About the Major

These are thrilling times to study biology.  Advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics are leading to extraordinary new insights in every field, from evolution and ecology to development, cell biology, genetics/genomics, and neuroscience. These research areas are providing essential information as we address the urgent challenges of biodiversity conservation, global climate change, epidemiology and human health and well-being. Biology is also at the heart of new ways of understanding ourselves as human beings in relation to other living things. Connections between biological disciplines are raising key questions in new ways, while biological knowledge has become fundamentally integrated with social and medical ethics, public policy, and journalism.

The Biology Department offers a broad range of courses that emphasize the process of scientific inquiry and current experimental approaches.  Our courses also consider real-world implications of biological issues: the ethics of embryonic stem cell research, gender issues and reproductive technologies, the AIDS epidemic, the impact of human activity on natural communities. Biology courses can be the start of a dedicated career in research, medicine, conservation, public health, bioethics, sustainable resource use, and many other areas. They can also bring the intellectual excitement of these investigations to students whose major focus is in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. We welcome students of all backgrounds and interests to join us.

The Biology majors program of study consists of the following.

  • The two introductory courses BIOL181-182 (or 195-196) with their labs, BIOL191-192.
  • At least six elective biology courses at the 200 and 300 levels, including one cell/molecular course (either BIOL208, 210, 212 or 218) and one organismic/population course (either BIOL213, 214 or 216).
  • Two semesters of general chemistry (CHEM141-142 or 143-144)
  • Any three semesters of related courses from at least two different departments: Physics (PHYS111 or 112 or 113 or 116), Organic Chemistry (CHEM251 or 252), MATH117 or higher, Statistics (MATH132 or BIOL320/520 or QAC201), or Computer Science (COMP211 or higher).  Note: A strong chemistry background is especially recommended for students planning to enter graduate or medical school. Most medical and other health-related graduate schools require two years of college-level chemistry, including laboratory components

Getting started in the Biology major. First-year students are encouraged begin their major then so that they can take maximum advantage of upper-level biology courses and research opportunities in later years. However, the major can certainly be successfully completed if begun during sophomore year, and many students are able to combine the biology major with a semester abroad.

A prospective biology major begins with a series of two core introductory courses. Students should begin the core series with BIOL181 and its associated laboratory course (BIOL191), which are offered in the fall semester. In addition to the large lecture format of BIOL181 (01), the department offers four small enrollment sections of the course (02-05) that are a good choice for students preferring greater emphasis on continuous assessment and problem-based learning. The smaller sections are also a good choice for students with less extensive previous backgrounds in biology. BIOL195 is an honors section of BIOL181 for students seeking a challenging reading and discussion experience in addition to the lectures. Students should enroll separately for the lab course, BIOL191. These courses do not have prerequisites or co-requisites, but it is useful to have some chemistry background or to take chemistry concurrently. In the Spring semester, the prospective major should take BIOL182 (or 196, the honors section) and its laboratory course, BIOL192.

Electives may be chosen from among the following courses at the 200,300, or < 500 level. See WesMaps for current course offerings. The courses are grouped thematically for your convenience only.

CELL and DEVELOPMENT BIOLOGY

  • BIOL212 Principles and Mechanisms of Cell Biology
  • BIOL218 Developmental Biology
  • MB&B/BIOL237 Signal Transduction
  • BIOL245 Cellular Neurophysiology
  • BIOL/NS&B325 Stem Cells: Basic Biology to Clinical Applications
  • BIOL335/535 Protein Folding: From Misfolding to Disease
  • BIOL340/540 Issues in Development and Evolution
  • BIOL343/543 Muscle and Nerve Development
  • BIOL/NS&B345 Developmental Neurobiology
  • MB&B232 Immunology

EVOLUTION, ECOLOGY, and CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

  • BIOL214 Evolution
  • BIOL216 Ecology
  • BIOL220 Conservation Biology
  • BIOL235 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
  • BIOL254 Comparative Animal Behavior
  • BIOL290 Plant Form and Diversity
  • BIOL306 Tropical Ecology and the Environment
  • BIOL312 Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
  • BIOL316/516 Plant-Animal Interactions
  • BIOL318/518 Nature and Nurture: The Interplay of Genes and Environment
  • BIOL327/527 Evolutionary and Ecological Bioinformatics
  • BIOL337/537 The Origins of Bacterial Diversity
  • BIOL340/540 Issues in Development and Evolution
  • BIOL346 The Forest Ecosystem

