A typical schedule for eight semesters, showing only required science and math courses, is given below. This should be considered only a general guide, not a rigid schedule. Students should consult with their advisers to plot out the best path given their interests and academic strengths.
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|---|
| Freshman Year | |
| 030.101 Introductory Chemistry I | 020.303 Genetics |
| 030.105 Introductory Chemistry Lab I | 030.102 Introductory Chemistry II |
| 110.106 Calculus I | 030.106 Introductory Chemistry Lab II |
| 110.107 Calculus II | |
| Sophomore Year | |
| 020.304 Molecular Biology | 030.206 Intro. Organic Chemistry II |
| 030.205 Intro. Organic Chemistry I | 030.225 Intro. Organic Chemistry Lab |
| 030.225 Intro. Organic Chemistry Lab or 020.303 Genetics | 020.306 Cell Biology |
| 020.340 Developmental Genetics Lab | 020.316 Cell Biology Lab |
| Junior Year | |
| 020.305 Biochemistry | 171.104 General Physics II |
| 020.315 Biochemistry Project Lab or 250.253 Protein Engineering and Biochemistry Lab | 171.112 General Physics Lab II |
| 171.103 General Physics | 020.363 Developmental Biology |
| 173.111 General Physics Lab I | 020.373 Developmental Genetics Lab |
| Senior Year | |
| 1-2 upper-level science courses | 1-2 upper-level science courses |
This typical schedule may not be the best schedule for every student. Some common exceptions include:
- If students have advanced placement credits in chemistry equivalent to 030.101 & 102 Introductory Chemistry I & II, the requirement for the Introductory Chemistry Lab 030.105-106 is waived. These students might then take Applied Chemical Equilibrium and Reactivity (030.103) and Chemical Structure and Bonding (030.204). Alternatively, these students, while taking Calculus, could take General Physics during the freshman year.
- Advanced placement credits in 110.106-107 Calculus I & II will satisfy the requirement for the biology major. If a student tests into and successfully completes Calculus II, the Biology Department will waive the requirement for calculus. These students, however, should consider additional math (Calculus III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations) or statistics. This is especially important for students wishing to apply to medical school programs after graduation, since these programs usually require one year of mathematics and/or statistics courses taken while in college.
- Students should consider taking one or more biology courses during their freshman and sophomore years. This could include General Biology, freshman seminars, project lab courses such as Phage Hunting (020.135-6) or Protein Engineering (250.253), or independent research.