A checklist is the list of requirements to complete this program and receive the award, as the college publishes it in its catalog. It is the same for everyone. It does not say what you have completed; that comes from applying your own record.
Program
- Award
- Biological Sciences (BS)
- Credential class
- ceterms:BachelorDegree
- CIP
- 26.0101
- Credits (computed from items)
- 1147.5-1188.5
- Catalog edition
- 2026-2027
- Checklist type
- degree-program
Identifiers
- IPEDS UNITID
- 190415
- CourseShelf checklist
- CK_190415_6ef54109
- CollegeTransfer.Net
- Institution Transfer Profile
- Source
- CourseShelf publish 61
Requirements to complete
Every course or condition the catalog lists, in the catalog's order.
Introductory Biology Cluster: (6 Credits)
0 items
Take two courses in the three following subject areas:
0 items
Cell Biology
1 item
- 3
Physiology
2 items
- As published: “Introductory Biology: Comparative Physiology (OR)”3
- 3
Ecology
2 items
- As published: “Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment (OR)”3-4
- 3
Investigative Laboratory: (2-3 Credits)
0 items
Select one of the following:
2 items
- As published: “Investigative Biology Laboratory (OR)”2
- 3
Evolutionary Biology and Diversity: (4-5 Credits)
0 items
Select one of the following:
2 items
- As published: “An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity (OR)”4-5
- 4
General Chemistry: (4-8 Credits)
0 items
Select one of the following options:
0 items
Option 1
4 items
- As published: “General Chemistry I (AND)”3
- As published: “General Chemistry I Laboratory (AND)”1
- As published: “General Chemistry II (AND)”3
- 1
Option 2
1 item
- 4
Mathematics: (7-8 Credits)
0 items
One course in calculus I (4 credits):
2 items
- As published: “Modeling with Calculus for the Life Sciences (OR)”4
- As published: “Calculus I 1,2”4
One additional course selected from categories a, b, or c (3-4 credits)
0 items
While any course listed for a, b, or c will fulfill the second mathematics requirement, students are strongly encouraged to complete a statistics course to fulfill the second mathematics requirement or in addition to taking a course from either b or c. 1
0 items
A. One Course in Statistics 2
0 items
These are the only approved courses to meet the statistics requirement for the biological sciences major. STSCI 2150 or STSCI 2200 are preferred because of biological applications utilized in the courses.
major core · 6 items
- 4
- 4
- 3
- 4
- 4
- 4
B. A second semester of calculus
2 items
- As published: “Calculus II (OR) 3”4
- As published: “Calculus for Engineers 4”4
C. A course in finite mathematics
1 item
- 3
Organic Chemistry: (3-6 Credits)
0 items
Select one of the following:
4 items
- 3
- CHEM 3570& CHEM 3580Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciencesand Organic Chemistry for the Life SciencesNot resolved to a course6
- CHEM 3570& CHEM 2510Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciencesand Introduction to Experimental Organic ChemistryNot resolved to a course5
- CHEM 3590& CHEM 3600Honors Organic Chemistry Iand Honors Organic Chemistry IINot resolved to a course6
Physics: (8 Credits)
0 items
Select one of the following:
0 items
Option 1
1 item
- PHYS 2207& PHYS 2208Fundamentals of Physics Iand Fundamentals of Physics IINot resolved to a course8
Option 2
1 item
- PHYS 1112& PHYS 1110& PHYS 2213Physics I: Mechanics and Heatand Introduction to Experimental Physicsand Physics II: ElectromagnetismNot resolved to a course8
Genetics and Genomics: (5 Credits)
2 items
- As published: “Lectures in Genetics and Genomics (AND)”3
- 2
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: (4-5 Credits)
0 items
Select one of the following:
0 items
Option 1
1 item
- 4
Option 2
1 item
- BIOMG 3310& BIOMG 3320Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins and Metabolismand Principles of Biochemistry: Molecular Biology 1Not resolved to a course5
Option 3
1 item
- As published: “Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins, Metabolism, and Molecular Biology 2”4
Animal Physiology Requirements
0 items
Required Courses
2 items
- 3
- 3
Lecture & Lab 1
0 items
Lecture 2
13 items
- 3
- 2
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 4
Laboratory (minimum 4 credits) 2
5 items
- 4
- 4
- 4
- 4
- 4
Biochemistry Requirements
0 items
Organic Chemistry (Shared with Foundation Requirements)
0 items
Select one of the following sequences:
2 items
- CHEM 3570& CHEM 3580Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciencesand Organic Chemistry for the Life SciencesNot resolved to a course
- CHEM 3590& CHEM 3600Honors Organic Chemistry Iand Honors Organic Chemistry IINot resolved to a course
Organic Chemistry Lab
1 item
- 2
Biochemistry (Shared with Foundation Requirements)
2 items
- BIOMG 3310& BIOMG 3320Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins and Metabolismand Principles of Biochemistry: Molecular BiologyNot resolved to a course
- BIOMG 3300& BIOMG 3340Principles of Biochemistry, Individualized Instructionand Computer Graphics and Molecular BiologyNot resolved to a course
PCHEM and Cell Biology
2 items
