Biology Program
The biology program dives into the study of living organisms, with the intent of unlocking the mysteries of our planet. You’ll share a common first year with students in chemistry and medical physics — which lets you explore various possible paths to degree completion before committing to Biology.
In addition to the regular program, you may also choose from three curriculum options, which include specific, extra required courses. In upper years, you’ll learn more advanced principles of biology and will begin to refine your chosen biological stream.
First Two Years Common
Second Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 144 Biology II
CHY 113 General Chemistry II
MTH 231 Modern Mathematics II
PCS 130 Physics II
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
Fourth Semester
REQUIRED:
BCH 261 Biochemistry
BLG 316 Zoology
BLG 400 Genetics
BLG 567 Ecology
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
Biology Regular Program, Full-Time, Four Year
Fifth Semester
REQUIRED:
BCH 361 Advanced Biochemistry I
BLG 307 Molecular Biology
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Two courses from Table I.
Sixth Semester
REQUIRED:
BCH 463 Advanced Biochemistry II
BLG 315 Evolution
REQUIRED GROUP 1: One course from the following:
BCH 880 Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory
BLG 888 Molecular Biology Laboratory
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table I.
Seventh Semester
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Four courses from Table I.
Eighth Semester
REQUIRED:
CMN 600 Science, Communication and Society
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Three courses from Table I.
Co-op Biology Program, Full-Time, Five Year
Fifth Semester (Offered in Fall Term Only)
REQUIRED:
BCH 361 Advanced Biochemistry I
BLG 307 Molecular Biology
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Two courses from Table I.
Sixth Semester (Offered in Winter Term Only)
REQUIRED:
BCH 463 Advanced Biochemistry II
BLG 315 Evolution
REQUIRED GROUP 1: One course from the following:
BCH 880 Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory
BLG 888 Molecular Biology Laboratory
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table I.
Seventh Semester
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Four courses from Table I.
Eighth Semester
REQUIRED:
CMN 600 Science, Communication and Society
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Three courses from Table I.
Biophysics Option Program, Full-Time, Four Year
You’ll study extra courses in how to apply theories and methods of physics and to study questions in biology.
Fifth Semester
REQUIRED:
BCH 361 Advanced Biochemistry I
MTH 330 Calculus and Geometry
PCS 229 Introduction to Medical Physics
PCS 300 Modern Physics
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
Sixth Semester
REQUIRED:
BCH 463 Advanced Biochemistry II
BLG 315 Evolution
PCS 227 Biophysics
PCS 401 Quantum Mechanics I
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
Seventh Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 307 Molecular Biology
PCS 354 Radiation Biology
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Two courses from Table III.
Eighth Semester
REQUIRED:
CMN 600 Science, Communication and Society
PCS 352 Nuclear Physics/Radiation Protection
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table II.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table III.
Co-op Biophysics Option Program, Full-Time, Five Year
Fifth Semester (Offered in Fall Term Only)
REQUIRED:
BCH 361 Advanced Biochemistry I
MTH 330 Calculus and Geometry
PCS 229 Introduction to Medical Physics
PCS 300 Modern Physics
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
Sixth Semester
Revised Curriculum begins Winter 2022 for students admitted Fall 2018 and after.
REQUIRED:
BCH 463 Advanced Biochemistry II
BLG 315 Evolution
PCS 227 Biophysics
PCS 401 Quantum Mechanics I
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
Seventh Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 307 Molecular Biology
PCS 354 Radiation Biology
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Two courses from Table III.
Eighth Semester
REQUIRED:
CMN 600 Science, Communication and Society
PCS 352 Nuclear Physics/Radiation Protection
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table II.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table III.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Option Program, Full-Time, Four Year
You’ll take extra courses to explore biology-inspired questions with the help of techniques from computer science.
Fifth Semester
REQUIRED:
BCH 361 Advanced Biochemistry I
BLG 307 Molecular Biology
MTH 110 Discrete Mathematics I
MTH 330 Calculus and Geometry
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
Seventh Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 800 Genomics and Proteomics
CPS 305 Data Structures
CPS 501 Bioinformatics
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table IV.
Eighth Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 888 Molecular Biology Laboratory
CMN 600 Science, Communication and Society
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Two courses from Table IV.
Co-op Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Option, Full-Time, Five Year
Fifth Semester (Offered in Fall Term Only)
REQUIRED:
BCH 361 Advanced Biochemistry I
BLG 307 Molecular Biology
MTH 110 Discrete Mathematics I
MTH 330 Calculus and Geometry
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
Seventh Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 800 Genomics and Proteomics
CPS 305 Data Structures
CPS 501 Bioinformatics
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table IV.
Eighth Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 888 Molecular Biology Laboratory
CMN 600 Science, Communication and Society
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Two courses from Table IV.
Environmental Biology Option Program, Full-Time, Four Year
Your program will include extra courses in combining biology with chemistry, engineering and other fields related to environmental science.
Fifth Semester
REQUIRED:
BCH 361 Advanced Biochemistry I
BLG 351 Applied Microbiology
BLG 409 Biometry
BLG 803 Ecosystem Processes
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
Sixth Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 315 Evolution
BLG 340 Environmental Biology
CHY 423
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table V.
Seventh Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 401 Ecotoxicology
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Three courses from Table V.
Eighth Semester
REQUIRED:
CMN 600 Science, Communication and Society
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Three courses from Table V.
Co-op Environmental Biology Option Program, Full-Time, Five Year
Fifth Semester (Offered in Fall Term Only)
REQUIRED:
BCH 361 Advanced Biochemistry I
BLG 351 Applied Microbiology
BLG 409 Biometry
BLG 803 Ecosystem Processes
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
Sixth Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 315 Evolution
BLG 340 Environmental Biology
CHY 423 Environmental Science
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
One course from Table V.
Seventh Semester
REQUIRED:
BLG 401 Ecotoxicology
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Three courses from Table V.
Eighth Semester
REQUIRED:
CMN 600 Science, Communication and Society
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Three courses from Table V.