Biology Advising Guide Student Success Center UMass Boston

Biology'Advising'Guide'

Student'Success'Center'

UMass'Boston'

Updated'SP23 '

Biology'students'need'a'major'GPA'of'2.0'GPA'to'graduate.'This'grade'point'average'is'for'the'

BIOL'courses'(at'the'200'level'and'above)'and'BIOCHM'courses'you'have'taken'at'UMass/Boston'

Introductory'courses:'

Students'must'complete'all'18'credits'of'introductory'courses.''

• BIOL111'–'General'Biology'I'

• BIOL112'–'General'Biology'II'

o Prerequisites:*BIOL111*

• CHEM115'–'Chemical'Principles'I'Lecture'

o Corequisites:*CHEM117*and*MATH130*or*placement*into*MATH140*

• CHEM117'–'Chemical'Principles'I'Lab'

o Corequisites:*CHEM115*

• CHEM116'–'Chemical'Principles'II'Lecture'

o Prerequisites:*CHEM115*with*a*C-*or*better*

o Corequisites:*CHEM118*

• CHEM118'–'Chemical'Principles'II'Lab'

o Corequisites:*CHEM116*

Math'Requirement:'

Based'on'ALEKS'Math'Placement'results,'students'should'begin'with'MATH130'–'Pre'Calc'and'then'move'on'

to'a'calculus'course'of'their'choosing.'Biology'students'must'complete'one'calculus'course'and'their'options'

to'fulfill'the'math'requireme nt'are'as'follows…'

• MATH135'–'Survey'of'Calculus'

o Prerequisites:*Appropriate*recent*ALEKS*score*or*MATH130**

• MATH140'–'Calculus'I'

o Prerequisites:**Appropriate*recent*ALEKS*score*or*completion*of*MATH130*with*a*B*or*better*

• MATH145'–'Calculus'I'for'Life'Sciences'

o Prerequisites:*Appropriate*recent*ALEKS*score*or*MATH130*with*a*B*or*better**

**MATH141'–'Calculus'II'is'not'required'for'the'biology'major'but'is'sometimes'recommended'based'on'a'

student’s'post-grad'plans**"

o Prerequisites:*MATH140*or*MATH145*with*a*C-*or*better*

**Both'MATH140'and'MATH145'suffice'as'the'prerequisite'for'MATH141**"

**Students'need'to'earn'a'B'or'better'in'math'courses'to'move'on'to'the'next'level'in'their'sequence**"

Physics'Requirement:'

Students'that'have'declared'a'biology'major'have'the'option'to'take'either'the'algebra-based'physics'

sequence'or'the'calculus-based'physics'sequence.'Students'must'complete'two'semesters'of'physics'courses'

with'labs.''

• PHYSIC107'–'College'Physics'I'(algebra-based)'

o Prerequisites:*MATH130*or*equivalent*recent*ALEKS*score*or*instructor*permission**

• PHYSIC171'–'Introductory'Physics'L ab'for'Life'Sciences'I'(algebra-based)'

o Corequisites:*PHYSIC107**

• PHYSIC108'–'College'Physics'II'(algebra-based)'

o Prerequisites:*PHYSIC107*with*a*C-*or*better*

o Prerequisites/Corequisites:*MATH30**

• PHYSIC172'–'Introductory'Physics'L ab'for'Life'Sciences'II'(algebra-based)'

o Prerequisites:*PHYSIC171*

o Corequisites:*PHYSIC108**

!!!!!!!!!!!!!---OR---!

