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Cell and Molecular Biology Major
Effective Fall 2012
May be elected as a departmental concentration program
Exclusions: Students who elect a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology may not elect the following concentrations: Biology; General Biology; Microbiology; Plant Biology; Biochemistry; Biomolecular Science; or Neuroscience. They may also not elect an academic minor in Biology; Plant Biology; Chemistry; or Biochemistry.
The curriculum in Cellular and Molecular Biology offers students an integrated program of study and training in the biological and physical sciences. It is a pathway to graduate study in areas of biology and medicine that emphasizes a quantitative and analytical approach to the life sciences.
Prerequisites to Concentration
- BIOLOGY 171, 172/174 and 173; or BIOLOGY 195 and BIOLOGY 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.
It is recommended that students interested in pursuing graduate work acquire a reading knowledge of French, German, or Russian.
Concentration Program
- Required courses.
- Genetics: BIOLOGY 305;
- Biochemistry: MCDB 310 (or CHEM 451 and 452, or BIOLCHEM 451 and 452, or BIOLCHEM 415);
- Cellular and Molecular Biology: MCDB 427; MCDB 428.
- Advanced laboratory requirement. Two advanced lab courses from among: MCDB 306, 400*, 413, 419, 423, or 429.
- Biology/Chemistry elective. One course chosen from:
- BIOLOGY 205, 207, 222, 225
- MCDB 308, 321
- CHEM 230 or 260, or 241/242 or 245/246/247, or 452
- any advanced CMB course (See #4).
- Advanced CMB courses. Choose two courses from:
MCDB 400*, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 408, 411, 415, 418, 422, 425, 426, 430, 432, 435, 436, 437, 441, 444, 455, 456, 469, 489, 504, and 589.
A third (or fourth) advanced CMB lab course (MCDB 306, 400*, 419, 423, or 429) may also be used to meet this requirement.
*Note: Only three credits of independent study may count toward the concentration program. Three credits must be completed in one term to meet the advanced laboratory requirement or advanced CMB course requirement.
- Elective Course. Choose one course from the following:
- Any BIOLOGY, EEB, or MCDB course at the 200-, 300-, or 400-level (except BIOLOGY 200, 201, 202, 215, 262, or EEB 300, 302, or MCDB 300, 302, 320, or 412). A third advanced CMB course is permitted to meet this requirement.
- One cognate course in Chemistry: CHEM 230 or 260, 241/242; CHEM 452 for students who elected the sequence CHEM 451-452; any Chemistry course that has CHEM 260 as a prerequisite.
- One cognate course in Mathematics or Statistics (as approved by the concentration advisor): MATH courses with a MATH 116 prerequisite, or STATS 401, 412, or 425 or BIOSTAT 503.
Honors Program in Cell and Molecular Biology