Biology

This is an archived copy of the 2015-2016 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://e-catalog.sewanee.edu.

Requirements for the Major in Biology

The major requires successful completion of the following:

Course Requirements 1,2
BIOL 130Field Investigations in Biology4
BIOL 133Introductory Molecular Biology and Genetics 34
CHEM 120General Chemistry (Lab) (or equivalent)4
MATH 101Calculus I4
or MATH 102or Calculus II
Select one of the following: 48
General Physics I (Lab)
and General Physics II (Lab)
Modern Mechanics (Lab)
and Electric and Magnetic Interactions (Lab)
Select three laboratory courses in biology (BIOL) numbered 200 or above 5
Select two additional courses in biology (BIOL) numbered 200 or above 620
Total Semester Hours44
Additional Requirements
A comprehensive examination
1

Courses numbered below 130 do not count toward the major.

2

Students contemplating a career in research should consider taking courses in statistics and computer science.

3

The Department of Biology will allow an AP test score of 5 or a higher level IB test score of 6 or 7 to substitute for BIOL 133. Students should be advised that mastery of the material covered in BIOL 133 is important as majors will be tested on it during their comprehensive exams.

4

Students may substitute laboratory biology courses for one or both of the physics classes. However, students considering professional careers in medicine should be aware that all medical schools specify courses in physics and organic chemistry among their entrance requirements.

5

Students who have completed and passed a) the Island Ecology summer program or b) the specific combination of the two half courses BIOL 241 and BIOL 251 may count either a) or b) as one laboratory course in the major. For purposes of calculating GPA within the major, the grade for the island ecology program will count as the equivalent of one biology class. 

6

Students may receive college credit for more than three 200- or 300-level biology courses taught by the same professor. However, no more than three may be counted among those required for the major. Additionally, students may only count two of the following upper-level biology courses toward the major: BIOL 236, BIOL 307, and BIOL 316.