Preparing Pre-Major Students

To help you have the best possible experience as a biology major, here are some recommendations on course planning, as well as important information on how to declare a biology major.

Course Planning

UPBM is home to ten different major tracks. This allows you to customize your major to suit your interests. While each track is unique, they share a common set of foundational courses that will help prepare you for the more specialized, rigorous courses you will take in your junior and senior years. The plan outlined below are the courses you should plan to take as a biology first year and sophomore, regardless of which track you are intending to declare. If for any reason you need to deviate from this plan, please contact UPBM’s curriculum advisor, Caroline Fratianni as soon as possible.

First Year

Fall semester courses:

  • Biology introductory course I (select one):
    • BIOL 110L: Principles of Biology I
    • BIOL 112L: Perspectives in Biology I
  • CHEM 131: General Chemistry

Spring semester courses:

  • Biology introductory course II (select one):
    • BIOL 111L: Principles of Biology II
    • BIOL 113L: Perspectives in Biology II
  • CHEM 132: General Chemistry II

Second Year

Fall semester courses:

  • Introductory Genetics (select one):
    • BIOL 190/198P: The Human Genome
    • BIOL 198/198P: Principles of Genetics
  • CHEM 203/207: Organic Chemistry I with Lab

Spring semester courses*:

  • Introductory Biochemistry (select one):
    • BIOL 250: Introduction to Biochemistry
    • BIOL 252: Principles of Biochemistry
  • CHEM 204/208: Organic Chemistry II with Lab

*Only required for the general (BS), cell and developmental biology, microbiology, molecular genetics, and neuroscience tracks.

Declaring a Major

Before submitting a Major/Minor Declaration Form with the Registrar, intended biological science majors should first visit their intended track page located on the Department of Biology’s website, and complete the appropriate Major Declaration Form. This form allows you to meet with the major track advisor. For more information, please see “Declaring a Major or Minor in Biology” on our advising page.