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Sample Program: Molecular & Cell Biology

Sample Program for a Major in Molecular & Cell Biology (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 (14-15 credits) Biol 1107 or 11081 (4 cr) Optional: Biol 11092 (1 cr) Chem 1127Q (4 cr) Math 1131Q or 1120Q (4 cr) Gen Ed course (3 cr)	Second Semester (14-15 credits) Biol 1108 or 1107 1 (4 cr) Optional: Biol 11092 (1 cr) Chem 1128Q (4 cr) Math 1131Q or 1121Q (4 cr) Gen Ed course (3 cr)
Third Semester (14-15 credits) MCB 2000's core course3 (3-4 cr) Chem 2443 (3 cr) 2000's Related course4 (3-4 cr) Math 1132Q5 (4 cr), Gen Ed course (3 cr) Optional: Biol 2289 6 (1 cr)	Fourth Semester (14-16 credits) MCB 2000's core course3 (3-4 cr) Chem 2444 (3 cr) Chem 24457 (3 cr) Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr) Optional: Biol 22896 (1 cr)
Fifth Semester (15-16 credits) MCB 2000's core course3 (3-4 cr) Physics 1401Q or 1201Q(4 cr) MCB 2000's course (3-4 cr) Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr) Optional: Independent Study8	Sixth Semester (15-16 credits) MCB 2000's core course3 (3-4 cr) Physics 1402Q or 1202Q(4 cr) MCB 2000's course (3-4 cr) Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr) Optional: Independent Study8
Seventh Semester (15-16 credits) MCB 2000's course (3-4 cr) 2000's related course (3-4 cr) Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr) Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr) Optional: Independent Study8	Eighth Semester (15-16 credits) MCB 2000's course (3-4 cr) 2000's related course (3-4 cr) Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr) Gen Ed or Elective course (3 cr) Optional: Independent Study8

Notes

1. The MCB major only requires BIOL 1107, not BIOL 1108. Many graduate programs, as well as most medical or dental schools, require a year of introductory biology, so it is recommended that students take Biology 1108 if possible.
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. MCB majors must take at least 3 of the following "core courses": MCB 2410 "Human Genetics" (3 cr - fall semester), MCB 3010 "Biochemistry" (5 cr - fall semester), MCB 2210 "Cell Biology" (3 cr - fall semester), and MCB 2610 "Fundamentals of Microbiology" (4 cr - either semester). Students who do not take the 5-credit Biochemistry course are strongly recommended to take MCB 2000 "Introduction to Biochemistry" (4 cr - either semester), which counts as one of the 3 required laboratory courses.
4. Majors in MCB need 12 credits of "Related" 2000's level courses in addition to 24 credits in MCB. You may count 2000's level credits from EEB, PNB, CHEM, MATH and other courses towards relateds. See the biology FAQ list for more information about relateds. Recommended relateds include EEB 2244/2244W, EEB 2245/2245W, and PNB 2250.
5. Students who have completed Math 1132Q or Math 1122Q by the sophomore year can substitute another Biology course, or Gen Ed or Elective here.
6. 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 different faculty speakers in fall and spring semesters.
7. 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 with strong interests in 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.
8. 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 MCB 3899, Independent Study). It helps to have taken Biology 2289 (see note 3) in fall and/or 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.