Bachelor's Degree Requirements

PROGRAM IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

The undergraduate life sciences major offered in Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences is the Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences with concentrations in six different areas including biochemistry, evolutionary and developmental biology, genetics and molecular biology, neurobiology, physiology, and plant biology. Important strengths of the program include a particularly sophisticated introductory course and a diverse set of advanced courses based in part or in whole on primary scientific literature. There are also outstanding opportunities for undergraduate students to join a faculty member's research group and carry out independent laboratory research alongside the lab's graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

The requirements below refer to those in the 2009-2010 university catalog.

The curriculum for the Biological Sciences major includes the following components:

Foundation in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics

• Mathematics 220 and 224, plus one course in statistics
• Physics 130-1,2,3 (or  Physics 135-1,2,3)
• Chemistry 101, 102, 103  (or Chemistry 171, 172)
• Chemistry 210-1,2  (or  Chemistry 212-1,2)

Core Biology Curriculum

• Biological Sciences 210-1,2,3
• Biological Sciences 315 Cell Biology
• Either BIOL SCI 301 or 309* Biochemistry
• Three specified Concentration courses
• Two additional 300 level BIOL SCI courses

During the freshman year, the student will usually complete 100-level chemistry and the mathematics requirements. The student most often takes Chemistry 210-1 in fall quarter of the sophomore year along with Biological Sciences 210-1. Note that  BIOL SCI 210 may not precede CHEM 210; CHEM 210-1 is a prerequisite for BIOL SCI 210-2.

(*309 is a Winter Quarter class that is particularly appropriate for students in Concentrations # 2 and 3.)

Areas of Concentration:
The junior and senior years permit the student to explore a focused subfield of biology termed a Concentration.  The student must choose one of the six Concentrations listed below. Each specifies two 300-level Lecture courses and one Laboratory course. (The Laboratory course is waived for a student who chooses to use an HPME waiver in this major; HPME students are not allowed a second waiver in this major).

1. Evolutionary & Developmental Biology
342-0 Evolutionary Processes
391-0 Developmental Biology
344-0 Vertebrate Morphology and Ontogeny Laboratory

2. Biochemistry
321-0 Physical Biochemistry
361-0 Protein Structure and Function
CHEM 210-3 Organic Chemistry III with Laboratory

3. Genetics & Molecular Biology
353-0 Molecular Biology Laboratory
390-0 Molecular Biology
395-0 Molecular Genetics

4. Neurobiology
302-0 Fundamentals of Neurobiology I
306-0 Fundamentals of Neurobiology II
305-0 Neurobiology Laboratory

5. Physiology
325-0 Animal Physiology
356-0 Endocrinology
358-0 Physiology Laboratory

6. Plant Biology
330-0 Plant Biology
349-0 Plant Community Ecology
350-0 Plant Evolution and Diversity Laboratory

Advising
Each student who majors in Biological Sciences is assigned a faculty Adviser. Students who have further questions are encouraged to visit the Program in Biological Sciences office, Hogan Hall Room 2-144.

Research
Students are encouraged to access the PBS Web Page (www.biosci.northwestern.edu) to learn about research of the faculty. Students are encouraged to then visit a faculty member and explore the possibility of research.

Graduation with Honors
For information regarding graduation with Program Honors, please consult both the PBS Web Page (www.biosci.northwestern.edu), and  the WCAS Honors Booklet (available at the WCAS Office of Studies, 1922 Sheridan).

Policy on 399 credit and course substitution
1. 399 research course registrations do not count as 300-level concentration or elective courses.
2. However, If a student has completed two quarters of 399 in the same lab, the student need not take the 300-level Laboratory course, but may take an additional 300-level BIOL SCI elective course instead.
3. If a student has not only done the above, but has also used the 399 experience as precursor to submission of a Senior Thesis, the two quarters of 399 can replace the Laboratory course without the need for an additional elective course.

Elective Courses
As noted, there are two required 300-level electives under the 2009-2010 university catalog. These must be 300-level BIOL SCI courses. Note that students graduating under the 2008-2009 or earlier catalogs need three electives, but may use certain classes from other departments. A list of those classes is kept in the PBS office (Hogan 2-144) for the student's convenience.

Program in Biological Sciences:

Director:
Richard F.  Gaber (PhD University of Wisconsin)
847-491-5452
r-gaber@northwestern.edu

Associate Director:
Gary J. Galbreath (PhD University of Chicago)
847-491-8775
gjg853@northwestern.edu

Program Assistants:
Susan Black
847-491-4031
seb451@northwestern.edu

Maria Langone
847-467-2310
m-langone@northwestern.edu