GENETICS, GENOMICS, and BIOINFORMATICS

  • MB&B208 Molecular Biology
  • BIOL210 Genomics: Modern Genetics, Bioinformatics, and the Human Genome Project
  • BIOL/COMP265 Bioinformatics Programming
  • BIOL327/527 Evolutionary and Ecological Bioinformatics
  • BIOL337/537 The Origins of Bacterial Diversity
  • BIOL350/550 Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics
  • MB&B231 Microbiology
  • MB&B294 Advanced Laboratory in Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • MB&B333/533 Gene Regulation

PHYSIOLOGY, NEUROBIOLOGY, and BEHAVIOR

  • BIOL/NS&B213 Behavioral Neurobiology
  • BIOL224 Hormones, Brain, and Behavior
  • BIOL235 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
  • BIOL239 Functional Anatomy of the Human Brain
  • BIOL/N&SB245 Cellular Neurophysiology
  • BIOL247 Laboratory in Neurophysiology
  • BIOL/NS&B250 Laboratory in Cell and Molecular Neurobiology
  • BIOL254 Comparative Animal Behavior
  • BIOL290 Plant Form and Diversity
  • BIOL/NS&B345 Developmental Neurobiology
  • BIOL/NS&B351 Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
  • NS&B/BIOL243 Neurohistology
  • NS&B/BIOL252 Cell Biology of the Neuron
  • NS&B/BIOL328 Chemical Senses
  • NS&B/BIOL353 Neurobiology of Neurological Disorders

Fulfilling the Biology major.

  • Cross-listed courses that are included on the attached list are automatically credited to the biology major. For the classes of 2012 and beyond, at least two elective courses (200-level and above) that are counted toward the biology major must be used to fulfill only the biology major and cannot be simultaneously used to fulfill another major.
  • Depending on the student’s specific program, and with prior permission of the chair, up to two biology courses from outside the department may be counted toward the major.  A Wesleyan course that falls into this category is ANTH349 The Human Skeleton.
  • Outside credits for biology courses may also be applied from another institution, for instance, during a study-abroad program. Prior permission must be obtained from the departmental liaison (2011-2012: Jim Donady) to ensure creditability of specific courses from other institutions.
  • Biology majors are allowed to apply at most one elective course taken credit/unsatisfactory toward fulfilling the major requirements; however, this is discouraged because good performance in major courses is an important aspect of a student's transcript.
  • Courses in the BIOL 400 series (such as research tutorials) contribute toward graduation but do not count toward the major.

Additional information and related programs:

The biology major can be complemented with one of two certificate programs:

  • Environmental Studies Certificate Program - This interdisciplinary program covers the areas of natural science, public policy and economics. See:  http://www.wesleyan.edu/escp
  • Informatics and Modeling Certificate Program – the Integrative Genomic Science pathway within this certificate will be of particular interest for life science majors. See http://igs.wesleyan.edu.

Neuroscience and Behavior Program. Several faculty members in the Biology and Psychology departments also participate in the Neuroscience and Behavior Program, which, at the undergraduate level, constitutes a separate major. Information about that program can be found at www.wesleyan.edu/nsb.

Honors in biology. To be considered for departmental honors, a student must

  • Be a biology major and be recommended to the department by a faculty member. It is expected that the student will have at least a B average (grade-point average 85) in courses credited to the major.
  • Submit a thesis based on laboratory research, computational research, or mathematical modeling. The thesis is carried out under the supervision of a faculty member of the department.

The seminar series features distinguished scientists from other institutions who present lectures on their research findings. One objective of these seminars is to relate material studied in courses, tutorials, and research to current scientific activity. These seminars are usually held on Thursdays at noon and are open to all members of the University community. Undergraduates are especially welcome.

The five-year BA/MA program provides an attractive option for life science majors to enrich their course and research background. Students are advised to begin research by their junior year if they intend to pursue the BA/MA.  Admission is competitive and based on GPA, faculty recommendations, and research experience. 

The graduate program is an integral part of the Biology Department’s offerings. Not only are graduate students active participants in the undergraduate courses, but also upper-level undergraduates are encouraged to take graduate-level courses and seminars (500 series). Research opportunities are also available for undergraduates, and, frequently, these involve close interaction with graduate students.