Biology Minor

Minor in Biology

• BIOL 11100 - Foundations Biology
• BIOL 20100 - Gateway to Molecular and Cellular Biology
• BIOL 20200 - Gateway to Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
• Three elective 300-level Biology courses, one of which must have a laboratory component. BIOL 20300  does not count as an elective toward the Biology minor.

Special Notes

• The Breadth Requirement: As noted above, Biology majors should posess broad, foundational knowledge of biology. Students are introduced to a diversity of biological topics in our Gateway course sequence (BIOL 20100  and BIOL 20200 ) and then develop additional depth in each subdivision by completing at least one course from each of the two major subdivisions, as organized below. Students are strongly recommended to complete the breadth requirement before beginning BIOL 45100  so that they can incorporate a range of biological concepts and tools into their Independent Study thesis project.

• When possible, CHEM 11200  should be completed in the first year, since it must be taken before or with BIOL 20100  and is a prerequisite to several 300-level Biology courses.
• The Foundations course, BIOL 11100 , must be taken as the first course by all Biology majors (unless the student has received advanced placement credit). The Gateway courses (BIOL 20100 , BIOL 20200 ) may be taken in either order but must be completed before enrolling in Introduction to Independent Study (BIOL 40100 ). One or both of the Gateway courses is a prerequisite to each upper-level course, although a student may be admitted to an upper-level course by permission of the instructor without having completed the prerequisite, when justifiable.
• BIOL 20300 - Research Skills in Biology  should be taken by prospective Biology majors in the fall or spring of their sophomore year. BIOL 11100  and at least one of the Gateway courses (BIOL 20100  and BIOL 20200 ) must be taken prior to enrolling in BIOL 20300 ; the second Gateway course should then be taken concurrently. BIOL 20300  must be completed before enrolling in Introduction to Independent Study (BIOL 40100 ).
• Students should complete as many Biology courses as possible, but at minimum one 300-level course, before beginning Introduction to Independent Study (BIOL 40100 ).
• BIOL 30600  synthesizes the major organizational levels in biology for a deeper understanding of this essential biological principle. Thus, BIOL 30600 is not applicable to either subdivision, but does count for credit towards the major or minor.
• BIOL 40100  must be completed before the student enrolls in BIOL 45100 , and is normally taken in the second semester of the junior year. Students planning a semester off campus should consult with a Biology adviser early in the planning stage (see below).
• The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology courses (BCMB 30300 , BCMB 33100 , BCMB 33200 , BCMB 33300 ) count toward the Biology major and minor and are considered Biology courses for purposes of determining departmental honors. BIOL 10000  and BIOL 40000  courses do not count toward the major or minor, nor do they apply to Honors calculations.
• Biology majors contemplating graduate or professional school are strongly encouraged to take a full year of Organic Chemistry (CHEM 21100 , CHEM 21200 ), a full year of general physics (PHYS 10700 , PHYS 10800  or PHYS 11100 , PHYS 11200 ),  BCMB 33100 - Principles of Biochemistry   AND at least one course in calculus.
• Laboratory Grade Policy: Some Biology courses have an associated laboratory section. Unless laboratory sections are marked as optional in the course description, students should enroll in both the lecture section and the laboratory section of a course simultaneously. Whether the laboratory section is graded separately or included.as a portion of the lecture section grade is left to the discretion of the instructor.
• Advanced Placement: Students receiving a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement Examination in Biology will receive credit for Foundations of Biology (BIOL 11100 ). With a score of 4 on the Biology AP exam a student can receive one course credit in BIOL 10000 - Topics in Biology , or upon successful completion of the Biology Placement exam may receive one course credit for Foundations of Biology (BIOL 11100 ). Advanced placement credit cannot be substituted for any other Biology courses than those specified above. To receive appropriate Biology credit for AP scores, please contact the Chairperson of the Biology department. The advanced placement policy of the College is explained in the section on Admissions .
• Off-Campus Study: Off-campus study can be a valuable and enriching part of the college curriculum, and we encourage our students to consider off-campus study as a means of augmenting and enhancing their study of biology. Students who would like to include this in their program of study are encouraged to talk with a departmental faculty member early in their first year, and to think about scheduling choices that would make this possible. Off-campus study is best scheduled for the Spring of the sophomore year or the Fall of the junior year. Biology courses taken at other institutions may count toward the major for up to two 300-level courses. Students should discuss their proposed course electives with the department chair prior to their study-abroad experience (or prior to enrolling in courses at other institutions), to determine whether the courses are equivalent to Wooster courses, and whether they will count toward the major.
• Non-Science Majors: Biological information has become increasingly important as citizens face crucial decisions on such issues as the environment, emerging diseases, genetic engineering, and our aging population. To gain an appreciation of how biologists approach and understand life processes, non-science majors may enroll in either Topics in Biology (BIOL 10000 ) or Foundations of Biology (BIOL 11100 ). Topics in Biology (BIOL 10000 ) courses address specific topical issues in applied biology on a rotating basis (see catalogue description). Foundations of Biology (BIOL 11100 ) is intended as an entry course for students considering a major in one of the Biological Sciences, and focuses on a serious study of the conceptual underpinnings of genetics and evolution as they relate to the field of biology. For students interested in a more extensive laboratory experience, BIOL 20100  or BIOL 20200  would be appropriate after first completing BIOL 11100 .
• A maximum of fifteen courses (including BCMB 30300 , BCMB 33100 , BCMB 33200  and BCMB 33300 ) from the Department of Biology may count toward the College’s thirty-two course graduation requirement.
• Students are not permitted to count any courses taken for S/NC credit towards the major or minor.
• A student must earn a grade of C- or higher for a course to count toward the major or minor.