The Biology Department has changed the course requirements for the B.A. degree in Biology. Now three Core courses, instead of two, are required for the B.A. The Core course requirements for the B.S. degree remain unchanged. However the content of the three Core courses required for the B.S. will change and as a consequence the specific course combinations that meet the three Core course requirement is slightly different. These changes were made to address concerns of both faculty and students that important topics in the progressing fields of genetics, cell and molecular biology, ecology, and evolution could not be covered in sufficient depth within the scope of the "old" Core classes. The new Core courses will be offered once a year starting Fall 2006 (Fall: 301; Spring: 300, 302) and may be taken in any order. Changes to course requirements for the B.A. degree go into effect March 6, 2006. To review all the requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees in Biology see these websites: B.A. and B.S.

The new Core course titles are:
BIOL 300: Cell Biology & Biochemistry
BIOL 301: Genetics & Molecular Biology
BIOL 302: Evolution & Ecology

How do the "new" Core courses relate to the current Core courses?
"new" BIOL300 = Cell Biology of "old" BIOL300 but not Molecular Biology
"new" BIOL301 = Genetics of "old" BIOL301 & Molecular Biology of "old" BIOL300
"new" BIOL302 = Population Genetics & Evolution of "old" BIOL301 and new Ecology      section

How do these changes affect your requirements for a Biology degree?
If you are not a Biology major as of March 6, 2006, you must fulfill the new requirements (i.e. take three Core classes). If you have already taken some of the "old" Core courses, see below for which Core classes you need to take.

If you became a Biology B.A. before March 6, 2006 then you are required to take two Core classes, as stipulated in the original requirements of this degree. If you have already taken BIOL300 and BIOL301, then you have completed your Core course requirements. If you have completed one of the Core courses, then the remaining Core is determined by which class you have already taken (see below). If you have not yet taken any Core courses, you may take any two of the three "new" Core courses.

If you are a Biology B.S. you must complete the three Core courses as stipulated for the B.S degree. Because there is not a one-to-one match of the "old" Cores with the "new" Cores, your specific course requirements are determined by which classes you have taken (see below). If you have not taken any Core courses, then you need to take all three "new" Cores.

Which courses should you take?

         B.A. degree (major declared, i.e. in ISIS before March 6, 2006):