Molecular Biology Major

Director B. Hoopes

This program is intended for students who are interested in biology at the molecular level and who wish to take several courses in both biology and chemistry. Interested students should see biology professors Ay, Belanger, Hagos, Holm, Hoopes, Meyers, Taye, or Van Wynsberghe.

Major Requirements

Course requirements are described below.

Biology

All of the Following

BIOL 181 - Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity and
BIOL 181L
BIOL 182 - Molecules, Cells, and Genes and
BIOL 182L
Both courses and their credit bearing laboratory components must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
Both courses and their credit bearing laboratory components must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Process of Biology

One course from the following:

BIOL 202 - Genetics and
BIOL 202L
BIOL 204 - Molecular Biology and
BIOL 204L
BIOL 205 - Cell Biology and
BIOL 205L

Three Electives

One elective can be at any level. Of the two remaining electives, one must be numbered 300 or higher and one must be numbered 330 or higher. One of these two 300-level courses must have a laboratory component. Only one research-based course numbered 470 or higher can count toward the major.

Molecular Biology Electives

Research Tutorial Experience

Research Tutorial Experience

A one-credit research experience, normally satisfied with a research tutorial (a course numbered BIOL 470-490).
Research at the Bethesda Biomedical Research as part of the Colgate Study Group (BIOL 393 or BIOL 493) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
UROPS courses taken at the National University of Singapore (NUS) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
With prior approval by the biology department, a senior-level independent study course or capstone experience in another department may be used to fulfill the research requirement.

Cognate Courses

Chemistry

General Chemistry Option

The following two courses:

CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I and
CHEM 101L
CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II and
CHEM 102L
or, if eligible, the following course may be substituted for the above sequence:
CHEM 111 - Chemical Principles and
CHEM 111L

All of the Following

Cognate Courses

Math or Computer Science Course

one course in mathematics or computer science (except COSC 100 or COSC 150 ). The math course requirement may be met by taking
BIOL 320 - Biostatistics
.

Physics Sequence

Honors and High Honors

Students interested in pursuing honors can find the additional requirements on the Biology department page.

Biology Department

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the Biology department catalog page.