Organismal Biology Major

Requirements for the Major

A major in Organismal Biology requires a minimum of 15 courses plus senior thesis.

 BIOLOGY

• BIOL 120 KS - Research Tools in Organismal Biology  

CHEMISTRY

• CHEM014L KS Basic Principles of Chemistry  and CHEM015L KS Basic Principles of Chemistry , or CHEM029L KS Accelerated General Chemistry with Lab , or CHEM042L KS Integrated Biology and Chemistry .

Note: CHEM029L KS Accelerated General Chemistry with Lab  will count for both requirements.

 PHYSICS

• PHYS030L KS  and PHYS031L KS  (2 semesters) - General Physics for the Life Sciences  

MATH

• MATH030 SC Calculus I  

ELECTIVES

• Seven upper-division biology courses, including three with lab
• At least six courses must be from the four groups listed below, with at least one course from each group AND
  at least three from Group 1 or Group 3. No more than one course from Group 4 may be counted. Other
  biology courses may also be appropriate to fulfill the group requirements, if approved in advance by the
  biology faculty.
• One upper division Environmental Analysis course offered by Keck Science may count as a non-lab elective,
  but will not count towards any of the Group requirements.

Note: Students are strongly encouraged to pursue an in-depth research experience through either a study abroad program with a field biology component or an on- or off- campus summer research project. With prior departmental approval students may count off-campus courses towards electives and/or research experiences towards thesis.

SENIOR THESIS

One- or two-semester thesis: BIOL191 KS ; or BIOL188L KS  and BIOL190L KS , or BIOL189L KS  and BIOL190L KS .

Honors Requirements (All Tracks)

To be considered for departmental honors in one of the science majors, a student must:

• Achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.67 in courses in the major.  
• Achieve a minimum grade of A- on the thesis.
• Complete a one- or two-semester thesis project in which the student has demonstrated excellence by making a significant contribution to the progress of the research and by producing a thesis document judged to be of honors quality by the department.
• Present an oral progress report at the end of the first semester of a two-semester thesis and a poster at the conclusion of either a one- or two-semester thesis in which the student clearly explains the rationale for the project and the conclusions drawn, engages the listener, and knowledgeably answers questions.
• Attend at least six scientific seminars during the semester (each semester for a two-semester thesis) and submit a brief and clear summary of each.