DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY — REQUIREMENTS
Biology Major
Requirements for the biology major include at least 61 credits in biology and related science and mathematics courses. Since the prerequisites are significant, appropriate planning is important (see the note on timing below). Additional advisory information is available in the booklet Biology at UMB, which is available in the department office (W-3-021), and biology majors can subscribe to the department list server at bio-majors-subscribe@mail.bio.umb.edu.
Requirements are in two parts:
The biology “core” of required introductory and intermediate courses: 19 credits in biology and 22 credits in mathematics, physics and chemistry.
- BIOL 111-112 (General Biology I and II)
- CHEM 103-104 (Chemical Principles I and II)
- Mathematics through at least one semester of calculus (MATH 135 or MATH 140).
- PHYSIC 107-108 (College Physics I and II), or PHYSIC113-114 (Fundamentals of Physics I and II)
- PHYSIC 181-182 (Introductory Physics Laboratory I and II)
- BIOL 210 (Cell Biology)
- BIOL 252 (Genetics)
- BIOL 290 (Population Biology)
Note on timing: Prospective majors are strongly advised to start their major courses as early as possible. In the first year they should take BIOL 111-112, CHEM 103-104, and especially mathematics: for BIOL 210 and 252 the math placement exam with a score placing into MATH 115 or above is a prerequisite.
In the second year: at least BIOL 210 and BIOL 252, which is a prerequisite for BIOL 290. Accordingly, students planning to take courses in evolutionary biology for which BIOL 290 is a prerequisite (BIOL 342, 348, 352, for example) should take BIOL 252 at the first opportunity, usually in the fall term, since BIOL 290 is currently offered only in the spring term. CHEM 253-254 (Organic Chemistry) is a pre/corequisite for courses in biochemistry and molecular biology and should be taken in the second year by students with those interests.
Additional requirements (advanced courses): Biology majors must complete 20 credit hours of biology courses at the 300 level or higher, including a minimum of 4 credit hours in the laboratory. Up to eight of these required 20 credits may be taken in other departments, either (a) Chemistry 253-254 (Organic Chemistry I and II), or (b) with approval of the departmental chairperson, courses taken to complete the requirements of the Biobehavioral Studies Program. BIOCHM 383, 384, 385, or 386 may also be used to complete this requirement. The following courses may not be counted toward this requirement: BIOL 381, 478-479, 672-673.
Grade Point Average
To graduate with a major in biology, students must maintain a final grade point average of 2.0 in biology courses above the level of BIOL 111-112 that are used to meet biology major requirements.
Students fulfilling the above requirements will receive the bachelor of science degree. The major requirements that apply are those in effect at the date of each student’s matriculation. Requirements for the biology major changed in the fall of 1988 and again in the spring of 1995; the earlier versions can be consulted in the Biology Department office or in University catalogs for the appropriate year.
Exemptions (AP and CLEP)
Students who have taken the Advanced Placement Examination in Biology and have scored “3” will be exempted from taking general biology at UMass Boston.
Students who score “4” or higher on the Advanced Placement Examination will be exempted from taking general biology at UMass Boston and will be granted four elective credits towards graduation.
CLEP: The Biology Department accepts a score of 50 and above on the CLEP exam. Students who meet this requirement will be exempted from General Biology I and II (BIOL 111-112) and will receive six credits.
The Biology Minor
Requirements for the biology minor include BIOL 111 and 112; and four additional biology courses (at least 12 credits), with or without associated lab. Of these courses, two must be at the 200 level and two at the 300 level. At least three of the six required courses (including one course at the 300 level) must be taken at UMass Boston. The GPA for all courses taken to meet the biology minor requirement must be at least 2.0.