Biology Major
Major Requirements
Biology is the study of living systems and how they interact with the nonliving world and with one another. It is a discipline that bridges the physical and social sciences. Students who major in biology become familiar with all levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems, and gain practical experience in both laboratory and field studies.
Introductory Chemistry Sequence
Complete the following courses:
Prospective majors are strongly encouraged to complete the two-course introductory chemistry sequence in the first year. This requirement may be fulfilled with Advanced Placement (AP), A-Level, and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits for CHEM 107 and/or CHEM 108 if approved by the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Students may satisfy this requirement using credit awarded by the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry for CHEM 107 and/or 108 for AP, A-level, or IB examinations.
Quantitative Course
Complete one of the following quantitative courses, which cannot simultaneously satisfy the General Education requirement for a quantitative or formal reasoning (QF) Mode of Inquiry:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 244 | Biostatistics |
| BIO 255A | Mathematical Models in Biology |
| BIO 282 | Research Design and Analysis in Environmental Science |
| EACS 217 | Mapping and GIS/Lab |
| ENVR 220 | GIS across the Curriculum |
| ENVR 282 | Research Design and Analysis in Environmental Science |
| MATH 105 | Calculus I |
| MATH 106 | Calculus II |
| MATH 117 | Introduction to Data Science: Data Visualization |
| MATH 214 | Probability |
| MATH 215 | Statistics |
| MATH S45T | Mathematical Image Processing |
| PHYS 107 | Introductory Physics of Living Systems I/Lab |
| PHYS 108 | Introductory Physics of Living Systems II/Lab |
Additional Courses
Complete at least 12 courses in biology (11 credits - see 3b and 3c below), in which a minimum of nine must be taught by Bates faculty. Only two introduction courses (100-level) may be applied to the major and only if taken during the first or sophomore year. The 12 courses must include:
Four Course Core
A four-course core, comprising:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 195 Lab-Based Biological Inquiry | |
| BIO 202 | Cellular Basis of Life |
| BIO 204 | Applied Research and Scientific Writing |
| BIO 206 | Evolution and Interactions of Life |
Majors are strongly encouraged to complete these four core courses by the end of the sophomore year; they must be completed prior to the beginning of the senior year. The 200-level courses have BIO 195 as a prerequisite.
Biological Skills Course
A biological skills course (BIO S39, EXDS S12 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Course, or another approved course), taken in Short Term for 0.5 credits.
Senior Seminar
A senior seminar, integrated with the departmental seminar series over both semesters of the senior year, for 0.5 credits total. Students who will not be on campus for both semesters of the senior year must request permission to begin the senior seminar during their junior year.
Research-Based Capstone
A one-semester, research-based capstone, drawn from the following:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 457 | Senior Thesis |
| BIO 458 | Senior Thesis |
| BIO 472 | Collaborative Research in Physiology/Lab |
| BIO 476 | Collaborative Research in Evolutionary Biology |
Students may request permission to conduct a two-semester thesis, at the discretion of the thesis advisor and the department; this option is most appropriate for students considering graduate school and a career in research. A second semester of thesis can count toward the thirty-two credits required for graduation, but only one of the two thesis semesters count toward the major.
Additional Biology Courses (Electives)
Five additional biology courses (electives) to complete the 12 biology courses required, with the following additional caveats and permissions:
At least two of the elective courses must be 200-level or above and taught by Bates biology department faculty.
The electives may include BIO 244 Biostatistics only if the quantitative requirement is not being fulfilled with BIO 244 Biostatistics or NRSC 205 (see item 2 above).
One course from the following may be substituted for a maximum of one advanced biology course:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CHEM 320 | Mechanisms of Memory |
| CHEM 321 | Biological Chemistry I/Lab |
| CHEM 322 | Biological Chemistry II/Lab |
| ENVR 240 | Water and Watersheds/Lab |
| ENVR 310 | Soils/Lab |
| NRSC 325 | Neural Development |
| NRSC 363 | Physiological Psychology/Lab |
Comprehensive Assessment Requirement
Completion of the comprehensive assessment requirement. This requirement is fulfilled by completing a departmental comprehensive assessment during the senior year.
Senior Project Description
Students may request permission to conduct a two-semester thesis, at the discretion of the thesis advisor and the department; this option is most appropriate for students considering graduate school and a career in research. A second semester of thesis can count toward the thirty-two credits required for graduation, but only one of the two thesis semesters counts toward the major.
Courses Taken Outside of Bates
Advanced Placement (AP), A-Level, and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit can continue to count toward the thirty-two credits required for graduation in accordance with College policies. Such credit can be applied to the Biology Major requirement of CHEM 107 and/or CHEM 108 credit if approved by the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. AP Biology credit cannot count towards biology courses required for the major (i.e., this credit cannot substitute for any biology course in the department and does not reduce the number of biology courses required for the major).
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail grading may be elected for courses applied toward the major except for: BIO 195, the 200-level core courses (202, 204, and 206), and all 400-level courses. Pass/Fail grading may be used only for the elective courses, to the extent allowed by Bates’ general policies on Pass/Fail grading.
Restricted Declarations
Students who have declared the Biology major may not declare the following:
- Biochemistry major
- Chemistry (C003) GEC
- Environmental Studies major with Ecology and Earth Systems track
- Neuroscience major
Other Considerations
A biological skills course, taken in Short Term for 0.5 credits, is mandatory.
Students planning to minor in chemistry may not use BIO 304, CHEM 304, CHEM 321, or CHEM 322 toward both the chemistry minor and the biology major.