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 261 and either 262 or 401 (Chem 251, 252 and 257 collectively may be substituted for Chem 261 and Chem 262); 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 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, 340A, 387, 388, 390W, 393, 487, 488, 4930, cross-listed courses originating in other departments (except Biol 360, 4202, 4580, 4810 and 4820, which count as biology major credit despite external origins), or more than three units of history-of-science courses. At least one of the approved advanced laboratory courses in biology must be completed. Courses that fulfill the requirement for an advanced biology laboratory are listed on the next page. Up to 6 units of Bio 500 may be counted toward the 18 upper-level units required for the biology major.

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 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 (spring)

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.

RESEARCH EMPHASIS

An optional research emphasis requires completing 2 semesters of Bio 500 (Independent Study) and submitting a written thesis on the research accomplished. The research emphasis and an appropriate grade performance qualify a student for Latin honors. A student who fulfills the research emphasis but who does not meet the grade requirements for honors receives a research milestone on the transcript. See the description of honors requirements (p. 9) for details on preparing the thesis and qualifying for Latin honors. The research emphasis pertains equally to students completing the biology major with or without one of the optional 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 4031 (Biological Clocks), Biol 404 (Laboratory of Neurophysiology), Biol 4193 (Experimental Ecology Laboratory), Biol 427 (Problem-Based Learning in the Biomedical Sciences), Biol 434W (Research Explorations in Genomics [Writing Intensive]). Other writing-intensive courses of particular interest to Biology majors include EComp 311 (Exposition) and EComp 312 (Argumentation).

BIOLOGY MAJOR 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 subfield. All tracks require completion of the biology major requirements as stated above but provide concentrated study in one of the four fields.

ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION TRACK

Core Requirements
(bold type indicates core courses not required by the generic biology major)

Advanced Laboratory Requirement
One of the following:

• Biol 4193 Experimental Ecology Laboratory
• Biol 437 Lab on DNA manipulation
• Biol 4342 Research explorations in Genomics

Advanced Evolution and Ecology Electives
Students whose main interest is ecology should take at least two ecology electives and one evolution elective; students whose main interest is evolution should take at least two evolution electives and one ecology elective.

Outside Elective Courses

Biology Major Areas A & B Electives
Students should select one course each from biology major areas A and B according to personal interests.

GENOMICS AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY TRACK

Core Requirements
(bold type indicates core courses not required by the generic biology major)

Advanced Laboratory Requirement
One of the following:

• Biol 3492 Laboratory Experiments with Eukaryotic Microbes
• Biol 4342 Research Explorations in Genomics

Recommended Advanced Biology Electives

• Biol 3191 Molecular Mechanisms in Development (major area A)
• Biol 324 Human Genetics
• Biol 334 Cell Biology (major area A)
• Biol 349/1 Microbiology with Microbiology Laboratory (major area A)
• Biol 437 Lab on DNA Manipulation
• Biol 4181 Population Genetics (major area C)
• Biol 4183 Molecular Evolution (major area C)
• Biol 4202 Evolutionary Genetics (major area C)
• Biol 4810 General Biochemistry I (major area A)

Biology Major Areas A, B & C
Electives Students should select one course each from biology major areas A, B and C according to personal interests (see recommended advanced biology electives above).

Outside Elective Courses

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY TRACK

Core Requirements
(bold type indicates core courses not required by the generic biology major)

Advanced Biology Requirement
One of the following:

• Biol 334 Cell Biology
• Biol 3371 or 337W Eukaryotic Genomes
• Biol 349 Microbiology

Advanced Laboratory Requirement
One of the following:

• Biol 3491 Microbiology Laboratory
• Biol 3492 Laboratory Experiments with Eukaryotic Microbes
• Biol 4342 Research Explorations in Genomics
• Biol 437 Laboratory of DNA Manipulation
• Biol 4522 Laboratory in Protein Biochemistry

Recommended Advanced Biology Electives

• Biol 3041 Plant Bio & Genetic Engineering
• Biol 3191 Molecular Mechanisms in Development
• Biol 4023 How Plants Work (major area B)
• Biol 5312 Macromolecular Interactions
• Biol 3491 Microbiology Laboratory
• Biol 4183 Molecular Evolution (major area C)

Biology Major Areas B & C Electives
Students should select one course each from biology major areas B and C according to personal interests (see recommended advanced biology electives above).

*Students planning to enter Ph.D. programs in biochemistry should note that many such programs require physical chemistry (Chem 401 & 402; prerequisite Math 233)

Biology Major Areas B & C Electives
Students should select one course each from biology major areas B and C according to personal interests (see recommended advanced biology electives above).

*Students planning to enter Ph.D. programs in biochemistry should note that many such programs require physical chemistry (Chem 401 & 402; prerequisite Math 233)

NEUROSCIENCE TRACK

Core Requirements
(bold type indicates core courses not required by the generic biology major)

Advanced Laboratory Requirement
Choose one of the following:

• Biol 404 Laboratory of Neurophysiology
• Biol 360 Biophysics Laboratory

Advanced Biology Requirements
Choose one in each area:

Advanced Biology Elective
Select at least one of the following:

• Biol 3110 Vertebrate Structure Laboratory
• Biol 3151 Endocrinology
• Biol 3191 Molecular Mechanisms in Development
• Biol 328 Principles in Human Physiology
• Biol 3371 Eukaryotic Genomes
• Biol 3421 Introduction to Neuroethology
• Biol 3422 Genes, Brains and Behavior
• Biol 4031 Biological Clocks
• Biol 437 Laboratory on DNA Manipulation
• Biol 4580 Human Anatomy and Development

Outside Elective Courses
Select at least one Psychology or Physics course from the following list

Admission To The Neuroscience Track

Students with an interest in Neuroscience are encouraged to apply for admission to the Neuroscience Track. Contact Erin Gerrity (gerrity@biology2.wustl.edu) to complete the application. Admission is limited to 28 students in each graduating class.

Those applicants with a current Washington University GPA of 3.50 or better after a minimum of 3 semesters are considered for admission to the Neuroscience Track. For each graduating class, decisions about applicants begin in February of the sophomore year; decisions are based upon the student's academic record and upon an interview with a major advisor.

After the 28-student limit is reached for each graduating class, a waiting list is maintained for qualified students with a GPA of 3.80 or better. If an opening occurs for a graduating class, priority is given to students on the waiting list with the strongest academic record.

At the present time, the 28-student limit for the Neuroscience Track has been reached for the Graduating Class of 2010. Applications from the Graduating Class of 2011 are now being accepted from students with a current Washington University GPA of 3.50 or better. When the 28-student limit is reached for this graduating class, then a waiting list for the Neuroscience Track will be available for students with a Washington University GPA of 3.80 or better.

Applications from the Graduating Class of 2012 are now being accepted. Interviews and decisions about admission to the Neuroscience Track for students in this graduating class will begin in February 2010.

A student who successfully completes Biology 360, the Biophysics Laboratory, with a C- or better can use Bio 360 to satisfy the Advanced Laboratory Requirement of the Neuroscience Track of the Biology Major. The student is encouraged to (but not required to) complete both the electrophysiology and the human bioelectricity experiments. For those students wishing to use this option: applications for the Neuroscience Track will be accepted from students only after the successful completion of Biology 360 with C- or better. Enrollment in Bio 360 is via WebStac and is limited to 10 students in Fall 2009.