Molecular Biology Major

This program is intended for students who are interested in biology at the molecular level and who wish to take several courses in both biology and chemistry. Questions about requirements may be directed to the department chair.

Major Requirements

Course requirements are described below.

Biology

Required Courses

• BIOL 181 - Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity and
• BIOL 182 - Molecules, Cells, and Genes and  
  Both courses and their credit bearing laboratory components must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Process of Biology

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of MBPB in the course offerings.

One course from the following:

• BIOL 201 - Evolution and  
• BIOL 202 - Genetics and  
• BIOL 204 - Molecular Biology and
• BIOL 205 - Cell Biology and

Three Electives

Three courses chosen from the  list.

Stipulations:

• One elective can be at any level.
• Of the two remaining electives, one must be numbered 300 or higher and one must be numbered 330 or higher.
• One of these two 300-level or higher courses (not including ) must have a laboratory component.
• Only one research-based course numbered 470 or higher can count toward the major.
• Independent study courses numbered 291, 391, or 491 may not count as electives toward the major. 

Research Tutorial Experience

Research Tutorial Experience

• A one-credit research experience, normally satisfied with a research tutorial (a course numbered BIOL 470-490).
• Research on the Bethesda Biomedical Research Study Group (BIOL 393 and BIOL 493) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
• UROPS courses taken at the National University of Singapore (NUS) may be used to satisfy this requirement. With prior approval by the biology department, research conducted while participating in the Trudeau Institute Approved Program may be used to satisfy this requirement.
• With prior approval by the biology department, a senior-level independent study course or capstone experience in another department may be used to fulfill the research requirement.

Chemistry

General Chemistry

The following two courses:

• CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I and  
• CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II and  
  or, if eligible, the following course may be substituted for the above sequence:
• CHEM 111 - Chemical Principles and  

All of the Following

• CHEM 263 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 264 - Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM 353 - Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Cognate Courses

Math or Computer Science Course

• One course in mathematics or computer science. The math course requirement may be met by taking  or .

Physics Sequence

• PHYS 111 - Fundamental Physics I and  
• PHYS 112 - Fundamental Physics II and  
• or
  PHYS 232 - Introduction to Mechanics and  
• PHYS 233 - Intro Electricity & Magnetism and  

Honors and High Honors

A student may be allowed to stand for honors or high honors in the department following approval of their research adviser. Both honors and high honors in molecular biology require an overall GPA of 3.30 in Colgate courses counted toward the major, a demonstrated deep commitment to research in biology, an oral presentation to the department, and a review paper, and a research paper submitted to the research adviser and one additional reader. The research project evaluated for honors must be based on at least one (honors) or two (high honors) semesters or summers of research. The awarding of honors and high honors will be decided by the faculty in consultation with the adviser and honors committee and will be based on the demonstrated commitment to research and the quality of the research project, the thesis, and the oral presentation. Research projects submitted for honors or high honors must be carried out on campus or on the Bethesda Biomedical Research study group or Singapore Exchange Program. 

Biology Department

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the  catalog page.