Biology students may choose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology. Students preparing for graduate or professional schools are strongly encouraged to pursue the BS degree. Students should consult with a biology faculty member to determine which track is most appropriate for their goals.
The biology program includes a four-course core sequence that provides a solid background in the areas of ecology and evolution, cell biology, genetics, and organismal physiology. Biology majors draw basic theoretical and practical tools from allied sciences by completing required courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Research as a learning process is a pervasive theme of the biology major. Many biology courses feature independent or team research projects as the focus of the laboratory, and students may also collaborate with faculty on original research. Summer Research Fellowships in Biology allow Hamline biology majors to participate full time in research during the summer by providing financial support in the form of a stipend, tuition remission, and a free residence hall room. State-of-the-art electronics, computers, and other modern apparatus support this distinctive research emphasis within the biology program. During the junior and senior years, students participate in the biology seminar program, and in the senior year they present a seminar drawn from their research. Internships that introduce students to careers in the basic biological sciences, health sciences, and industry are emphasized.
Biology Core Courses
Four courses -- BIOL 1800, 1820, 3050, and 3060 -- provide a general biological foundation for majors in biology. The sequence is generally completed in the first two years of study. Two years of participation in biology seminar plus presentation of a seminar complete the core requirements. See the
Environmental Studies major section or
pre-medical program section if those options are of interest.
Bachelor of Science Biology Major Requirements
The biology core:
Four biology electives:
One year of general chemistry and one year of organic chemistry:
One year of general physics (select one I/II sequence below):
Completion of an approved Statistics course: