Undergraduate Studies
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Undergraduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University have the opportunity to choose from eight different plans of study leading to a baccalaureate degree. The most popular major is Biology, where the student chooses from a wide variety of Biology courses and the student creates a program that best fits his interests and educational goals. We also offer seven specialized majors (Biochemistry; Biology Teaching; Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology; Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology; Genetic Biology; Microbiology; and Neurobiology and Physiology) where the student follows a plan of study focusing on a particular field of Biology. These majors appeal to the student who has found an area of Biology to be of great interest and who wishes to study this field in depth.
Please keep in mind that choosing a more specialized major in no way restricts the student to only that field of study. Fields in Biology overlap considerably and many biologists change fields during their career. Each of these programs of study is an excellent preparation for professional school (medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry), or careers in academic or industrial research.
BIOCHEMISTRY
Biochemistry investigates the chemical and molecular foundations of life
processes. A student may study the transfer of genetic information into
biological structures, the conversion of nutrients into cell constituents
and their utilization as sources of energy, the storage of memory, and
the chemical nature of neural processes. Laboratory techniques include
electrophoresis, chromatography, Western blotting, protein sequence analysis,
and peptide mapping. Understanding the development and application of enzymatic
assays is fundamental to this field of study. This rigorous curriculum
is excellent preparation for a number of careers in both academic and industrial
research, including cancer and AIDS research, medicine, veterinary medicine,
dentistry, structural biology, genetics, and medicinal chemistry and drug
development.
View Plan of Study after 2007
Please note: The plan of study for each field is in a downloadable .pdf
format.
View of Plan of Study Fall 2010 or later
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENTS (Information For Biology Majors)
BIOLOGY:
The Biology major allows a student to pursue a general curriculum with
the Bachelor of Science as a terminal degree or as preparation for graduate
work or professional school. This major is designed to give a student maximum
flexibility in designing a plan of study suited to individual needs and
interests. This curriculum is excellent preparation for a number of careers
in both academic and industrial research, and professions in medicine,
dentistry, and veterinary medicine.
View Plan of Study after 2007
Please note: The plan of study for each field is in a downloadable .pdf
format.
View of Plan of Study Fall 2010 or later
BIOLOGY EDUCATION
A student completing the requirements in Biology Teaching is qualified
to teach high school biology. Biology Teaching majors are advised that
it is wise to select an additional developmental area, such as middle school,
and an additional content area, such as Physical Science or Chemistry.
For the latest information on course requirements, see your advisor.
View Plan of Study after 2007
Please note: The plan of study for each field is in a downloadable .pdf
format.
View of Plan of Study Fall 2010 or later
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENTS (Information For Biology Majors)
CELL, MOLECULAR, AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY:
Understanding how eukaryotic cells process information from their environment
and initiate programs of gene expression leading to growth, development,
and functional specification is the essence of a CMD major. Students enrolled
in this curriculum will take courses providing a solid foundation in the
molecular biology of cells and gain a full appreciation of how molecular
complexes interact to make a cell function. This fundamental knowledge
in cell and molecular biology will be applied through further coursework
in genetics and developmental biology to examine how eukaryotic organisms
function and how specific aspects of that function are perturbed by disease.
Within the CMD major, students have the option of focusing their studies
on animal systems, plant systems, or both. Graduates with a CMD major are
well-prepared to pursue careers in academic or industrial research, biotechnology,
genetic engineering, medicine, veterinary medicine, and other health related
professions.
View Plan of Study after 2007
Please note: The plan of study for each field is in a downloadable .pdf
format.
View of Plan of Study Fall 2010 or later
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENTS (Information For Biology Majors)
ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
This major investigates how organisms interact with their physical environment
and other organisms, from an evolutionary perspective. Ecologists' work
includes research and/or teaching involving population genetics and evolution,
adaptive strategies for survival, the nature of populations, and community
ecology. Ecologists also offer technical services in connection with environmental
impact decisions and regional planning, and environmental education at
various levels as teacher, naturalist, or journalist. Common career paths
for undergraduate students include graduate study leading to academic positions
(research and teaching in small colleges and major universities), technical
positions in industry (mostly dealing with environmental assessment), and
employment in state and federal environmental agencies.
View Plan of Study after 2007
Please note: The plan of study for each field is in a downloadable .pdf
format.
View of Plan of Study Fall 2010 or later
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENTS (Information For Biology Majors)
GENETIC BIOLOGY:
Genetics is the science of information transfer from one generation to
another. We learn the laws of inheritance in all creatures big and small,
how they evolve and how they change. On the molecular level we learn about
DNA and RNA, on the cellular level we discover what makes a cell cancerous,
and on an organismal level we examine the reproductive habits of various
organisms. Crucial principles include the structure, function, and transmission
of genes. Laboratory techniques explore genetic engineering from the "inside".
Genetics is crucial to all of biology, hence a genetics major has great
flexibility. This is excellent preparation for advanced study in biological
sciences, law, genetic counseling, and many health-related professions.
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Please note: The plan of study for each field is in a downloadable .pdf
format.
View of Plan of Study Fall 2010 or later
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENTS (Information For Biology Majors)
HEALTH and DISEASE:
Health and Disease is a biology program of study with an emphasis on disease-related upper level biology courses and general education electives that relate to health. The major provides a rigorous curriculum for students interested in health careers, thus giving the student many career options after graduation.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENTS (Information For Biology Majors)
MICROBIOLOGY:
Microbiology includes the study of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. A student
can expect to study topics such as microbial growth, nutrition, metabolism,
pathogenesis, morphogenesis, and production of antibiotics. Career opportunities
are found in public health, medical laboratories, quality assurance, environmental
toxicology, and related areas. A Microbiology major is excellent preparation
for advanced study (or direct employment) in biological sciences, education,
and many health-related professions.
View Plan of Study after 2007
Please note: The plan of study for each field is in a downloadable .pdf
format.
View of Plan of Study Fall 2010 or later
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENTS (Information For Biology Majors)
NEUROBIOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY:
Physiology is the study of the functions of living organisms and of the
organ and tissue systems of which they are composed. The goal of physiology
is to understand, in terms of physical and chemical principles, the mechanisms
that operate in living organisms from the subcellular level to the level
of the whole animal, with an emphasis on how these mechanisms are integrated
to produce a viable organism. Neurobiology is the study of the structure,
function, and development of the nervous system, and originated, in part,
as a subdiscipline of physiology. In recent years, neurobiology has become
one of the most rapidly changing and exciting areas of biology. A Neurobiology
and Physiology major is excellent preparation for careers in education,
research, industry, medicine, veterinary medicine, and other professions.
View Plan of Study after 2007
Please note: The plan of study for each field is in a downloadable .pdf
format.
View of Plan of Study Fall 2010 or later
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENTS (Information For Biology Majors)