# The Biology Major Checklist

This document provides guidance for Biology majors and their advisors. Updated 13 December 2023, for classes matriculating Fall 2020 and onwards.

More detailed information and advice on all aspects of being a biology student at Colby can be found in the [Biology Majors Handbook](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kZQATysZ-rcoK8rI8ZWInUCN4roMaXgOv2ilJIef1QU/edit?usp=sharing).

## Major requirements
- [ ] 31 total credit hours* in Biology (BI or cross-listed BC, ES, SC, etc.)
- [ ] BI163 The Cellular Basis of Life and BI164 Evolution and Diversity; or BI201 Biology Accelerator
- [ ] A field biology course with lab: BI211, BI237, BI241, BI253, BI254, BI271, BI277, BI334, BI373 (if taken with lab), BI384
- [ ] A cell biology course with lab: BI215, BI225, BI227, BI248, BI274, [BI279](https://github.com/aphanotus/BI279.Genetics?tab=readme-ov-file#bi279-genetics), [BI347](https://hackmd.io/@ColbyMBL/syllabus), BI351, BC367
- [ ] Six biology courses with labs*
- [ ] Two Biology courses at 300 level or above (or cross-listed BC, ES, SC, etc.)
- [ ] BI401 or BI402 Senior Seminar
- [ ] CH141 and CH142 General Chemistry (or equivalents, such as CH143 or CH145 -- CH121/CH122 also satisfies this major requirement but may not be suitable for post-graduate health programs)
- [ ] MA119 and MA120, MA125, MA130, MA135, MA160 (or equivalent) Calculus
- [ ] One additional quantitative course: CS151, CS152, CS153, CS154 or CS166; MA160, MA165, MA253; SC212; EC293; PS214; SO271

\* Up to four credits of Independent Study may be applied to the major; does not count as a laboratory course.

## Concentration Requirements

### Cellular, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry (CMBB)

- [ ] BI279 Genetics
- [ ] BC367 Biochemistry I
- [ ] BC368 Biochemistry II
- [ ] BC378 Molecular Biology
- [ ] CH241 Organic Chemistry I
- [ ] CH242 Organic Chemistry II
- [ ] PH141 Mechanics
- [ ] PH145 Electromagnetism & Optics
- [ ] One of the following cell or molecular-level courses: BI215, BI225, BI227, BI246, BI247, BI248, BI278, BI323, BI329, BI332, [BI347](https://hackmd.io/@ColbyMBL/syllabus), BI351, BI371, BI392

Some BC courses are offered with an optional lab section. These courses must be taken with lab sections to count towards the CMBB concentration.

### Neuroscience
- [ ] BI274 Neurobiology
- [ ] Two of the following animal-based cell-, tissue-, or organismal-level courses: BI215, BI225, BI227, BI265, BI275, BI276, BI277, [BI279](https://github.com/aphanotus/BI279.Genetics?tab=readme-ov-file#bi279-genetics), BI325, BI332, BI334, [BI347](https://hackmd.io/@ColbyMBL/syllabus), BI351, BI373, BI374, BI376, BI392
- [ ] PS111 Intro to Psychology
- [ ] One Psychology course from the following: PS232, PS233, PS234, PS241, PS242, PS244, PS272
- [ ] One additional Psychology course at the 200-level or above

### Ecology and Evolution (BIEE)
- [ ] BI271 Ecology
- [ ] BI320 Evolutionary Analysis
- [ ] BI328 Community Ecology or BI382 Ecological Modeling
- [ ] An organismal or taxonomy-based course with lab: BI211, BI237, BI241, BI248, BI254, BI276, BI277, BI334
- [ ] SC212 Intro to Statistics

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## An explanation of the major requirements

The goals of the Biology major curriculum are described in college [catalog](https://www.colby.edu/catalogue/):

> The Biology Department ensures that students gain exposure to the breadth of biological science and become proficient in the methods of scientific inquiry. The curriculum emphasizes the study of plants, animals, and microorganisms from the molecular to the ecosystem level. Through laboratory and field experiences and the opportunity to carry out original research, students gain proficiency in gathering, interpreting, and communicating scientific knowledge. Department graduates continue their education in all fields of biology and in professional schools, and they pursue careers in scientific research, biotechnology, education, agriculture, medicine, and public health.

