The Biological Sciences Major and Minor

The Biological Sciences Major

Our major provides many ways of looking at living things. Core courses introduce complementary perspectives on life. Advanced courses bring students to the edge of what we know and provide a foundation for original work.

The biological sciences major requires a minimum of 32 credits in biology, chemistry, ecology, statistics, and other subjects.

Requirements for the Major

Credits

  • A minimum of 32 credits in biological sciences

Courses

Required courses in biological sciences:

Biology:

  • 145, Introductory Biology (various types) or 
  • 160, Integrated Introduction to Biology and Chemistry
  • 200, Introductory Biology II (prereq. Biology 145 or 160)
  • 210, Genetics and Molecular Biology (prereq. Biology 200; Chemistry 101; Chemistry 101 may be taken concurrently with Biology 210)
  • 220, Cell Biology (prereq. Biology 200, Chemistry 201; Chemistry 201 may be taken concurrently with Biology 220)
  • 223, Ecology (prereq. Biology 145 or Environmental Studies 100, one semester of college or high school calculus or statistics) or
  • 226, Evolution (prereq. Biology 210 or 223)
  • Three additional courses (12 credits) at the 300-level in biology. At least two of these (8 credits) must be taken at Mount Holyoke.
  • A total of five courses at the 200 and 300 levels are required to be taken with labs.
  • Biology 295 or 395 does not count toward the minimum 32 credits in the major.

Required courses outside of biological sciences:

  • General Chemistry 101 and 201
  • Calculus or Statistics

Recommended courses outside of biological sciences:

  • Organic Chemistry 202 and 302
  • Physics
  • Computer Science

The Biological Sciences Minor

The minor in biological sciences major requires a minimum of 16 credits at the 200 and/or 300 level.

  • Biology 295 or 395 do not count toward the minimum 16 credits in the minor.

Detailed information on required credits and courses for the major and the minor can be found in the Biological Sciences chapter of the catalogue.

We also provide education related minors. Detailed information on required credits and courses for this minor can be found in the Education Related Minors Programs of Study.