptions

Room and Time Rosters

ALL Cornell Courses

Course Descriptions

Room and Time Rosters

ALL Cornell Courses

Biology Major Course Requirements

The requirements for the biological sciences major are listed below. Requirements 1–10 must be taken for a letter grade. Once matriculated, students are required to complete all major core requirements at Cornell or during an approved Study Abroad semester (numbers 1, 2, 7–10 below). Students must take all courses for the concentration for a letter grade unless the course is offered for S–U grades only or if the student’s advisor grants permission.

1. Two of three core “choice” courses:

2. Investigative Laboratory:

BIOG 1500 - Investigative Biology Laboratory

3. General chemistry:

CHEM 2150 - Honors General and Inorganic Chemistry

Note:

Students who, via advanced placement, take only CHEM 2080 or only CHEM 2150 should be aware that some professional and graduate schools require 8 credits of general chemistry. These students may wish to take both CHEM 2150 and CHEM 2090 or CHEM 2150 and CHEM 2160 . Students may wish to consult with their faculty advisor or advisors in the Office of Undergraduate Biology for further clarification.

4. College mathematics (one year):

One semester of calculus (MATH 1106 , MATH 1110 , or their equivalent) plus one semester selected from the following:

a. A second semester of calculus:

MATH 1120 - Calculus II

MATH 1910 - Calculus for Engineers

or equivalent

b. A course in finite mathematics:

MATH 1105 - Finite Mathematics for the Life and Social Sciences

c. One course in statistics:

5. Organic chemistry:

6. Physics:

Note:

Those who take PHYS 1112 and PHYS 2213 are advised to complete PHYS 2214 as well.

7. Evolutionary Biology and Diversity:

BIOEE 1780 - Evolutionary Biology and Diversity

8. Genetics and Genomics:

BIOMG 2810 - Genetics and Genomics

9. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology:

Note:

BIOMG 3330 and BIOMG 3350 are not allowed for those students concentrating in Biochemistry or Molecular and Cell Biology.

10. A Concentration in Biology:

Students accepted into the biological sciences major must choose one concentration from the following: Animal Physiology, Biochemistry, Computational Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, General Biology, Genetics and Development, Insect Biology, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Behavior, Nutrition, Plant Biology, Systematics and Biotic Diversity.

Whereas the core requirements for the biology curriculum provide the common foundation deemed essential for all biology majors, the role of the concentration is to provide either a specialization in a particular area of biology or, in the case of the general biology concentration, a survey of biology that is broad, but not superficial. The concentration requirement can be met by taking 13 to 15 credit hours of courses chosen by the student in consultation with his or her biology advisor. Concentrations for particular subject areas are designed by faculty members specializing in the subject. Typically, the concentration consists of one or more courses that provide a foundation in the subject and a list of optional courses from that area or related areas, many of which are at an advanced level (3000 or higher). Because biology is an experimental science, most concentrations require one or more laboratory courses. The laboratory requirement in some concentrations can be met by participation in the independent research course (BIOG 4990 ).

Note:

Advanced placement biology credits are not accepted for substitution or placement out of any requirement for the biological sciences major.
Because of extensive overlap in content, students may not earn credit for both BIOG 1105 and BIOG 1440 .
Although not required for the biological sciences major, a course in statistics is recommended for all biology students. Students should consult their faculty advisors when choosing appropriate courses in statistics.
Core courses noted in numbers 1–9 above cannot count toward the concentration requirements.
Transfer students must see an advisor in the Office of Undergraduate Biology to determine the transferability of courses into the biology major, as well as subsequent courses that must be completed.

Pre-medical/veterinary students not majoring in biological sciences:

Pre-medical students should refer to the following link for a list of courses required for admission to medical school career.cornell.edu/HealthCareers/humanMedicine/courses.html
Pre-veterinary students should refer to the following link for a list of courses required for admission to veterinary school career.cornell.edu/HealthCareers/veterinary/guide.html
Advanced placement biology credits may still be used toward fulfilling pre-medical/pre-veterinary prerequisite courses, but students should check with Cornell Career Services, 103 Barnes Hall, for the listing of medical schools that recognize AP credit.
Non–biological sciences majors should consult with their major advisor for course selection advice regarding freshmen-level biology courses that may be required of their particular major.