2024-2025 University Catalog 
    
    Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 University Catalog

Biology Major


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The Department of Biology offers a major program designed to provide students with a common conceptual foundation through two required courses and an opportunity to pursue breadth and specialization through an extensive selection of elective course offerings, seminars, and research tutorials. Questions about requirements may be directed to the department chair.

Major Requirements


The major program consists of the following requirements:

Required Biology Courses


Required Chemistry Courses


General Chemistry sequence:

Five Electives


  • One elective can be at any level.
  • The four remaining electives must be numbered 300 or higher and two must have a lab component. 
  • Research-based courses numbered 470 or higher may not count as electives toward the major. 
  •  also serves as an elective biology course.

Research Tutorial Experience


  • A one-credit research experience, normally satisfied with a research tutorial (a course numbered BIOL 470-490).
  • Research on the Bethesda Biomedical Research study group (BIOL 393 and BIOL 493) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
  • UROPS courses taken at the National University of Singapore (NUS) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
  • With prior approval by the biology department, a senior-level independent study course or capstone experience in another department may be used to fulfill the research requirement.

Honors and High Honors


Students interested in pursuing honors can find the additional requirements on the  department page.

Biology Department


For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the  catalog page.

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