Total credits required for a BBMB major: 63 credits, including supporting Chemistry and Mathematics courses, for students who started the major before Fall 2024; 66 credits for students starting in Fall 2024 or later.
- Required Biology Courses
- For students who started before Fall 2024: Biology 111 and 205
- For students starting in Fall 2024 and later: Biology 101, 101L, 102, 102L, and 205
- Required Chemistry Courses
- Chemistry 125, 126, 135, and 136; or 140
- Chemistry 245, 246, 251, and 252
- Required Physics Courses
- Physics 145 or 155; and 156
- Required Mathematics Courses
- Mathematics 225 (prerequisites: Mathematics 124 or 125; and 126)
- Required BBMB Courses
- BBMB 324, 325, 326, 334, 335, 336, and 400
- Additional Required Courses
- BBMB, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics 490 or 498
- At least 7 additional credits from courses at the 200-level or above in BBMB, Biology (excluding Biology 206), Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, or Physics
- Senior Requirements
- BBMB 400 and BBMB, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics 490 or 498
- Senior assessment
- Oral examination administered by two faculty members
- Research-based thesis
- Honors
- Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.
- Accumulated at least 87 credits
- Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman
- Major GPA of at least 3.500
- Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.
- Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis.
- Pass both the oral and written components of the senior assessment with distinction.
- Chair of the department will notify the Registrar of students who are candidates for honors no later than the beginning of Week 12.
- An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
- Notes
- Only 1 credit of Chemistry 401, 402, or Mathematics 299 may be applied toward the major.
- Up to 2 credits of independent projects (Biology 481, and 482, Chemistry 390, 451, and 452, Computer Science 481 and 482, or Physics 483 and 484) can count for elective credit.
- No P-D-F courses.
Total Credits
63-66