Molecular Biology Major

Director B. Hoopes

This program is intended for students who are interested in biology at the molecular level and who wish to take several courses in both biology and chemistry. Interested students should see biology professors Ay, Belanger, Hagos, Holm, Hoopes, Meyers, Taye, or Van Wynsberghe.

Major Requirements

Course requirements are described below.

Biology

All of the Following

• BIOL 181 - Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity and BIOL 181L
• BIOL 182 - Molecules, Cells, and Genes and BIOL 182L Both courses and their credit bearing laboratory components must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
  Both courses and their credit bearing laboratory components must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Process of Biology

One course from the following:

• BIOL 202 - Genetics and BIOL 202L 
• BIOL 204 - Molecular Biology and BIOL 204L
• BIOL 205 - Cell Biology and BIOL 205L

Three Electives

One elective can be at any level. Of the two remaining electives, one must be numbered 300 or higher and one must be numbered 330 or higher. One of these two 300-level courses must have a laboratory component. Only one research-based course numbered 470 or higher can count toward the major. 

Molecular Biology Electives 

Research Tutorial Experience

Research Tutorial Experience

• A one-credit research experience, normally satisfied with a research tutorial (a course numbered BIOL 470-490).
• Research at the Bethesda Biomedical Research as part of the Colgate Study Group (BIOL 393 or BIOL 493) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
• UROPS courses taken at the National University of Singapore (NUS) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
• With prior approval by the biology department, a senior-level independent study course or capstone experience in another department may be used to fulfill the research requirement.

Cognate Courses

Chemistry

Chemistry

General Chemistry Option

The following two courses:

• CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I and CHEM 101L 
• CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II and CHEM 102L 
  or, if eligible, the following course may be substituted for the above sequence:
• CHEM 111 - Chemical Principles and CHEM 111L 

All of the Following

• CHEM 263 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 264 - Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM 353 - Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Cognate Courses

Math or Computer Science Course

• one course in mathematics or computer science (except COSC 100 or COSC 150). The math course requirement may be met by taking BIOL 320 - Biostatistics .

Physics Sequence

• PHYS 111 - Fundamental Physics I and PHYS 111L 
• PHYS 112 - Fundamental Physics II and PHYS 112L 
• or
  PHYS 232 - Introduction to Mechanics and PHYS 232L 
• PHYS 233 - Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism and PHYS 233L 

Honors and High Honors

Students interested in pursuing honors can find the additional requirements on the Biology department page.

Biology Department

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the Biology department catalog page.