Academics Major Requirements

Biology Major Course Requirements

Course Descriptions

Room and Time Rosters

The requirements for the biological sciences major are listed below. Requirements 1-9 must be taken for a letter grade. Students are required to complete all 3 biology core courses (biochemistry, evolution, genetics) at Cornell or during an approved abroad semester. Courses taken for the program of study should be taken for a letter grade unless the course is offered for S-U grades only or if the stsudent's advisor grants permission.
  1. Introductory biology for majors (one year): BIOG 1101 and 1103 plus 1102 and 1104, or 1105-1106. BIOG 1107-1108 or BIOSM 1110 offered during the 8-week Cornell summer session for 8 credits, also satisfies the introductory biology requirement for majors.

  2. General chemistry: CHEM 2070-2080 or 2150. Students who, via advanced placement, take only CHEM 2080 or only 2150 should be aware that some professional and graduate schools require 8 credits of general chemistry. These students may wish to take both CHEM 2150 and 2080 or 2150 and 2160. Students may wish to consult with their faculty advisor or advisors in the Office of Undergraduate Biology for further clarification.

  3. College mathematics (one year): one semester of calculus (MATH 1106, 1110, 1910, or their equivalent) plus one semester selected from the following:
    • a second semester of calculus (MATH 1120, 1920, or their equivalents).
    • a course in finite mathematics (MATH 1105).
    • a course in statistics (BTRY 3010, MATH 1710, AEM 2100, ILR 2100, PSYCH 3500, PAM 2100, ECON 3190, ECON 3210, SOC 3010).

  4. Organic chemistry: CHEM 1570 and 2510, or 3570-3580 and 2510, or 3570-3580 and 3010, or 3590-3600 and 2510, or 3590-3600 and 3010.

  5. Physics: PHYS 1101-1102, 2207-2208, or 1112-2213. Those who take PHYS 1112-2213 are advised to complete PHYS 2214 as well.

  6. Genetics: BIOGD 2810.

  7. Biochemistry: BIOBM 3300, or 3310 and 3320, or 3330.

  8. Evolutionary Biology: BIOEE 2780 or BIOPL 4480.
    Note: BIOPL 2410 Botany is a prerequisite course to BIOPL 4480.

  9. A Program of Study selected from the following areas:
    • animal physiology
    • biochemistry
    • computational biology
    • ecology and evolutionary biology
    • general biology
    • genetics and development
    • insect biology
    • microbiology
    • molecular and cell biology
    • neurobiology and behavior
    • nutrition
    • plant biology (either botany or plant biotechnology)
    • systematics & biotic diversity
    • an "independent" area of study designed by the student and approved by the Biological Sciences Curriculum Committee.
    Note: Core courses cannot count toward the program of study requirements.