Major

Biology Major

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Department/Program
Biology
  • Required Biology Courses (33 credits)
    • Biology 101, 101L, 102, and 102L
    • Three credits of Biology, BBMB, or Chemistry 490 or 498
    • One credit of Biology 499
    • Four credits from each of the following categories of upper-level electives (at least 3 credits must be taken at the 200-level before proceeding to coursework at the 300-level):
      • Molecular/Cell Biology
      • Organismal Biology
      • Ecology/Evolution
    • Additional courses in Biology and/or BBMB numbered 200 or above to reach minimum 33 credits
  • Required Supporting Science Courses (17 Credits)
    • Chemistry 125, 126, 135, and 136; or 140
    • Chemistry 245
    • One course chosen from any two of the following categories:
      • Introductory Statistics (Economics 227, Mathematics 128, or Psychology 210)
      • Applied Statistics (Economics 327, Mathematics 248, or Psychology 410)
      • Introductory Mathematics (Mathematics 124 or 125)
      • Applied Mathematics (Mathematics 126 or 247; or Physics 145 or 155)
      • Introductory Computation (Biology 250 or Computer Science 167). Students may apply Biology 250 to the Mathematics and Modeling requirement or the Biology elective requirement, but not both.
  • Senior Requirements
    • Biology, BBMB, or Chemistry 490 or 498
    • One credit of Biology 499
    • One-hour oral exam
  • Honors
    • Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.
    • Students must submit a proposal for their thesis or project within the first six weeks of the two-semester period in which the student is eligible.
    • 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 or project and the honors thesis course.
    • Pass the senior assessment with distinction.
    • Chair of the department will notify the Registrar of students attaining honors no later than the beginning of the 12th week of the semester.
    • An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
  • Notes
    • No P-D-F of Biology or BBMB courses, or other courses that count toward the major after the major is declared.
    • Students with AP Biology or IB Biology score of 5 or higher can receive credit for Biology 101 (3 credits), but not for 101L.

Upper-Level Electives

Item #
Title
Credits
Total Credits
50