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. It is suggested that students take 2-3 major courses per semester beyond the First Year.

Frist Year:

  • Introductory Biology: Two of the following:
    • BIOMG 1350
    • BIOG 1440 or BIOG 1445
    • BIOEE 1610 or BIOSM 1610
    • BIOEE 1780 or BIOSM 1780

*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 (Not required for CALS students but recommended and fulfill Written & Oral Expression Distribution Requirement.)
  • STS 2011 What is Science? This course may be used as a BSOC 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 & Society.
  • Courses to meet college requirements and/or pre-health requirements.

*At least 2 major requirements should be completed by the end of the First Year to ensure all requirements can be met by intended graduation.  

Sophomore Year

Courses from the following Foundation and/or Core major requirements:

  1.  Social Sciences/Humanities Foundation requirement. Two courses, each from different subject areas, chosen from the BSOC course list from the following subject areas:
    • History of Science
    • Philosophy of Science
    • Sociology of Science
    • Politics of Science
    • Science Communication
    • Literature and Science
  2. Biology Foundation Breadth requirement. Three courses, each from different subject areas, chosen from the BSOC course list from the following subject areas:  
    • Anatomy and Physiology
    • Animal Behavior
    • Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology
    • Biological Diversity
    • Genetics and Development
    • Neurobiology
    • Nutrition
  3. Biology Foundation Depth requirement. One course for which one of the Biology Breadth courses (see above) is a prerequisite. (See approved list of depth courses)
  4. Biology & Society Core Course requirement. One course from the following list:
    • BSOC  2071 Introduction to the History of Medicine
    • BSOC 2468 Medicine, Culture, and Society
    • BSOC 3011 Life Sciences and Society
    • NTRES 2320 Nature and Culture
  5. Calculus. One of the following:
    • Math 1106, 1110, 1120
    • Or any higher-level calculus course. AP credit may be accepted for calculus.
  6. Statistics

    • See Biology & Society course listing, AP credit may be accepted for Statistics.

  7. Courses to meet college requirements, AND/OR
  8. Electives, Minor, Pre-Health, or other requirements.

*At least 5 major requirements should be completed by the end Sophomore year to ensure all requirements can be met by intended graduation. 

Junior Year

  1. Ethics requirement. Either:

    • BSOC 2051 Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine OR

    • BSOC 2061 Ethics and the Environment

  2. Theme requirements. Natural Science Issues/Biology Electives and/or Soc Sciences/Humanities theme electives (at least two)
  3. Any courses for the major suggested for sophomore year not yet taken.
  4. Courses to meet college requirements, AND/OR
  5. Electives, Minor, Pre-Health, or other requirements.

*At least 11 major requirements should be completed by the end of Junior year to ensure all requirements can be met by intended graduation. 

Senior Year

  1. Senior Seminar
  2. Theme electives to complete major requirements.
  3. Courses to meet college requirements, AND/OR
  4. Electives, Minor, Pre-Health, or other requirements.
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