Biology
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Plan of Study

First-Year Students

Students interested in majoring in Biology should speak with a Biology faculty member early in their undergraduate career. Faculty will help lay out a four-year plan that includes required courses, elective courses, opportunities for off-campus study, and possible internships. Early consultation is important to sequencing of several courses so that off-campus study remains an option. In general, students should take BIOL 111 and CHEM 111 in their first semester, CHEM 221 and BIOL 112 in their second semester, and BIOL 341 in the fall of their sophomore year.  A summer research experience is highly recommended, and faculty work with students to identify appropriate opportunities.

General Education Requirements

The Department offers two courses that fulfill the Scientific Inquiry Requirement of the General Education Requirements, BIOL 111 and 112; and one course that meets the Quantitative Reasoning component of the Analytical Reasoning Requirement, BIOL 111. These courses give students tools for lifelong learning and for informed decisionmaking on important biologically-related issues such as the environment, medicine and genetics. The Department also offers Earlham Seminars.

The Major

All of the following courses are required:

  • BIOL 111 Ecological Biology

  • BIOL 112 Cells, Genes and Inheritance

  • BIOL 226 Biological Diversity

  • BIOL 341 Cell Physiology

  • BIOL 480 Senior Seminar

  • BIOL488 Senior Capstone Experience

  • CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry

  • CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I

One of the following courses:

  • CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry II

  • CHEM 331 Equilibrium and Analysis

  • GEOS 211 Physical Geology

  • MATH 120 Elementary Statistics

  • MATH 180 Calculus A

  • MATH 280 Calculus B

  • PHYS 120 General Physics I

  • PHYS 125 Analytical Physics I

  • PSYC 342 Experimental Psychology

Majors should complete at least 16 additional credits in upper-level Biology courses, of which at least 13 must be from courses numbered from 342 to 471.

The Minor

Two courses from the following list:

  • BIOL 111 Ecological Biology

  • BIOL 112 Cells, Genes and Inheritance

  • BIOL 226 Biological Diversity

Minors should also complete either Option A or Option B

Option A

A total of at least 20 credits in Biology, of which 17 credits must be in courses numbered below 472, plus

  • CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry

AND

  • CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I

Option B

At least 23 credits, of which no more than 11 credits may be from the introductory courses (BIOL 111, 112, 226). The remaining hours must be from upper-level offerings, but no more than three of these credits may be from courses numbered above 471. Option B is for the student not taking ancillary Chemistry courses.

Note: Only one BIOL 480 seminar may count toward the Minor.