- CHEM 3870& BIOMG 4320Physical Chemistry Iand Survey of Cell BiologyNot resolved to a course
- CHEM 3890& CHEM 3900Honors Physical Chemistry Iand Honors Physical Chemistry IINot resolved to a course
Laboratory Course in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1 item
- 4
Additional Course 1
5 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Independent Undergraduate Research in Biology (or the equivalent in other departments) 2”1-8
Biodiversity and Systematics Requirements
0 items
Group A (minimum 7 credits)
19 items
- As published: “The Vertebrates: Form, Function, and Evolution *”4
- 3
- As published: “Ornithology, Lectures *”3
- 2
- As published: “Ichthyology: Biology of Fishes, Lectures *”3
- 3-4
- As published: “General Microbiology Laboratory *”3
- BIOMS 3310Not resolved to a course
- As published: “Global Plant Biodiversity and Vegetation (five-credit option counts as lab course) *”3
- As published: “Introductory Plant Diversity and Evolution *”4
- As published: “Plants and Cultures around the World *”3
- As published: “Vascular Plant Systematics *”4
- As published: “Insect Biology *”4
- 2
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Insect Diversity Laboratory *”1
- 4
- As published: “Mushrooms of Field and Forest *”2
Group B (minimum 3 credits)
7 items
- As published: “Speciation: Genetics, Ecology, and Behavior (crosslisted)”4
- As published: “Paleobiology (crosslisted)”4
- As published: “The Earth System (crosslisted)”4
- 3
- 4
- 3
- As published: “Phylogenetic Systematics *”3
Computational Biology Requirements
0 items
A. Computational Biology
1 item
- 3
B. Mathematics and Computer Programming
11 items
- 4
- 4
- 2
- 4
- 4
- 4
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 4
C. Core Courses
major core · 8 items
- 4
- 4
- 4
- 3
- As published: “Principles of Population Genetics (crosslisted)”4
- 4
- As published: “Computational Genetics and Genomics (crosslisted)”4
- 3
D. Bridging Courses
8 items
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
Core Courses (Advanced Fundamentals)
major core · 0 items
Ecology
0 items
Select one of the following:
8 items
- 4
- 3
- As published: “Insect Ecology (crosslisted)”4
- As published: “Stream Ecology (crosslisted)”4
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 3
Evolutionary Biology
0 items
Select one of the following:
4 items
- As published: “Speciation: Genetics, Ecology, and Behavior (crosslisted)”4
- As published: “Ecological Genetics (crosslisted)”4
- 3
- 3
Biodiversity
0 items
Select one of the following:
13 items
- 4
- 3
- 4
- 3
- BIOEE 4701Not resolved to a course
- 3
- 2
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 4
- 4
Electives (Specialized) Courses
electives · 28 items
- 2
- As published: “Introductory Oceanography (crosslisted)”3
- 3
- 1
- 2
- 1
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Chemical Ecology (crosslisted)”3
- As published: “Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (crosslisted)”3
- 3
- As published: “Food, Agriculture, and Society (crosslisted)”3
- As published: “Paleobiology (crosslisted)”4
- As published: “Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (crosslisted)”3
- As published: “Ecological and Environmental Data Analytics (crosslisted)”3
- As published: “Seminar in Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (crosslisted)”1
- As published: “Limnology Seminar (crosslisted)”2
- As published: “Plant-Insect Interactions Seminar (crosslisted)”1
- EAS 4795Not resolved to a course
- 4
- 3
- 4
- 3
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 2
- 4
Field and Laboratory Courses
0 items
Select one of the following:
21 items
- As published: “Introductory Oceanography with Laboratory (crosslisted)”4
- 2
- 1
- 4
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 1
- As published: “Plant Behavior and Biotic Interactions, Laboratory (crosslisted)”1
- 2
- 2
- BIOEE 4701Not resolved to a course
- 1
- 1
- EAS 4795Not resolved to a course
- 3
- 1
- 3
- 2
- 4
- 2
Genetics
6 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 2-3
- 3
- 2
Genomics
4 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
Developmental and Stem Cell Biology
5 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 2
Evolutionary and Population Genetics
6 items
- As published: “Speciation: Genetics, Ecology, and Behavior (crosslisted)”4
- 3
- As published: “Principles of Population Genetics (crosslisted)”4
- 3
- 4
- 3
Molecular Biology
4 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
Methods in Genetics, Genomics and Development
5 items
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 2
In addition to the above requirement, students must also take 9 credits of coursework in the Biological Aspects of Nutrition category, from the following list:
16 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 2
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 2
- 3
- 2-4
- 4
Required Courses
0 items
Core courses in Immunology
major core · 2 items
- As published: “Essential Immunology (and)”3
- 3
Additional Courses
0 items
Group A (organismal-level host and agent)
11 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 2
- 3