• PHYSIC113'–'Fundamentals'of'Physics'I'(calculus-based)'

o Prerequisites/Corequisites:*MATH140**

• PHYSIC181'–'Physics'Laboratory'I'(calculus-based)'

o Corequisites:*PHYSIC107*or*PHYSIC113*

• PHYSIC114'–'Fundamentals'of'Physics'II'(calculus-based)'

o Prerequisites:*PHYSIC113*with*a*grade*of*C-*or*better*

o Prerequisites/Corequisites:*MATH141*

• PHYSIC182'–'Physics'Laboratory'II'(calculus-based)'

o Prerequisites:*PHYSIC181*with*a*C-*or*better**

o Prerequisites/Corequisites:*PHYSIC108*or*PHYSIC114**

**Students'can'go'from'calculus-based'physics'I'to'algebra-based'physics'II'but'cannot'go'from'algebra-based'

physics'I'to'calculus-based'physics'II**"

**PHYSIC113'has'a'pre/corequisite'of'MATH141.**'

Intermediate'Biology'Requirement:'

Students'must'take'and'pass'all!three'intermediate'biology'courses.'Students'should'be'taking'or'have'

already'completed'their'100'level'chemistry'and'm ath'requirements'if'enrolled'in'their'200'level'biology'

courses.''

• BIOL210'–'Cell'Biology'(with'lab)'

o Prerequisites:*BIOL112*and*CHEM103*or*CHEM115*and*CHEM117**

o Prerequisites/Corequisites:*MATH130*or*placement*into*MATH140*

• BIOL252'–'Genetics'(with'lab)'

o Prerequisites:**BIOL112*and*CHEM103*or*CHEM115*and*CHEM117**

o Prerequisites/Corequisites:*MATH130*or*placement*into*MATH140**

• BIOL290'–'Population'Biology'(lecture'only)'

o Prerequisites:*BIOL112*and*MATH130,*MATH135,*MATH140,*or*MATH145*or*placement*into*MATH140'

Advanced'Biology'Requirement:'

Students'need'to'take'20'credits'of'the'advanced'biology'curriculum.'Students'can'pick'any'combination'of'

courses'between'BIOL304'and'BIOL391.'Of'those'20'credits,'four'credits'must'be'lab'credits.''

!"#$%&'()*+,)+#-.)/,)0,$%&'/')/12.)3'4523'$'6/)0,5&7)8')9:)#7;#60'7)82,&,<-)&'0/53')0,53.'.)+2/1)/1'23)

0,33'.%,6726<)&#8)/,)'#36)/1')6''7'7)=>)03'72/.)#67)?5&?2&&)/1')?,53)#7;#60'7)&#8)3'4523'$'6/)@:ABC=>D)EEEFGEEE)

?,53)&'0/53'.)+2/1)/1'23)0,33'.%, 6726<)&#8.)#67)#6)#772/2,6 # &)/+,)&'0 /5 3 ' ),6&-)0,53.'.)/,)'#36)=H)#7;#60' 7 )

82,&,<-)03'72/.)#67)0,$%&'/')/1')#7;#60'7)&#8)3'4523'$'6/)@BABIJDK))

*Students'who'are'interested'in'taking'BIOL334'should'NOT 'take'BIOL2 0 9 'or'BIOL3 0 4 .'If'they'take'BIOL304 '

or'BIOL209'they'will'not'be'eligible'to'take'BIOL334.*'

**Students'can'choose'to'take'CHEM251,'CHEM 2 5 5 ,'CHE M 252,'and'CHEM256'but'it'is'not'required.'If'they'

chose'to'take'these'courses,'they'will'count'towards'the'20'cre dits'of'advanced'biology'requirement,'but'they'

will'only'receive'one'lab'credit'for'each.'Students'need'a'C-'or'better'in'CHEM116'to'take'CHEM251**'

***No'more'than'two'of'the'four'lab'credits'can'be't aken'from'courses'outside'the'Biology'Depart ment,'such'

as'Organic'Chemistry.'The'department'requires'a'minimum"of"two"lab"credits"must'be'taken'from'within"

the'Biology'Departme nt.***'

****Students'who'are'interested'in'taking'Anatomy'and'Physiology'should'take'BIOL307'BIOL309'and'

BIOL308''BIOL310'to'have'it'count'towards'their'advanced'biology'requirement.'Students'should'NOT'take'

BIOL207'and'208.'If'a'student'takes'BIOL207'and'208'they'CANNOT'take'BIOL307'and'BIOL308****''

Lab'Requirement:'

Students'must'take'a'minimum'of'four'advanced-level'labs.'This'is'meant'to'be'built'in to'the'Advanced'

Biology'Requirement'credits'and'is'not'an'additional'four'credits'on'top'of'the'already'needed'20'advanced'

biology'credits.''