Each requirement of the major serves this objective.

- **31 total credit hours in Biology** ensure that students have sufficient exposure to biology. The number has been chosen to allow students to also pursue other majors and generally take advantage of the liberal arts at Colby.
- **BI163 The Cellular Basis of Life** and **BI164 Evolution and Diversity** form the introductory sequence. They serve as an overview of major concepts in biology and develop skills needed in the major.
- **A field biology course with lab** ensures that all students majoring in biology will have at least one first-hand experience of the subject as it applies at the landscape scale.
- **A cell biology course with lab** ensures that all students majoring in biology will have at least one first-hand experience of the subject as it applies at the cell or molecular level. Together the field and cell biology requirements help ensure all Colby biology majors graduate with a bredth of experience that encompasses the diversity of biological science.
- **Six biology courses with labs** reinforce that biology is a practical discipline. Experience in the lab is essential for preparing students to be active contributors to life science research.
- **Two Biology courses at 300 level or above** provide advanced training in biological areas of the student's interest.
- **The Senior Seminar (BI401 or BI402)** will engage students in the presentation and discussion of the current biological literature. Students in the seminar also attend the invited speaker series in the department.
- **CH141 and CH142 General Chemistry** are required because a basic understanding of chemistry is foundational to biology.
- **MA121 or MA161 Calculus** ensures students have basic quantitative skills.
- **An additional quantitative course** enhances those skills while allowing students to personalize their training.

Checklists for each concentration are provided as suggestions for a cohesive curriculum in each area. They are intended to provides students interested in pursuing graduate work in these areas with the prerequites requests by most prominent doctoral programs.

## Miscellanous

- **100-level courses** other than BI163 and BI164 will not count toward the 31 credit-hour requirement for the major.
- Up to four credits of **Independent Study** (Biology 491, 492) may be applied to the 31 credit-hour requirement. However, an independent study will not count towards the required numberof independent study are taken in Biology, these will be non-graded and will not count toward major requirements.
- **Internship** credits will not count toward major requirements.
- **Most JanPlan BI courses do not count as a lab-course** towards the 6-lab requirement. **Exceptions** are BI265 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology and BI397/BI347 Comparative Developmental Cell Biology.
- **Off-campus study (OCS)**: Courses taken off-campus must be approved by the OCS office for transfer of credits to Colby. There is a limit of 8 credit hours that can be transferred to Colby from most OCS programs. For an OCS course to count towards a major requirement it must be approved by the department chair or OCS liaison in the appropriate department. (Biology courses are approved by the Biology department; Chemistry courses by the Chem Dept; etc.) However, grades for OCS courses do not contribute to Colby GPA.
- There are **exceptions to these OCS rules**. For example, the [Bigelow Semester Program](https://life.colby.edu/offcampus/colby-at-bigelow-laboratory/) provides 16 credits in Chemistry, ES and Biology.
- Students can take **BI401 or 402 as a junior** if enrollment can accommodate, but we recommend students take it again senior year. Students can take up to 2 sections and earn up to 2 credits.
- Students who are double majoring in Biology and another program with overlapping requirements may **double count** courses to fulfill requirements in Biology. Other departments have more strict policies so students are advised to review those requirements in detail.
- Only courses with a grade of D or better will count toward the Biology major.
- Ready to declare a major? Use the [*Initial Program of Study Declaration*](https://www.colby.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Program-of-Study-Initial-Declaration-2026.pdf) or chage your major using the [*Program of Study Add, Drop, or Change*](https://www.colby.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Program-of-Study-Change-2-2025.pdf) form. Send these forms to [e-mail] or to the Registrar's Office in Eustis 201.

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