- 2-3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
Group B (population-level host and agent and laboratory research)
7 items
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Independent Undergraduate Research in Biology 1”1-8
- 3
- 3
- 1
- 3
Introductory Courses (select 1)
4 items
- 3
- As published: “Introductory Oceanography with Laboratory (crosslisted)”4
- As published: “Investigative Marine Biology Laboratory (see note above)”3
- 3
Group A - Organismal Biology and Foundations (select at least 1)
8 items
- As published: “Fish Physiology (crosslisted)”3
- 3
- As published: “Marine Microbes and Disease in a Changing Ocean (crosslisted)”3
- As published: “Anatomy and Function of Marine Vertebrates *”3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Marine Microbes and Disease in a Changing Ocean (crosslisted)”3
Group B - Advanced Topics
7 items
- 3
- 2
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 1
Other Credits
21 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Marine Microbes and Disease in a Changing Ocean (crosslisted)”3
- As published: “Pathogenic Bacteriology (crosslisted)”2-3
- As published: “Principles of Virology (crosslisted)”3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Medical Parasitology (crosslisted)”2
- 2-3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Applied and Food Microbiology (crosslisted)”3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- PLSCI 5700Not resolved to a course3
- 3
Molecular and Cell Biology Requirements
0 items
Organic Chemistry (Shared with Foundation Requirements)
0 items
Select one of the following options:
2 items
- CHEM 3570& CHEM 3580Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciencesand Organic Chemistry for the Life SciencesNot resolved to a course6
- CHEM 3590& CHEM 3600Honors Organic Chemistry Iand Honors Organic Chemistry IINot resolved to a course6
Biochemistry (Shared with Foundation Requirements)
3 items
- Select one of the following options:Not resolved to a course5
- BIOMG 3310& BIOMG 3320Principles of Biochemistry: Proteins and Metabolismand Principles of Biochemistry: Molecular BiologyNot resolved to a course5
- BIOMG 3300& BIOMG 3340Principles of Biochemistry, Individualized Instructionand Computer Graphics and Molecular BiologyNot resolved to a course5
Cell Biology
1 item
- 3
A Laboratory Course in Molecular Biology
1 item
- or: BIONB 4300 Experimental Molecular Neurobiology4
6 Additional Credits 1
0 items
Any BIOMG course at the 3000 level or above, other than those which count as a foundation requirement 2
26 items
- As published: “Independent Undergraduate Research in Biology 3”1-8
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 0.5
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 2-3
- 3
- 3
- 2
- 2
- PLSCI 4540Not resolved to a course4
- 3
Required Courses
4 items
- As published: “Neurobiology and Behavior I: Introduction to Behavior (with 1 credit discussion section)”4
- As published: “Neurobiology and Behavior II: Introduction to Neuroscience (with 1 credit discussion section)”4
- BIONB 3000-4999 1Not resolved to a course3
- Additional NBB Courses 2Not resolved to a course4
Animal behavior and behavioral ecology:
3 items
- As published: “Plant Behavior and Biotic Interactions, Laboratory (crosslisted)”1
- 3
- 1
Neurobiology and animal physiology:
5 items
- As published: “Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory (crosslisted)”3
- 4
- As published: “Principles of Neurophysiology (crosslisted)”4
- As published: “Laboratory in Physiology (crosslisted)”4
- 4
Field biology courses offered at Shoals Marine Lab:
4 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
Students choose one area of study from the following two options:
0 items
Option (a) Plant Evolutionary Biology
0 items
Required Courses
22 items
- 4
- 3
- 1
- Students should then choose, with the aid of their faculty advisor, a minimum of three of the following courses for a total of at least 6 additional credits, to round out their botanical training:Not resolved to a course6
- As published: “Plant Behavior and Biotic Interactions, Lecture (crosslisted)”3
- As published: “Plant Behavior and Biotic Interactions, Laboratory (crosslisted)”1
- As published: “Independent Undergraduate Research in Biology (up to 3 credits, with the approval of the faculty advisor)”1-8
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 2
- 2
- 3
- 2
- 3
- PLSCI 4540Not resolved to a course4
- 3
- As published: “Independent Undergraduate Research in Plant Science 1”1-4
- 3
- 3
Option (b) Plant Biotechnology
0 items
Required Courses
16 items
- 2
- 2
- 3
- Select a minimum of seven additional credits from the following list to enhance botanical training, with guidance from a faculty advisor:Not resolved to a course7
- 3
- 1
- 1-8
- 4
- 1
- 3
- 2
- 2
- 2
- PLSCI 4540Not resolved to a course
- 3
- 3
Source. Cornell University, catalog 2026-2027 — https://catalog.cornell.edu/programs/biological-sciences-bs/. Captured page pages/0079.html.gz. Assembled from the institution's published catalog as captured; every record names its captured page and source URL. Assembled, not asserted.