Biology Major
Department of Biology
Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Overview of the Biology major:
A strong knowledge base is essential for a biologist, but it does not alone make the scientist. Therefore, the Biology major seeks to guide students to develop the skills to ensure that, for them, biology is an inquiry-based discipline. Through ample opportunities for practice, students learn to:
- read, understand, and analyze biological literature;
- design, perform, and analyze experiments to ask questions and test hypotheses; use up-to-date techniques and equipment common in the discipline; communicate their questions and findings both orally and in writing; and
- work collaboratively on experimentation with fellow students and faculty who share a love of inquiry.
Biology Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Take 4 Foundational Biology Courses | 16 | |
| General Biology I with Lab and General Biology I Lab | ||
| General Biology II with Lab and General Biology II Lab | ||
| Cell & Molecular Biology with Lab | ||
| Ecology with Lab | ||
| Select 5 Advanced Biology Courses In At Least 3 categories. (See the “Categories of Study” list below for options) | 20 | |
| Complete courses in at least three categories: Ecology (Category I), Cellular Biology (Category II), and Organismal Biology (Category III). | ||
BIO Elective Category II 1 | ||
BIO Elective Category III | ||
BIO Elective Category I , II, III, IV 2 | ||
BIO Elective Two courses from either Category I, II, or III 2 | ||
| Take 6 Ancillary Courses; see note on Recommended Ancillary Courses | 20 | |
| Chem Principles Org Molecules with Lab | ||
| Reactions of Organic Molecules with Lab | ||
| Quantitative Chemical Analysis with Lab | ||
| Chemistry of the Elements with Lab | ||
| Differential Calculus | ||
| Stretch Differential Calculus I and Stretch Differential Calculus II | ||
| Biology Junior Seminar (0 credits) | ||
| Senior Capstone Experience (BIO SCE) | 2-4 | |
| Total Credits | 58-60 | |
- 1
Not BIO 205 Cell & Molecular Biology with Lab.
- 2
Not BIO 205 Cell & Molecular Biology with Lab or BIO 206 Ecology with Lab.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Ancillary Courses (not required for graduation, but many medical and graduate schools require) | ||
| College Physics I with Lab and College Physics II with Lab | ||
| General Physics I with Lab and General Physics II with Lab | ||
| Statistical Inference & Data Analysis I | ||
Category I. Ecology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 206 | Ecology with Lab EE | 4 |
| BIO 309 | Marine & Estuarine Bio with Lab EE | 4 |
| BIO 328 | Behavioral Ecology with Lab EE | 4 |
| BIO 351 | Evolution with Lab EE | 4 |
| ENV 302 | Conservation & Wildlife Techniques EE, 1 | 4 |
| BIO 294 | Special Topics | 4 |
| BIO 394 | Special Topics | 4 |
| BIO 494 | Special Topics | 4 |
- 1
Note: only one ENV course may count toward Biology major.
Category II. Cellular Biology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 202 | Stem Cell Biology with Lab | 4 |
| BIO 203 | Microbiology with Lab BMI, PO | 4 |
| BIO 205 | Cell & Molecular Biology with Lab BMI | 4 |
| BIO 209 | Genetics with Lab BMI | 4 |
| BIO 302 | Developmental Biology with Lab BMI | 4 |
| BIO 314 | Biotechnology & Molecular Bio with Lab BMI | 4 |
| BIO 404 | Immunology with Lab BMI, PO | 4 |
| BIO 409 | Biochemistry with Lab BMI | 4 |
| BIO 294 | Special Topics | 4 |
| BIO 394 | Special Topics | 4 |
| BIO 494 | Special Topics | 4 |
Category III. Organismal Biology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 208 | General Zoology with Lab PO | 4 |
| BIO 211 | Plant Biology & Diversity with Lab EE, PO | 4 |
| BIO 228 | Ornithology with Lab PO | 4 |
| BIO 301 | Integrative Human Anatomy with Lab PO | 4 |
| BIO 311 | Neurobiology with Lab PO | 4 |
| BIO 315 | Ecophysiology with Lab EE, PO | 4 |
| BIO 336 | Fish Physiology and Behavior with Lab PO | 4 |
| BIO 350 | Introduction to Toxicology with Lab BMI | 4 |
| BIO 424 | Integrative Human Physiology with Lab PO | 4 |
| BIO 294 | Special Topics | 4 |
| BIO 394 | Special Topics | 4 |
| BIO 494 | Special Topics | 4 |
Category IV. Seminars
BIO X94 Special Topics in Biology (lab-bearing or non-lab bearing courses)
Category V. Research/Independent Study/Internship/Field Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 213 | Tropical Ecology | 4 |
| BIO 221 | The Bermuda Environment | 4 |
| BIO 294 | Special Topics EE | 4 |
| BIO 290 | Biology Internship | 4 |
| BIO 390 | Biology Internship | 4 |
| BIO 490 | Biology Internship | 4 |
| BIO 295 | On Campus Research | 4 |
| BIO 395 | On-Campus Guided Research | 4 |
| BIO 495 | On-Campus Guided Research | 4 |
| BIO 296 | Off-Campus Research | 4 |
| BIO 396 | Off-Campus Research | 4 |
| BIO 496 | Off-Campus Research | 4 |
| BIO 397 | Independent Study | 4 |
| BIO 497 | Independent Study | 4 |
- BIO 100 Current Topics in Biology with Lab is a distribution course, and does not count toward the major or minor in biology.
- BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab and BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab count for distribution, and along with all upper-level courses (200-level and above) count toward the major and minor in biology.
- Introductory courses and many upper-level courses are offered annually, while other courses are offered on an alternate year basis. For planning purposes, information about the semester/year in which a course is to be offered is available on the departmental web page.
Students who successfully complete the Biology major typically have grades of C- or better in both semesters of General B Differential Calculus (MAT 111 Differential Calculus).
Biology (BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab, BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab). Students with grades below a C- in these classes and plan to major in Biology are encouraged to repeat General Biology before enrolling in upper-level biology courses. All upper-level courses for the major must be taken at Washington College or in Washington College- approved programs although exceptions may be made by the department chair for transfer students.
BIO 205 Cell & Molecular Biology with Lab must be taken within the subsequent two semesters after having completed the BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab, BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab sequence and their associated labs (BIO 113 General Biology I Lab, BIO 114 General Biology II Lab). One 200-level course must be completed before taking a 300- or a 400-level course.
Double majors in Biology and Environmental Science
Students who double major in Biology and Environmental Science can double count a maximum of 4 courses (3 Required Courses: BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab, BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab, BIO 206 Ecology with Lab or ENV 242 Applied Ecology and 1 upper-level elective) towards their double major.
Areas of Emphasis (AOE)
Students earning a B.S. in Biology may choose an Area of Emphasis providing more in-depth coursework in one of three areas listed below. Emphases are entered on transcripts.
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, & Infectious Disease,
- Ecology & Evolution or
- Physiology & Organismal Biology.
To successfully complete one of three optional areas of emphasis, students must fulfill the requirements for the B.S. in Biology, design their Senior Capstone Experience with a focus on that particular AOE, and complete three of the courses within this area of emphasis as indicated in the superscripted list below (BMI = Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, & Infectious Disease; EE = Ecology & Evolution; PO = Physiology & Organismal Biology)
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit
Students who earn a 4 on the biology AP exam can opt out of BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab but must take BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab. Students who earn a 5 on the biology AP exam can opt out of both BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab and BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab. Students who earn a 5 on the biology HL exam can opt out of BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab; but must take BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab. Students who earn a 6,7 on the biology HL exam can opt out of both BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab and BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab. However, in either case, if the student plans to major in Biology the department strongly recommends taking both courses, or at the very least, BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab. In addition, BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab is a W2 (writing intensive) course and if students do not fulfill their W2 requirement by completing BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab, they will need to take another W2 course.
Writing In the Discipline
The Biology Department emphasizes the importance of effective writing in the discipline in the design of the curriculum for the biology major. Writing appropriate to the field of biology is a key component of all majors-level courses, from the introductory General Biology sequence (BIO 111 General Biology I with Lab, BIO 112 General Biology II with Lab) through the upper-level biology courses and the Senior Capstone Experience. Some introductory and upper-level courses are designed as W2 and W3, but all courses in the major emphasize the development of writing skills. Through a combination of required and elective courses, students learn how to maintain laboratory notebooks; write abstracts, lab reports and research papers; and prepare poster presentations and the written backdrop to oral presentations.
Transfer Credit
Biology majors cannot take biology courses that will be applied to the major off campus. The only exception being biology courses offered at Washington College sanctioned full-semester, study abroad program. These courses must be reviewed and pre-approved by the chair of the Biology Department. Other courses required for the Biology major (calculus and chemistry) can be taken off campus only if pre-approved by the chairs of the requisite department.
Suggested Schedule for Biology majors
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO 111 & BIO 113 | 4 | BIO 112 & BIO 114 | 4 |
| CHE 120 & CHE 122 | 4 | CHE 140 & CHE 142 | 4 |
| FYS 101 | 4 | General Education Course | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | Elective Course | 4 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO 206 | 4 | BIO 205 | 4 |
| CHE 220 & CHE 222 | 4 | CHE 240/242 | 4 |
| MAT 111/1061 | 4 | MAT 1071 | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | General Education Course | 4 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO Category II course | 4 | BIO Category III course | 4 |
| BIO Category I, II, II, IV course | 4 | BIO 392 | 0 |
| BIO 392 | 0 | General Education Course | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | Elective course | 4 |
| Elective Course | 4 | Elective course | 4 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO Category I, II or III course | 4 | BIO Category I, II or III course | 4 |
| BUS SCE | 2-4 | BIO SCE | 2-4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | General Education Course | 4 |
| Elective Course | 4 | Elective course | |
| Elective Course | 4 | ||
| 14-16 | 14-16 | ||
| Total Credits 124-128 | |||
- 1
Take either MAT 111 OR MAT 106 & 107
Major
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