Major Requirements for Bachelor of Arts in Biology

The bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree in the biological sciences (biology, cell and molecular biology, ecology and evolution, neurobiology, plant sciences) is offered as a joint program between Rutgers University-Newark and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) through their Federated Department of Biological Sciences. The B.A. major requires 38 credits of coursework in biological sciences, plus cognate courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Courses are offered at both Rutgers-Newark and NJIT.

Rutgers students can officially declare their intention to pursue a course of study leading to a B.A. degree in biology after completing 120:200 Concepts in Biology and one of the two Foundations course pairs (201/202 or 205/206).

To declare their major and their preference for the bachelor of arts curriculum, students must visit the biological sciences office in Boyden Hall 206 to submit an application for admission to the major or visit our department's academic advising website for instructions: https://sasn.rutgers.edu/academics-admissions/academic-departments/biological-sciences/undergraduate-programs/academic-advising. At this time the student's record will be reviewed and, if accepted into the major, an academic major adviser will be assigned. Students should meet with their adviser regularly, at least once a semester, to plan their course of study.

After completing 120:200 Concepts in Biology, students take 120:201 Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology (3), 120:202 Foundations Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory (1), 120/216:205 Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution (3) and 120/216:206 Foundations Ecology and Evolution Laboratory (1) as their core curricular requirements; together, these five courses provide students with the necessary background to enroll in upper-division courses. Please be aware that many upper-division courses require completion of both the Concepts and Foundations: Cell and Molecular Biology courses as prerequisites.

Beyond the core courses, all students must successfully complete one course from each of three biological concepts clusters and two courses designated as laboratory/field experience.

Students complete their course of study by successfully completing, with grades of C or better, courses in biological sciences for a minimum of 38 credits.

Among the courses successfully completed for the B.A. degree, one of those courses must be recognized as writing intensive (WI). Students should check the WI status of courses before registering, as the roster of WI courses may vary from semester to semester.

All cognate courses must be completed with grades of C or better. 

  21:120:356  Molecular Biology (3)

4. Biology B.A. Electives

  21:120/216:305  Vertebrate Evolution (3)

  28:120:315  Principles of Neurobiology (3)

  28:120:337  Collective Intelligence of Biological Systems (3)

  28:120:338  Ecology of the Dining Hall (3)

  21/28:120:350  Immunology (3)

  21:120/216:365  Evolution of Humans (3)

  28:120:368  Ecology and Evolution of Disease (3)

  21:120/216:370  Plant Ecology (3)

  28:120:375  Conservation Biology (3)

  28:120:382  Animal Behavior (3)

  28:120:383  Neural Basis of Behavior  (3)

  28:120:398  Visualizing Biology (3)

  28:120:400  Biology of Science Fiction (3)

  21:120:402  Biology of Cancer (3)

  21:120:411  Teaching Internship in Biology (1)

  21:120:412  Teaching Internship in Biology (1)

  21:120/216:422  Biological Invasions (3)

  28:120:423  Physiological Mechanisms (3)

  28:120:424  Comparative Physiology (3)

  28:120:432  Introduction to Computational Neuroscience (3)

  28:120:440  Cell Biology of Disease (3)

  28:120:441  Introduction to Neurophysiology (3)

  28:120:443  Biology of Addiction (3)

  21:120:444  Cellular Neurobiology (3)

  21:120:445  Neuroendocrinology (3)

  21:120:455  Molecular Cell Biology (3)

  28:120:475  Ecological Field Methods and Analysis (3)

  21:120:491  Problems in Biology (1-3)

  21:120:492  Problems in Biology (1-3)

  21:120:493  Seminar in Biology (1)

  21:120:494  Seminar in Biology (1)

  28:120:498  Special Topics in Biology (3)

5. Cognate Courses

  21:160:115  General Chemistry I (4)

  21:160:116  General Chemistry II (4)

  21:160:113  General Chemistry Laboratory I (1)

  21:160:114  General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

  21:160:335  Organic Chemistry I (4)

  21:160:336  Organic Chemistry II (4)

  21:160:331  Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)

  21:640:135  Calculus I (4)

  21:750:203,204  Algebra-Based Introductory Physics I,II (4,4) or

  21:750:213,214  Calculus-Based Introductory Physics I,II (4,4)

  21:750:205,206  Algebra-Based Introductory Physics Laboratory I,II (1,1) or