Biology Advising FAQ

What's the difference between majoring in Biological Sciences, EEB, MCB, or PNB?

Biological Sciences is the most flexible major. You must take at least one course from a "core group" list in each of the three departments: EEB, MCB, and PNB. Other than that, you are free to choose any courses you want from the three departments. By taking at least 15 appropriately chosen credits from one of the three departments, you can also earn a minor in EEB, MCB, or PNB that will be listed on your transcript alongside your major. Should you find physics and/or math courses too daunting, you can choose to earn a B.A. rather than a B.S. degree.

When the Biological Sciences Group split into the three current biology departments some twenty years ago, we only offered one major -- Biological Sciences. The reason we now offer more specialized degrees in EEB, MCB, and PNB is that some students wanted opportunities for more focused studies in a concentrated area. For example, some students want to emphasize disciplines such as genetics or cell biology -- for them, MCB is a good choice of major. Other students are especially interested in field biology, or perhaps issues in systematics and evolution -- an EEB major will serve them well. Still other students want to specialize in animal anatomy and physiology -- the PNB major is very appropriate for them. Remember, even if you major in EEB, MCB, or PNB, you can also potentially minor in Biological Sciences or one of the other three departments if you choose your courses appropriately.

You are not "locked in" to any particular major until you file your final plan of study at the beginning of your last semester. You may begin with the idea of majoring in Biological Sciences, then decide in your sophomore or junior year to switch to MCB, EEB, or PNB -- or vice versa. Many of the courses you take with one major in mind will serve other majors as well, although you may wind up needing some extra courses if you wait too long to finalize your plans.

Note that, with the EEB major, you also can choose between B.S. or B.A. programs. This is not the case with MCB or PNB majors -- the B.S. is the only degree option here.

Some students may be attracted to more highly focused studies in one of the following areas:

There is a separate major available in Structural Biology / Biophysics.
The EEB department offers a joint B.S. / M.S. degree program in Biodiversity and Conservation.
There is a separate majoravailable in Environmental Science.

For more information on these program follow the links above or consult the Undergraduate Catalog.

Page last updated 31 July 2008