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Biological Sciences, B.A.

Overview

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree that is intended for students who wish to combine their interest in science with their interest(s) in other discipline(s) across campus. For schedule planning feedback, advising support, and/or sample four year schedules please contact the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Programs Office. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation recipients of the B.A. degree in Biological Sciences will:

  • Recall and understand foundational knowledge in genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and experimental methodology (i.e. core courses required of all majors).
  • Apply foundational knowledge to develop an understanding of specialized fields in Biological Sciences (i.e. topics covered in advanced electives 300-level+).
  • Apply the scientific method to generate knowledge and solve problems.
  • Apply acquired knowledge to analyze and interpret data.
  • Identify and critically evaluate scientific information relevant to Biological Sciences from multiple sources. 
  • Clearly, logically, and accurately communicate Biological Sciences content in written and oral formats.
  • Practice working collaboratively in teams and demonstrate effective teamwork.
  • Recall and understand the principles of the responsible conduct of research and apply selected aspects of the responsible conduct of research (i.e. data management and citation of sources.

The curriculum requirements for the B.A. degree are distributed as follows:

Degree Requirements

Biological Sciences Units
03-151Honors Modern Biology10
or 03-121 Modern Biology
03-201Undergraduate Colloquium for Sophomores2
03-231Honors Biochemistry9
03-320Cell Biology
*New course number (03-240) starting Fall 2027		9
03-220Genetics
*New course number (03-330) starting Fall 2027		9
or 03-221 Genomes, Evolution, and Disease: Introduction to Quantitative Genetic Analysis
03-343Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology9-12
or 03-124 Modern Biology Laboratory
03-411Topics in Research1
03-412Topics in Research1
03-xxxGeneral Biology Electives 118
03-3xxAdvanced Biology Electives 118
Total Biology units86-89
1

Details on electives can be found in the "Biological Sciences Electives" section (see below).

Chemistry Units
09-105Introduction to Modern Chemistry I 210
or 09-107 Honors Chemistry: Fundamentals, Concepts and Applications
09-106Modern Chemistry II10
09-217Organic Chemistry I9
09-218Organic Chemistry II9
09-207Techniques in Quantitative Analysis9
Total Chemistry units47
2

Students who complete 09-107 with an A grade will be exempted from the requirement to take 09-106 Modern Chemistry II.

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Units
02-120Programming for Scientists12
or 15-110 Principles of Computing
or 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science
21-120Differential and Integral Calculus
(prerequisite: 21-090)		10
21-122Integration and Approximation10
33-121Physics I for Science Students12
or 33-141 Physics I for Engineering Students
33-122Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students9
or 33-142 Physics II for Engineering and Physics Students
Total Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science units53
Elective courses Units
MCS Nontechnical Breadth Requirements75
Free Electives96-99
Total Elective units171-174

360Minimum number of units required for degree:

MCS Technical Breadth Requirements

Majors entering CMU and majoring in Biological Sciences (or affiliated majors) in the Fall of 2015 or beyond will fulfill the MCS Technical Breadth requirements as follows:

  1. Life Sciences: any courses in this category except for the 03-xxx courses. 
  2. Physical Sciences:  09-105, 09-106, 33-121 and 33-122
  3. Math/CS/Stats:  21-120 and 21-122 
  4. STEM Elective:  will be filled by courses above or any STEM course from the approved list.
Biological Sciences Electives

The following specifications apply to Biological Sciences electives:

  • At least 18 units must be at the 03-3xx level or above, exclusive of 03-445 and 03-545 and interdisciplinary electives.

  • One interdisciplinary elective may count as a general biology elective.

  • Up to 18 units of 03-445 Undergraduate Research and/or 03-545 Honors Research may count as general biology electives; a maximum of 36 units of research can count for the minimum units required for graduation.

  • Courses in biology taken through cross-registration or study abroad at another university may count as electives if prior permission is obtained from the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Amanda Willard.

Departmental Electives Group
03-113Biologies in Text and Film *Offered only in Doha9
03-117Frontiers, Analysis, and Discovery in Biological Sciences6
03-118Beer: A Yeast's Perspective6
03-119Biology for Life Special Topics Micro3
03-120Biology for Life Special Topics Mini6
03-124Modern Biology Laboratory9
03-125Evolution9
03-128Biology for Life Special Topics9
03-129Human Health and Disease *Offered only in Doha9
03-132Basic Science to Modern Medicine9
03-133Neurobiology of Disease9
03-135Structure and Function of the Human Body9
03-140Ecology and Environmental Science9
03-161Molecules to Mind9
03-230Human Anatomy and Physiology *Offered only in Doha9
03-350Developmental Biology9
03-351Computation and Biology Integrated Research Lab9
03-360/02-319Genomics and Epigenetics of the Brain9
03-362Cellular Neuroscience9
03-363Systems Neuroscience9
03-365Neural Correlates of Learning and Memory9
03-366Neuropharmacology: Drugs, Brain and Behavior9
03-380Virology *Offered only in Doha9
03-390Molecular and Cellular Immunology9
03-391Microbiology9
03-410Special Topics in Biological SciencesVar.
03-435Cancer Biology9
03-439Introduction to Biophysics10
03-442Molecular Biology9
03-444Precision Medicine *Offered only in Doha9
03-445Undergraduate ResearchVar.
03-451Advanced Developmental Biology and Human Health9
03-511Computational Molecular Biology and Genomics9
03-545Honors Research9
03-711Computational Molecular Biology and Genomics12
03-713Bioinformatics Data Integration Practicum6
03-728Genome Editing Biotechnology6
03-729Entrepreneurship and protein-based drug development6
03-730Advanced Genetics12
03-737Biosensors6
03-738Synthetic Biology6
03-740Advanced Biochemistry12
03-741Advanced Cell Biology12
03-742Advanced Molecular Biology12
03-751Advanced Developmental Biology and Human Health12
03-762Advanced Cellular Neuroscience12
03-763Advanced Systems Neuroscience12
03-766Advanced Neuropharmacology: Drugs, Brain and Behavior12
03-791Advanced Microbiology12
Interdisciplinary Electives Group
Up to one of the following courses may count as a general biology elective:
02-331Modeling Evolution12
02-425Computational Methods for Proteogenomics and Metabolomics9
02-450Automation of Scientific Research9
02-510Computational Genomics12
02-512Computational Methods for Biological Modeling and Simulation9
02-518Computational Medicine12
02-740Bioimage Informatics12
09-518Bioorganic Chemistry: Nucleic Acids and Carbohydrates9
09-519Bioorganic Chemistry: Peptides, Proteins and Combinatorial Chemistry9
09-530Chemistry of Gene Expression9
21-127Concepts of Mathematics12
21-259Calculus in Three Dimensions10
21-260Differential Equations9
36-200Reasoning with Data9
42-202Physiology9
85-170Foundations of Brain and Behavior9
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