CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS  REQUIREMENTS

In addition to Chem 111A-112A and the accompanying laboratory courses Chem 151-152, biology majors are required to take Chem 251, 257 and either 252 or 401; Physics 117A-118A (or Physics 197-198); Math 131 (Calculus I), and Math 132 (Calculus II).  Courses taken in University College, Washington University's evening school, do not meet these requirements.  Students who plan to take physical chemistry (required for the track in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, see p. 3) must take Math 233 (Calculus III).  Math 2200 or 3200 (Elementary Probability and Statistics; required for tracks in Ecology and Evolution track and in Genomics and Computational Biology, see pages 3-4) and Math 322 (Biostatistics) are valuable, particularly for students interested in research. 

ADVANCED BIOLOGY REQUIREMENT

At least eighteen units in advanced Biology courses (numbered 300 or above) are required.  These eighteen units may not include Biology 303A, 307A, 317A, 340A, 343A, 345A, 346A, 365, 3651, 3652, 387, 388, 390W, 393, 4491, 487, 488, 4930, cross-listed courses originating in other departments (except Biol 360, 4202, 4501, and 4580, which count as biology major credit despite external origins), or more than three units of history-of-science courses.  Four of the advanced units may include Biol 3050.  At least two units of laboratory credit must be earned in advanced laboratory course work.  Courses that fulfill the requirement for an advanced laboratory are listed on the next page.

LABORATORY REQUIREMENT

Two units of formal upper-level laboratory course work are required for the biology major.  Students planning to pursue research careers in the biomedical sciences are strongly urged to take additional lab courses.  NOTE: Biology 500 does not satisfy the laboratory course requirement for the biology major.

Provides two units of lab credit:

• Biol 3110 Vertebrate Structure Laboratory (fall)
• Biol 3491 Microbiology Laboratory (spring)
• Biol 3492 Laboratory Experiments with Eukaryotic Microbes (spring)
• Biol 360 Biophysics Laboratory (fall)
• Biol 4024 Plant Cells and Proteins Laboratory (spring)
• Biol 404 Laboratory of Neurophysiology (fall)
• Biol 4191 Biology Field Course in Ecology (summer)
• Biol 4193 Experimental Ecology Laboratory (fall - odd years)
• Biol 4342 Research Explorations in Genomics (spring)
• Biol 437 Lab of DNA Manipulation (fall/May)
• Biol 4522 Laboratory in Protein Analysis, Proteomics and Protein Structure (fall 2007 only)

Upon declaring a biology major, typically during sophomore year, a student gets a major advisor from the Biology Department faculty.  Each student then consults both a four-year advisor and a Biology major advisor each semester.  Major advisors typically discuss course schedules, academic progress, career objectives, pre-professional testing (e.g. MCAT, GRE), medical-school applications, research interests, and internships.  An academic program and extracurricular endeavors are thereby personally tailored to each student.  Pre-professional students also consult the Life Sciences Advising Program (205 South Brookings Hall, x5-6897), which guides students in applying to professional schools in life sciences (e. g. medical, dental, veterinary schools).

GRADES

All courses counted toward requirements of a biology major must be taken for a letter grade if a letter grade is offered.  A grade of C- or better must be earned in all of these courses.

TRACKS

A biology major may choose one of four tracks within the major if the student's interests lie primarily within one of these subfields of biology.  A track provides strong training for graduate study in its field of study.  All tracks require completion of the biology major requirements as stated above but provide concentrated study in one of the four fields.  An optional research emphasis may be added by taking 2 semesters of Bio 500 (Independent Study) and submitting a written thesis.
Link to Tracks

COURSES FROM OTHER UNIVERSITIES

Some courses from other universities may substitute for Washington University courses.  Such substitutions must be approved by the Biology Department prior to enrollment.  Contact Allan Larson (larson@wustl.edu) for approval of biology courses.  Chemistry, mathematics and physics courses must be approved by the home department as being equivalent to the courses we require.

WRITING-INTENSIVE COURSES

The College of Arts and Sciences requires each student to take an upper-level writing-intensive (WI) course (at least 3 credits).  The WI course must be taken after achieving junior status (level 5 or above).  Any course formally approved as WI may be used to satisfy this requirement, and a grade of C+ or better must be earned.  The following courses in biology may be used to satisfy the WI requirement: Biol 3191 (Molecular Mechanisms in Development), Biol 337W (Eukaryotic Genomes [Writing Intensive]), Biol 347 (Darwin and Evolutionary Controversies Past and Present), Biol 390W (Biomedical Politics), Biol 4031 (Biological Clocks), Biol 404 (Laboratory of Neurophysiology), Biol 427 (Problem-Based Learning in the Biomedical Sciences), Biol 434W (Research Explorations in Genomics [Writing Intensive]), Biol 441W (Evolution of Animal Development [Writing Intensive]).  Other writing-intensive courses of particular interest to Biology majors include EComp 311 (Exposition) and EComp 312 (Argumentation).