Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Biology > Program Requirements

Traditional Biology Requirements and Suggested Schedule

Conservation Biology Requirements and Suggested Schedule

Minor Programs and Requirements

A major in biology can be satisfied by completing the requirements for one of two tracks, traditional biology or conservation biology. The traditional biology track is a balance of requirements in molecular, organismic and population biology. Conservation biology places more emphasis on biological diversity, population biology, environmental biology and conservation strategies. This discipline as a whole is international and global in nature and requires an interdisciplinary perspective.

Major Requirements
The requirements for the biology major are structured so that students take at least one course in each of several areas of biology and related sciences. BIO 145 serves as a prerequisite for each of the upper-level biology courses. Courses that consider the characteristics of major kinds of life (BIO 212, 222, 262 and 263) are intended to follow BIO 145 and should be started before other upper-level biology courses are taken. Additional courses in biology, related sciences and math are important for advanced work in biological fields. (Conservation biology track majors should take BIO 116 during their first year.) All courses taken for the major in biology must be passed at a grade of C or better.

Biology Major with Two Tracks
A major in biology can be satisfied by completing the requirements for one of two tracks, standard biology or conservation biology. The standard biology track is a traditional balance of requirements in molecular, organisms and population biology. (Drs. Cuff and Despo advise students in the traditional track.)

Conservation biology places more emphasis on biological diversity, population biology, environmental biology and conservation strategies. This discipline is international and global in perspective and requires an interdisciplinary perspective. (Drs. Balas and Palé advise conservation biology students.)