Major requirements include:

Each student, in consultation with an advisor, will select a series of courses to provide preparation for individual goals or interests. Students majoring in Natural Science are required to take:

• BI 103 - General Biology I
• BI 104 - General Biology II
• CH 130 - General Chemistry
• CH 150 - Structure and Reactivity
• PS 121 - General Physics I or PS 131 - Classical Physics I
• PS 122 - General Physics II or PS 132 - Classical Physics II

Additional requirements include:

The student is also required to complete successfully six additional courses from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

Three of the six must come from the Department of Biology, and two of the three must include a laboratory experience.  The remaining three required courses may be drawn from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

Students must also successfully complete a written comprehensive examination. The examination is the Educational Testing Service Major Field Test in Biology and is administered twice annually, once in November and once in February.

Note:

BI 101, BI 102, BI 107, BI 108, BI 149, all Chemistry courses below CH 130, CS 101, MA 110, MA 130, MA 150 and PS 101 - 105 courses do not count as electives for the Natural Science major.

Research experience:

Since scientific research is an important aspect of an education in science, Natural Science majors are encouraged to replace one of the six required courses with one of the following:

1. under the direction of a faculty member, participate in Directed Research (BI 421  - BI 422  or BI 423 );
2. develop, with direction from the Internship Facilitator, an individual internship program (BI 451, 452, 453, 454  - BI 454 );
3. participate in the Washington Internship Program (BI 450 ); or
4. participate in Research and Seminar I and II (CH 420  - CH 421 ).

With permission of the chair, up to 2 upper-level major elective courses on topics other than those listed in the college catalog may be transferred in from study abroad or from domestic institutions.

Course Sequence Outline

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Note:

See Biological Sciences Overview  for additional information.