Undergraduate

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Biology

Since the life sciences are increasingly interdisciplinary, biology majors can take a wide range of courses in the following general areas: cell and molecular biology, microbiology, physiology and developmental biology, animal behavior, botany/horticulture and ecology. Students prepare for graduate study and careers in these fields, as well as the health sciences, through lectures and labs, independent research and internships. Any student who wishes to pursue a career in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine should contact his/her advisor immediately to ensure appropriate course planning. Research is an integral part of the biology curriculum and biology majors are encouraged to participate in ongoing research in areas that include: evolutionary genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, microbiology, neurobiology and ecology.

Degree Requirements
Students who declare biology must achieve a minimum average grade of C- for BIO 103 and BIO 104 in order to advance in these majors. This minimum average grade is a prerequisite for all biology courses at the 200-level or above. In order to be considered a candidate for a B.A. or B.S. in biology, students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (C) averaged over all required courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.

Biology majors can receive either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Biology majors must satisfy all University Core Curriculum requirements and the College speech requirement, COMM 210. A 200-level Critical Writing course is prerequisite to advanced courses and should be completed prior to the junior year. In addition, biology majors must successfully complete the following courses and sufficient electives to total 120 credits. Majors are encouraged to apply electives toward a minor or second major.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology must also complete the following courses:

Five (5) upper-level (200 or above) courses in Biology, of which at least four (4) must be laboratory courses.
BIO 450 (Research in the Life Sciences) and BIO 451 (Senior Thesis) may not be counted towards these upper-level courses.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology must also complete the following courses:

and
Six (6) upper-level (200 or above) courses in Biology, of which four (4) must be laboratory courses.
BIO 450 (Research in the Life Sciences) and BIO 451 (Senior Thesis) may not be counted towards these upper-level courses.

The SEA Semester Option

Prerequisite for majors: Satisfactory completion of the writing and mathematics requirements and the five-course Interdisciplinary Core, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above and permission from the program faculty.

Prerequisite for Core Concentration: Students who are not majoring in science or mathematics may use the SEA Semester to fulfill the Core Concentration requirement provided the following prerequisites are met before the SEA Semester: satisfactory completion of the writing, mathematics and the five-course Interdisciplinary Core; a GPA of 2.5; and permission of the program faculty.

Students in good academic standing who meet the prerequisites may apply to attend a SEA Semester through the Sea Education Association (SEA) of Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This exciting and challenging off-campus program combines onshore classes, labs and field work in ocean sciences and maritime studies with an offshore sailing and research experience. Students attending a SEA Semester enroll in the following courses:

Biology majors must satisfy all University degree requirements as described in the catalog, with the following changes:

Majors who pursue the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in biology and who successfully complete a SEA Semester must also complete a minimum of four (rather than five) upper-level courses in biology; each of these must be a laboratory course.

(This program is academically affiliated however certain restrictions exist for the transfer of institutional aid. Please consult the Peggy and Marc Spiegel Center for Global and International Progeams for details.)

Semester Program at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences ( BIOS)

Prerequisite for majors: Satisfactory completion of the University general education requirements and the five-course Interdisciplinary Core; a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above; and permission from the program faculty.

This semester-long course of study examines the natural processes and human interventions found in the Gulf Stream, the Sargasso Sea, and the coral archipelago, Bermuda. Students are introduced to the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance patterns of tropical marine organisms, with emphasis on the ecology of near-shore areas. Basic principles of ecology are integrated with an understanding of the sea as a habitat for life. Major groups of dominant marine organisms of the region are examined in the field. Major near-shore marine habitats are examined, along with their associated biotic communities. Coral reef ecosystems are emphasized to illustrate basic concepts. Students conduct a major research project. Fall

Students enroll in the following courses: