The Major
The Biology major is open to all students with an interest in biology. The course requirements for the major emphasize fundamental scientific concepts while allowing students to tailor a program to their own interests. All majors are required to complete a core sequence that includes basic math and science courses and several key Biology courses. The elective portion of the degree is more flexible and is intended to allow students to select a personalized array of courses while sampling the breadth of biology.
Transfers
Courses completed elsewhere and accepted for transfer credit may substitute for some required courses. All post-introductory biology courses, however, must be completed in the Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Course requirements
The major requirement consists of at least 67 credits. For courses counted toward the major requirements, a minimum grade of C is required in all Biological Science Core courses and a minimum grade of C- is required in all Math and Physical Science Core courses.
Math and Physical Sciences Core (30 credits)
1. PHYSICS 131 and 132 Introductory Physics
2. CHEM 111 and 112 General Chemistry for Science and Engineering Majors
3. CHEM 261 and 262/269 Organic Chemistry/Organic Lab for Non-Chemistry Majors
4. Take one course from Group A and one course from Group B
Group A
STATISTC 240 Introduction to Statistics
RES-ECON 212 Introductory Statistics for the Life and Social Sciences
Group B
MATH 127 Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences I
MATH 128 Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences II
STATISTC 501 Methods of Applied Statistics
CMPSCI 121 Introduction to Problem Solving with Computers
Biological Science Core (37 credits)
1. BIOLOGY 151, 152 & 153 Introductory Biology (C or higher in these courses is required as a prerequisite for some upper-division Biology courses);
2. BIOLOGY 312 Writing in Biology;
3. At least 25 additional credits in biological science courses numbered 200 or above. These credits must include:
a) at least 13 credits in courses numbered 300 and above;
b) at least one course related to plant biology and one course related to animal biology;
c) at least two courses with a laboratory or field component;
d) at least one course in each of four of the following five areas (a list of acceptable courses in each of the five areas is available in the Biology Undergraduate Office):
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Cellular Biology and Development
Physiology
Evolution and Biodiversity
Ecology and Behavior.
The 25 additional credits may include up to three credits of Independent Study. In addition, the credits may include up to three credits of Undergraduate Teaching Practicum in a Biology Department course. All of the credits must be from Biology Department courses taken at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Integrative Experience for Biology majors
Take Biology 494 LI, Life After Biology (1-cr seminar, offered every semester). Make sure that your upper-level elective courses include at least one of the following courses:
Biology 383H Gene and Genome Analysis
Biology 421 Plant Ecology
Biology 477H BioImaging
Biology 487H Tropical Field Biology
Biology 514 Population Genetics
Biology 523 Histology
Biology 540 Herpetology
Biology 550 Animal Behavior
Biology 551 Animal Communication
Biology 571 Biological Rhythms
Biology 572 Neurobiology
Honors
Students interested in graduating as Biology majors with Honors should contact Professor Lynn Adler (A-M) or Professor Gerald Downes (N-Z) for information on requirements.
