skip to content

Sample Program: Biological Sciences

Sample Program for a Major in Biological Sciences (B.S. Degree)
(Assumes completion of the Foreign Language requirement in High School.
Reminder: You need 120 total credits to graduate, 45 of which must be at the 2000's level or above.)

First Semester (15 credits)
Biol 1107 or 11081 (4 cr)
Optional: Biol 11092 (1 cr)
Chem 1127Q (4 cr)
Math 1131Q or 1120Q (4 cr)
English 1010 or 1011 (3 cr)
Second Semester (15 credits)
Biol 1108 or 1107 1 (4 cr)
Optional: Biol 11092 (1 cr)
Chem 1128Q (4 cr)
Math 1132Q or 1121Q (4 cr)
Gen Ed course (3 cr)
Third Semester (14-16 credits)
2000's EEB or MCB or PNB Core (3-4 cr)
Chem 24435 (3 cr)
Math 1122Q3 (4 cr)
Hist 1300 or 1400 (3 cr)
Biol 22894 (1 cr)
 Fourth Semester (15-17 credits)
2000's MCB or EEB or PNB Core (3-4 cr)
Chem 24445 (3 cr)
Chem 24455 (3 cr)
Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr)
Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr)
Biol 22894 (1 cr)
Fifth Semester (15-16 credits)
2000's PNB or EEB or MCB Core (3-4 cr)
Phys 1401Q (4 cr) or 1201Q (4 cr)
2000's Bio or related6 course (3-4 cr)
Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr)
Optional: Independent Study7 		Sixth Semester (15-16 credits)
2000's Bio or related6 course (3-4 cr)
Phys 1402Q (4 cr) or 1201Q 94 cr)
2000's Bio or related6 course (3-4 cr)
Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr)
Optional: Independent Study7
Seventh Semester (15-16 credits)
2000's Bio or related6 course (3-4 cr)
2000's Bio or related6 course (3-4 cr)
Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr)
Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr)
Optional: Independent Study7
 Eighth Semester (15-16 credits)
2000's Bio or related6 course (3-4 cr)
2000's Bio or related6 course (3-4 cr)
Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr)
Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr)
Optional: Independent Study7

Notes
  1. Biol 1110 may be taken in place of or in addition to Biol 1108.
  2. Students in the honors program should take the appropriate section of Bio 1109, one-credit seminars that accompany Biology 1107 and 1108 to provide more in-depth examination of current issues. Other interested students are invited to register. Space is limited.
  3. Gen Ed or elective may be substituted if you completed Math 1122 during freshman year.
  4. Students interested in undergraduate research should take Biology 2289, a 1-credit seminar in which different faculty members in EEB, MCB, and PNB describe their research. This will help you identify research labs you might enjoy working in, as well as learning more about the many research programs in biology at UConn. The course may be repeated for credit, and involves differnent faculty talks in fall and spring semesters.
  5. Organic chemistry, Chem 2443-2444, is recommended for the Biological Sciences degree, and is a prerequiste for some biology courses such as MCB 2610 "Fundamentals of Microbiology" (Chem 2443 is pre- or co-requisite) and MCB 2000 "Biochemistry" (Chem 2444 is pre- or co-requisite). Chem 2445, Organic Chemistry Laboratory, is required by many medical and dental schools, in addition to Chem 2443-2444. Chem 2445 is especially recommended for biology students whose interest in biology is strong in cellular and subcellular areas such as biochemistry. Students who decide not to take Organic Chemistry can substitute other 2000's level Biology courses, or Gen Ed courses here.
  6. Majors in Biological Sciences need 12 credits of "Related" 2000's level courses in addition to 24 credits in EEB, MCB, or PNB. You may count credits from EEB, MCB, or PNB in excess of the 24 needed for the major towards relateds. You may also count 2000's level chemistry and other 2000's level courses. See the biology FAQ list for more information about relateds.
  7. Approximately 25% of UConn undergraduates engage in independent study. Interested students should contact faculty members in disciplines they are interested in to find out if the lab has space that semester. If so, negotiate with the faculty supervisor for an appropriate number of credits depending on the time you can be in the lab (e.g., Three credits of EEB 3899, MCB 3899, or PNB 3299, Independent Study). It helps to have taken Biology 2289 (see note 4) in fall and spring semesters of the sophomore year, in order to gain some appreciation for the variety of undergraduate research opportunities.

This page last updated 6 August 2008.