Biology & Society - Suggested Curriculum

Courses taken to fulfill all major requirements (beyond the prerequisites) must be at the 2000 level or above (exceptions: BIOEE/STS 1180, MATH 1710, NS 1150 & 1220), at least 3 credits and taken for a letter grade, and students must receive at least a C- as a final grade.

Freshman Year:

  • Introductory Biology: Two of the following: BioEE 1610 or BioSM 1610; BioEE 1780 or BioSM 1780; BioG 1440 or BioG 1445; or BioMG 1350. Avoid forbidden overlaps as indicated. Students are not required to take BioG 1500, but may wish to for a lab experience.
  • Introductory Chemistry (not a Biology & Society requirement, but recommended as prerequisite to biochemistry and other chemistry courses) (Chem 1560, 2070-2080, or 2150-2160)
  • Freshman Writing Seminars
  •  Courses to meet college requirements (e.g., S&TS 1101, which may be used as a SBA distribution requirement in Arts & Sciences and is an introduction to the field)
  • 'What is Science?' (S&TS 2011). This course may be used as a Bio & Society Foundation course in the area of Sociology of Science or Philosophy of Science. It is recommended especially for students who want an overview of the issues in biology and society.

Sophomore Year

  •  At least 4 courses from the following foundation and/or core major requirements:
  1. What is Science? (S&TS 2011 - see above for further information).
  2. Social Sciences/Humanities Foundation course. Two courses chosen from the Bio&Soc course list from any two of the following subject areas: History of Biology/History of Science; Philosophy of Science; Sociology of Science; Politics of Science; or Science Communication
  3. Biology Foundation (Breadth) course. Three courses total from the list below to be taken from three of the following subject areas: Ecology (BioEE 2650 or BioSM 3640 or 3750); Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology (BioMG 3300 or 3310 or 3330 or 3350 or NS 3200); Genetics and Development (BioMG 2800 or BioMG 2820 or PLBR 2250 or NTRES 2830); Neurobiology (BioNB 2220); Animal Behavior (BioNB 2210 or BioNB 2213 or BioSM 3290); Anatomy and Physiology (NS 3410 or BioAP 3110 or DEA 3520); Biological Diversity (BioMI 2900 or BioPL 2410 or BioPL 2430 or BioPL 2480 or BioSM 3730 or BioEE 2740 or BioEE 4500 or BioEE 4750 or BioEE 4760 or BioEE 4700 AND 4701 or ENTOM 2120 or PLPA 3010 or PLPA 3090 or BioSM 3100 or BioSM 3740 or BioSM 3770 or BioSM 4490 or BioSM 3210 or BioSM 3080); Nutrition (*NS 1150 or *NS 1220).
  4. Biology Foundation (Depth) course. One course for which one of the biology breadth courses (see above) is a prerequisite. (See approved list of depth courses for NS 1150 or NS 1220)
  5. Biology & Society core course (choose one): EITHER Life Sciences & Society (BSOC 3011) OR BSOC 2821 Science in Western Civilization: Newton to Darwin, Darwin to Einstein 
  • Calculus (Math 1106, 1110, 1120, etc.)
  • Statistics (See Biology & Society course listing)
  • Courses to meet college requirements, AND/OR
  • Electives (e.g., Organic Chemistry)

Junior Year

  • Either Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine (BSOC/S&TS 2051) OR Ethics and the Environment (BSOC/S&TS 2061/PHIL 2460)
  • Any courses for the major suggested for sophomore year not yet taken
  • Natural Science Issues/Biology Elective course and Soc Sciences/Humanities theme electives (at least two)
  • Courses to meet college requirements, AND/OR
  • Electives (e.g., Physics)

Senior Year

  • Senior Seminar
  • Issues and theme electives to complete major
  • Courses to meet college requirements, AND/OR
  • Electives
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