Suggested Coursework for Selected Fields of Study

The field of biology is vast, and there are a huge number of specialties and careers possible. Below we suggest some possible course selections that students might consider to help prepare them for careers in a few areas of biology. This is not an exhaustive list! If you have questions about other interest areas or about modifications to suggested sequences, then please talk to an advisor in the biology department.

Whenever possible, the course selections are taken from the recommendations for admission to top graduate or professional schools in that area. However, these suggestions are not designed for any particular program or employer. If a student is interested in a certain employer or graduate/professional program, they should determine the eligibility or admission requirements from them.

Pre-dentistry, Pre-medicine, or Pre-veterinary |Animal Behavior | Biochemistry | Biotechnology |Botany;Agronomy;Horticulture| Ecology | Entomology | Evolutionary Biology| Forensic Science | Genetics |Genetic Counseling| Invertebrate Zoology| Laboratory Medicine |Marine Biology | Microbiology| Ornithology, Mammalogy, Herpetology, Ichthyology| Physiology | Phytochemistry| Public Health|

There are many potential courses of study to prepare students for these fields. Students interested in admission to dental, medical, or veterinary schools should periodically check with the designated advisors for these programs to keep pace with current national or state admission requirements. Several meetings of student clubs during the year will provide such an opportunity. Professional schools in these areas will teach the appropriate foundation of anatomy, embryology, physiology, histology, etc.; therefore it may not be necessary to concentrate on these areas as an undergraduate. Genetics (316) is required for pre-veterinary preparation and is highly recommended otherwise. Preprofessional students should keep in mind that their undergraduate years may be their last opportunity to formally study subjects outside of dentistry, medicine, or veterinary science. Therefore, such courses as vertebrate natural history (332), plant taxonomy (308), ecology (334), biology of insects (309), etc. may prove to be of greater life-long value than courses specifically related to human or animal biology.  See also the Health Pre-Professional Programs Web site.

Biology Courses Suggested for Other Selected Areas:

Animal Behavior Recommended Courses

305 Invertebrate Zoology

309 Biology of Insects

316 Genetics

323 Animal Physiology

332 Natural History of Terrestrial Vertebrates

336 Behavioral Ecology

339 Evolution

Biotechnology Recommended Courses:

307 Biology of Microorganisms

311 Cell Biology

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

318 Molecular Genetics

327 Plant Physiology

Ecology Recommended Courses:

MATH 119 & 120

PHYS 105 & 106

CHEM 123, 234, 235, 236

316 Genetics

317 Intro. to Biochemistry

306 Plant Diversity

or 308 Plant Taxonomy

323 Animal Physiology

or 327 Plant Physiology

305 Invertebrate Zoology

or 309 Biology of Insects

or 332 Natural History of Terrestrial Vertebrates

334 Ecology

or 336 Behavioral Ecology

or 337 Aquatic Ecology

339 Evolution

Entomology (Applied) Recommended Courses:

Entomology (Ecological) Recommended Courses:

305 Invertebrate Zoology

306 Plant Diversity

308 Plant Taxonomy

309 Biology of Insects

316 Genetics

323 Animal Physiology

334 General Ecology

Evolutionary Biology Recommended Courses:

305 Invertebrate Zoology

306 Plant Diversity

308 Plant Taxonomy

or 309 Biology of Insects

or 330 Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates

or 332 Natural History of Terrestrial Vertebrates

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

323 Animal Physiology

or 327 Plant Physiology

334 General Ecology

339 Evolution

MATH 123 & 124

Forensic Science Recommended Courses

• 316 Genetics
• 317 Biochemistry or Bchem 321 and 322
• 318 Molecular Genetics

Genetics (Molecular) Recommended Courses:

305 Invertebrate Zoology

or 306 Plant Diversity

307 Biology of Microorganisms

309 Biology of Insects

or 332 Natural History of Terrestrial Vertebrates

or 334 General Ecology

311 Cell Biology

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

318 Molecular Genetics

322 Developmental Biology

Genetics (Population) Recommended Courses:

305 Invertebrate Zoology

306 Plant Diversity

309 Biology of Insects

or 332 Natural History of Terrestrial Vertebrates

311 Cell Biology

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

334 General Ecology

Genetic Counseling Recommended Courses

• 316 Genetics
• 317 Biochemistry
• 322 Developmental Biology

Invertebrate Zoology Recommended Courses:

305 Invertebrate Zoology

309 Biology of Insects

316 Genetics

322 Developmental Biology

323 Animal Physiology

334 General Ecology

Marine Biology or Biological Oceanography Recommended Courses:

Because marine science involves application of basic disciplines to the marine environment, a student's undergraduate training should give a broad and thorough background in these basic subjects. Specialization will begin in the graduate program.

305 Invertebrate Zoology

306 Plant Diversity

307 Biology of Microorganisms

316 Genetics

323 Animal  Physiology

or 327 Plant Physiology

334 General Ecology

337 Aquatic Ecology

Microbiology Recommended Courses:

305 Invertebrate Zoology

306 Plant Diversity

307 Biology of Microorganisms

311 Cell Biology

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

318 Molecular Genetics

330 Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates

323 Animal Physiology

or 327 Plant Physiology 

 

Ornithology, Mammalogy, Herpetology, Ichthyology Recommended Courses:

305 Invertebrate Zoology

or 309 Biology of Insects

306 Plant Diversity

or 308 Plant Taxonomy

316 Genetics

330 Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates

323 Animal Physiology

332 Natural History of Terrestrial Vertebrates

334 General Ecology

Physiology (Comparative or Environmental) Recommended Courses:

311 Cell Biology

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

318 Molecular Genetics

330 Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates

323 Animal Physiology

332 Natural History of Terrestrial Vertebrates

or 334 General Ecology

Physiology (Human) Recommended Courses:

311 Cell Biology

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

325 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 326 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

Plant Physiology Recommended Courses:

306 Plant Diversity

308 Plant Taxonomy

311 Cell Biology

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

327 Plant Physiology

334 General Ecology

307 Biology of Microorganisms*

CHEM 333 Physical Chemistry*

*Recommended but not required

Phytochemistry Recommended Courses:

306 Plant Diversity

308 Plant Taxonomy

311 Cell Biology*

316 Genetics

317 Intro. Biochemistry

327 Plant Physiology

334 General Ecology