Effective Fall 2011

May be elected as an interdepartmental major

Exclusions: Students who elect a major in Biology may not elect the following majors: General Biology; Cell and Molecular Biology; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Microbiology; Plant Biology; Biochemistry; or Neuroscience.   They may also not elect a minor in Biology; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Plant Biology; Chemistry; or Biochemistry.

This major program develops an appreciation of the levels of organization of life, its diversity, and the processes by which life has achieved its present forms. The program is recommended for those who wish to study biology as part of a liberal education, to prepare for a teaching career in secondary schools, or to prepare for graduate study in biology or the health professions.

Prerequisites to the Major.

  •  BIOLOGY 171, 172/174 and 173; or BIOLOGY 195 and 173;
  •  CHEMISTRY 210/211 and CHEMISTRY 215/216;
  • MATH 115 and 116;
  •  PHYSICS 125/127 and 126/128; or PHYSICS 135/136 and 235/236; or PHYSICS 140/141 and 240/241.

Program of study in a major. 30 credits (Students who have taken BIOLOGY 162 or 163 must take 33 credits to complete the major), distributed as follows :

  1.  Select at least one course from each of two groups I-II. (See Course Listings I-II for the available courses in each group.) Students should enroll in these courses as early as possible
    1.  Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology: 
      • BIOLOGY 205      (3) Developmental Biology
      • BIOLOGY 207*    (4) Introductory Microbiology
      • BIOLOGY 222      (3) Introduction to Neurobiology
      • BIOLOGY 225      (3) Animal Physiology
      • BIOLOGY 230      (4) Introductory Plant Biology
        Note: Students taking BIOLOGY 225 also are encouraged to take BIOLOGY 226* - Animal Physiology Laboratory (2 credits).
    2. Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology: 
      • BIOLOGY 230*    (4) Introduction to Plant Biology
      • BIOLOGY 252*    (4) Chordate Anatomy/Phylogeny
      • BIOLOGY 255*    (4) Plant Diversity
      • BIOLOGY 281      (3) General Ecology
      • BIOLOGY 288*    (4) Animal Diversity
        Note: Students taking BIOLOGY 281 also are encouraged to take EEB  372* -- General Ecology Lab (3 credits).

    3. An asterisk (*) indicates a laboratory course or a lecture course with a laboratory component

  2. Required courses in genetics, biochemistry, and evolution: 
    1.  Genetics: BIOLOGY 305;
    2. Biochemistry: one of MCDB 310, BIOLCHEM 415, or CHEM 451 and 452, or BIOLCHEM 451 and 452; and
    3.  Evolution: EEB (BIOLOGY) 390.
  3.  Select one course in EEB or MCDB at the 300- or 400-level (except EEB 302, MCDB 302 or 412).
  4.  Select additional Biology, EEB, or MCDB courses at the 200-level or above (except BIOLOGY 262, EEB 302, MCDB 302, or MCDB 412) to bring the major total to at least 30 credits (33 for students who have taken BIOLOGY 162 or 163). Two advisor-approved cognate courses may be used. A partial list of these may be obtained from the Biology Office, 1111 Natural Science, or from any department advisor.

  5. Three laboratory or field courses in biology beyond the introductory level.  Library "research" and introductory biology laboratories do not qualify.  A maximum of three credits of independent research (EEB 300 or 400, or MCDB 300 or 400), under the direct supervision of a faculty member, or, under a faculty member of another University of Michigan department with an EEB or MCDB faculty co-sponsor, may be used as one of the laboratory experiences.  Three credits of independent research must be completed in one term to satisfy a laboratory requirement.

    A maximum of three credits of any independent study course may count toward the major program.  

Advising. To make an advising appointment, go to the Program in Biology website at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/biology/. 

Honors Biology Program


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