Department of Biology

Example Course Sequences for BS in Biology

The following schedules are examples, not rules.

BS Example

Year Fall  Spring
1 CHEM 11a
CHEM 18a lab
BIOL 14 or 15
CHEM 11b
CHEM 18b lab
BIOL 15 or 14
2 BIOL 18b
CHEM 25a
CHEM 29a lab
BIOL 18a
CHEM 25b
CHEM 29b lab
Quant 1
3 PHYS 10a
PHYS 18a lab
Elective 1
PHYS 10b
PHYS 18b lab
Elective 2
4 BIOL 16
Elective 3
Elective 4
Quant 2
Elective 5
Elective 6

Alternative BS, One Science First Fall

Year Fall Spring
1 CHEM 11a
CHEM 18a lab
CHEM 11b
CHEM 18b lab
BIOL 15
2 BIOL 14
BIOL 18b
CHEM 25a
CHEM 29a lab
Quant 1
BIOL 18a
CHEM 25b
CHEM 29b lab
3 PHYS 10a
PHYS 18a lab
Elective 1
PHYS 10b
PHYS 18b lab
Elective 2
4 BIOL 16
Elective 3
Elective 4
Quant 2
Elective 5
Elective 6

BS with Semester Abroad Example

Year Fall Spring
1 CHEM 11a
CHEM 18a lab
BIOL 14 or 15
CHEM 11b
CHEM 18b lab
BIOL 15 or 14
2 BIOL 18b
CHEM 25a
CHEM 29a lab
Elective 1
BIOL 18a
CHEM 25b
CHEM 29b lab
Elective 2
3 BIOL 16
Quant 1
Elective 3
ABROAD
Elective 4
Elective 5
4 PHYS 10a
PHYS 18a lab
Elective 6
PHYS 10b
PHYS 18b lab
Quant 2

Midyear BS Example

Year Fall Spring
1 BIOL 15
Quant 1
2 BIOL 14
BIOL 18b
CHEM 11a
CHEM 18a lab
Elective 1
BIOL 18a
CHEM 11b
CHEM 18b lab
3 CHEM 25a
CHEM 29a lab
Elective 2
CHEM 25b
CHEM 29b lab
Elective 3
4 PHYS 10a
PHYS 18a lab
Elective 4
PHYS 10b
PHYS 18b lab
Elective 5
5 BIOL 16
Quant 2
Elective 6

Up to two electives can be General Science Electives (courses numbered >= 10 in BCHM, CHEM, COSI, MATH, PHYS).

Some students take a core CHEM or PHYS course in the summer to lighten the school year load.