*Number'of'courses'taken'to'fulfill'this'requirement'will'depend'on'which'courses'are'taken'and'how'many'

credits'each'course'is'worth."*"

**All'these'courses'and'other'experiences'count'towards'the'adv a n c ed'lab'requirement."**"

Courses"that"satisfy"one"advanced"Biology"Lab"credit:'BIOL306,'BIOL309,'BIOL310,'BIOL313,'BIOL316,'

BIOL317,'BIOL321,'BIOL328,'BIOL330,'BIOL332,'BIOL334','BIOL337,'BIOL338,'BIOL340,'B IOL345,'BIOL347,'

BIOL356,'BIOL361,'BIOL362,'BIOL365,'BIOL370'BIOL378,'BIOL382,'BIOL391,'CHEM255,'CHEM256'

Courses"that"satisfy"two"Advanced"Biology"Lab"credits:'BIOL343'and'BIOL353'

Courses"that"satisfy"three"Advanced"Biology"Lab"credits:'BIOCHM385'ad'BIOCHM386'

Notes'From'the'Biology'Department:'

1. PASS/FAIL"POLICY'–'Students'may'only'take'ONE'course'pass/fail'that'counts'toward'any'of'the'

biology'major'course'requirements.'This'includes'required'chemistry,'math,'and'physics'courses.''

2. BIOLOGY"TRANSFER"COURSE"POLICY"(LIMITATIONS)'-'Fully'matriculated'students'cannot'take'

courses'elsewhere'and'transfer'them'to'UMB.'That'said,'students'who'have'a'particularly'pressing'

reason'to'take'courses'at'other'institutions'may'appeal'this'regulation.'That'is'done'by'using'a'prior'

approval'form,'obtained'from'the'Admissions'Office'and'signed'by'the'Department'Chairman,'the'

Departmental'Director'of'Undergraduate'Advising,'or'the'instructor'of'UMB’s'equivalent'course'

3. BIOLOGY"RESIDENCY"REQUIREMENTS"-""

a. All'students,'including'transfer'students,'must'take'at'least'12'credit'hours,'including'a'

minimum'of'two'credit'hours'(6'class'hours)'in'laboratory'work,'within'the'Biology'

Department'at'UMASS/Boston.'These'courses'will'be'at'the'300'level'or'above'and'include'

the'following'300-level'Biochemistry'courses'(383/385'and'384/386).'Biology'444,'478-

479,'672-673'and'any/all'Biochem'courses'other'than'those'listed'above'do'not'fulfill'this'

requirement'(e.g.,'Biochem'471-472'and'491-492).'Moreover,'organic'chemistry,'(Chem'

251/252,'255/256)'DOES'NOT'count'towards'the'residency'requirement,'notwithstanding'

that'they'can'count'toward s'th e'fulfillment'of'the'overall'minimu m'of'20'credits'upper-level'

bio'courses.'The'Bio'major'residency'requirement,'therefore,'can'only'be'satisfied'by'taking'

upper-level'(300+)'biology'courses'(including'a'minimu m 'of'two'upper-level'lab'cred i ts).''

b. Students'may'NOT'take'a'non-lab'course'(lecture-only'version)'as'a'repeat'if'the'original'

course'taken'included'the'lab'component'and'vice'versa.'Students'cannot'receive'credit'for'

both'versions'and'as'such,'the'second'course'will'be'considered'an'illegal'repeat.''

c. All'students,'including'transfer'students,'who'have'not'completed'the'lab'portions'of'Cell'

Biology'(Bio'210)'and/or'Genetics'(Bio'252),'must'then'take'one'and/or'two'additional'

upper-level'labs'at'the'300'level'to'replace'the'missed'lab'experience'and'satisfy'the'

requirements'of'the'major.''

d. After'passing'a'course,'no'student'can'repeat'a'course'for'a'better'grade'outside'of'the'

university'and'then'transfer'that'grade'in'to'be'counted'toward'their'degree'program.'

