Course Planning

Biology Major - Planning

Course planning advice here is limited to majors. For a full description of degree requirements, please see this overview of the Academic Program and refer to the Catalog for details and official rules. Any discrepancy between the Course Planning Pages and the Catalog will be resolved in favor of the Catalog.

Possible Degree Path – starting in the first year. The following is a typical plan for this 13 course major. This is not the only way forward. Please consult with your advisor to create your unique path

First Year

4 courses towards the major. These should include:

  • Fundamentals of Cellular Life (BIOL 150)
  • Botany (BIOL 190)
  • Gen Chem I (CHEM 110)
  • Gen Chem II (CHEM 120) 
Sophomore

3-4 courses towards the major. These should include:

  • Zoology (BIOL 220)
  • Genetics (BIOL 250) or Ecology & Evolution (BIOL 260)
    • Students interested in more cellular/molecular fields should prioritize BIOL 250; students interested in more organismal/evolutionary fields should prioritize BIOL 260
  • Any 200-level statistics course

Possibly:

  • Students could consider taking both Genetics (BIOL 250) and Ecology & Evolution (BIOL 260) their sophomore year
Junior

If not already completed:

  • Genetics (BIOL 250)
  • Ecology & Evolution (BIOL 260)

And:

  • 1-3 Biology Major Electives
Senior
  • 1-3 Biology Major Electives
  • Biology Senior Seminar (BIOL 497)

Possible Degree Path – starting in the second year.  The following is a typical plan to complete this major. Please consult with your advisor or a member of the Department to create your unique path.

   
First Year -
Sophomore

5-6 courses towards the major. These should include:

  • Fundamentals of Cellular Life (BIOL 150)
  • Botany (BIOL 190)
  • Gen Chem I (CHEM 110)
  • Gen Chem II (CHEM 120)
  • Any 200-level statistics course

Possibly:

  • Genetics (BIOL 250) or Ecology & Evolution (BIOL 260)
Junior
  • Zoology (BIOL 220) 

If not already completed: 

  • Genetics (BIOL 250)
  • Ecology & Evolution (BIOL 260)

And:

  • 1-3 Biology Major Electives
Senior
  • 1-3 Biology Major Electives
  • Biology Senior Seminar (BIOL 497)

Capstone: The Biology capstone is composed of a presentation given as part of the senior seminar (BIOL 497), and a comprehensive exam.  See your departmental advisor for more details.

Planning Recommendations:

  • Although research is not required for the major, students planning to pursue a graduate degree in Biology are strongly encouraged to participate in independent research. Students should start exploring research options though consultation with the Department during their sophomore year. 
  • While each Biology graduate program is different, students considering graduate work should complete a sequence in Organic Chemistry (CHEM 240 & 250), a sequence in Physics (PHYS 235 & 245), and at least one semester of CalculusI (MATH 130). Consult with a member of the Biology Department to discuss additional recommendations for Graduate School.
  • Students interested in any health-related field should also refer to the Health-Related Fields guidelines at [https://www.hendrix.edu/preprofessional/default.aspx?id=40707].