The biology major consists of 35 credits in biological sciences
plus cognate courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The
following requirements define the major in biology. All courses
required for the major in biology, including cognate courses, must be
completed with a grade of C or better. Students are urged to meet with
their advisers regularly.
1. 21:120:101-102 General Biology (4,4)
2. 21:120:301 Foundations of Biology: Cell and
Molecular Biology (4)
3.
Students must complete one course from each of the four categories
listed below under major conceptual approaches to organisms (13-15
credits).
a. Organismal Approach. Biology and systematics of organismal groups from a phylogenetic perspective.
21:120:211 Plant Kingdom (4)
21:120:311 Taxonomy of Vascular Plants (4)
21:120:320 Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates (4)
21:120:322 Evolution (3)
21:120:327 Biology of Invertebrates (4)
b. Functional Approach. Functional mechanisms of living organisms.
21:120:230 Biology of Seed Plants (4)
21:120:330 Plant Physiology (4)
21:120:335 General Microbiology (4)
21:120:340 Mammalian Physiology (4)
c. Molecular and Cellular Approach. Structure and function
of living systems at the molecular and cellular levels.
21:120:355 Cell Biology (3)
21:120:356 Molecular Biology (3)
21:120:360 Biochemistry (3)
d. Ecological Approach. Organism environment interactions;
the structure and function of populations, communities, and ecosystems.
21:120:370 Plant Ecology (3)
21:120:380 Animal Ecology (3)
21:120:481 Marine Biology (4)
4.
Students are required to have at least one laboratory course dealing
with animal systems and one laboratory course dealing with plant
systems. Please note that some of these courses also may be used to
fulfill the requirements of number 3 above. However, the same course
may not be used to satisfy both laboratory and field requirements.
Animal laboratory courses
21:120:320 Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates (4)
21:120:327 Biology of Invertebrates (4)
21:120:340 Mammalian Physiology (4)
21:120:342 Developmental Biology (4)
21:120:358 Microanatomy of Cells and Tissues (4)
Plant laboratory courses
21:120:211 Plant Kingdom (4)
21:120:230 Biology of Seed Plants (4)
21:120:311 Taxonomy of Vascular Plants (4)
21:120:330 Plant Physiology (4)
21:120:414 Phycology (4)
21:120:415 Paleobotany (4)
21:120:430 Plant Growth and Development (4)
5.
Students are required to have at least one course with a field
component, as listed below. Please note that some of these courses also
may be used to fulfill requirements in number 3 above. However, the
same course may not be used to satisfy both field and laboratory
requirements.
21:120:311 Taxonomy of Vascular Plants (4)
21:120:327 Biology of Invertebrates (4)
21:120:328 Ornithology (3)
21:120:371 Field Studies in Plant Ecology (3)
21:120:381 Field Studies in Animal Ecology (3)
21:120:415 Paleobotany (4)
21:120:470 Field Ecology (3)
21:120:481 Marine Biology (4)
21:120:486 Tropical Field Biology (2)
6. In addition to the above, the following courses may be used to complete the 35 credits for the biology major:
21:120:325 Animal Parasites (3)
21:120:326 Laboratory Exercises in Parasitology (1)
21:120:346 Neurobiology (3)
21:120:352 Genetics (3)
21:120:382 Animal Behavior (3)
21:120:403 Biological Ultrastructure (3)
21:120:404 Light and Electron Microscopy (4)
21:120:413 Mycology (4)
21:120:443 Immunology (3)
21:120:445 Endocrinology (3)
21:120:451 Laboratory in Cellular and Molecular Biology: Cellular Biophysics (4)
21:120:452 Laboratory in Cellular and Molecular Biology: Molecular Biotechniques (4)
21:120:455 Molecular Cell Biology (3)
21:120:456 Virology (3)
21:120:471 Ecological Physiology (3)
21:120:472 Environmental Assessment (3)
21:120:487 Systems Ecology (3)
21:120:491,492 Problems in Biology (BA,BA)
21:120:493,494 Seminar in Biology (1,1)
7. In addition to the requirements in the biological sciences, the following cognate courses are required:
a. 21&62:160:115-116 General Chemistry (4,4) and
21&62:160:113-114 General Chemistry Laboratory (1,1)
b. 21&62:160:335-336 Organic Chemistry (4,4) and
21&62:160:331 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)
c. 21&62:750:203,204 General Physics I,II (4,4) and
21&62:750:205,206 Introductory Physics Laboratory (1,1)
d. 21&62:640:135 Calculus I (4)
Questions
concerning the applicability of individual courses to the major may be
directed to the undergraduate coordinator of the Department of
Biological Sciences, Room 407, Boyden Hall (973/353-1268). With
written permission of the undergraduate coordinator, qualified majors
may use certain graduate courses selected from the offerings of the
graduate program in biology at the Graduate School-Newark to fulfill
the credit requirement for the biology major.
The following courses are recommended for the biology major:
21&62:198:100 Introduction to Computers and Information
Processing or 21&62:198:101 Computers and Programming or (NJIT)
CIS 098 Fundamentals of Computers and Programming
21:640:327 Probability and Statistics or 21:830:301 Statistical
Methods for the Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences or 21:960:211
Statistics or (NJIT) 28:640:105 Probability and Statistics.