4. ORGANIC"CHEMISTRY"FOR"8"CREDITS"OF"UPPER-LEVEL"BIOLOGY'-'Students'may'use'up'to'eight'

(8)'of'the'possible'10'organic'chemistry'credits'in'partial'satisfaction'of'their'upper-level'(300+)'

biology'courses.'However,'note'that'only'one'credit'from'each'two-credit'organic'chemistry'lab'can'

be'used'to'reach'that'eight-credit'maximum.'That'is,'only'one'credit'from'each'two'credit'Chem'255'

and'256'labs'can'be'applied'toward'the'upper-level'biology'major'requirement .'LLM5./)%#..)N1'$)

HHJOHHP)+2/1)#)NE),3)8'//'3)/,)'63,&&)26)N1'$)=:HO=::K)M5./)%#..)N1'$)=:HO=::)+2/1)#)NE),3)8'//'3)/,)

'63,&&)26)N1'$)=:=O=:JLL)'

5. BIOLOGY"GPA"2.0"-'To'graduate'with'a'Biology'Major,'students'must'have'a'minimum'cumulative'

2.0'GPA'in'all'biology'courses'taken'to'satisfy'the'major'above'the'100'level.''

6. PHYSICS"REQUIREMENTS'-'Students'may'now'take'Physics'107'&'171'with'108'&'172'(non-

calculus-based)'OR'Physics'113'&'181'with'114'&'182'(calculus-based).'Either'set'of'lectures'and'

corresponding'labs'will'fulfill'the'biology'Physics'requirement.'However,'you'CANNOT'take'the'

107/171'combo'and'then'take'114/182.'LLM5./)%#..)Q1-.20.)H>ROHRH),3)HHSOHPH)+2/1)#)NE),3)8'//'3)

/,)'63,&&)26)Q1-.20.)H>POHR=),3)HHBO HP = LL )'

7. HONORS"IN"BIOLOGY'-'The'Biology'Faculty'may'award'departmental'honors'to'students'who'have'

completed'the'following'requirements:''

a. Minimum'GPA'requirements:'3.0'overall'AND'3.0'within'the'Biology'Major'(as'calculated'on'

the'Degree'Audit)'

b. Enrollment'in'at'least'one'semester'of'Independent'Study'(Bio'478/479)'for'three'credits'

c. Oral'presentation'(poster'presentation)'and'a'completed'written'thesis'submitted'to'the'

department''

8. EXEMPTION"FROM"GENERAL"BIOLOGY"(MINIMUM"CLEP/AP"SCORES)'-'CLEP:'The'Biology'

Department'accepts'the'CLEP'exam'with'a'score'of'50'or'above.'Students'meeting'this'requirement'

will'be'exempt'from'General'Biology'111'and'112'and'will'receive'six'credits'toward'graduation.''

9. Advanced"Placement"(AP)'-'Students'with'a'score'of'three'on'the'AP'Biology'exam'are'exempt'from'

Bio'111'and'112;'those'with'an'AP'score'of'four'or'higher'are'exempt'from'Bio'111'and'112'and'

receive'eight'credits.''

NOTE:'once'the'CLEP/AP'waivers'are'in'force,'students'cannot'later'take'Bio'111-112.'If'those'courses'are'

taken,'the'CLEP/AP'cre d its 'ar e 'fo r fe ited.'