Biological Sciences Program (BSCI)

College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences
1322 Symons Hall, 301-405-6892
http://chembio.umd.edu/undergraduateprograms
Dr. Joelle Presson, Assistant Dean Academic Undergraduate Programs; Dr. Francisca Saavedra, Assistant Director Biological Sciences Program
 

The Major

The Biological Sciences major is jointly offered by the Departments of Biology, Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics, and Entomology in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. All Biological Sciences majors complete a common sequence of introductory and supporting courses referred to as the Basic Program. In addition, students must complete an Advanced Program within one of the following specialization areas:        

• Cell Biology & Genetics (CEBG)
• Ecology & Evolution (ECEV)
• General Biology (GENB)
• Microbiology (MICB)
• Physiology & Neurobiology (PHNB)
• Individualized Studies (BIVS)

A complete list of specialization area requirements can be found on our website, chembio.umd.edu/undergraduateprograms. Note that the Individualized Studies specialization (BIVS) requires permission of the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs, and involves an approved proposal to do coursework in the College and in other disciplines. Further questions about Biological Sciences can be directed to the Undergraduate Academic Program Office at 301-405-6892.

Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland at Shady Grove

The Biological Sciences Program at the University of Maryland offers a degree program at Universities at Shady Grove.  The Biological Sciences Program at Shady Grove offers the Advanced Program courses normally taken in the junior and senior years.  More information is available at: chembio.umd.edu/undergraduateprograms/biologicalsciencesprogramatshadygrove.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students should have mastered the critical knowledge at each level in the curriculum that is necessary to move on to the next level in the curriculum.
2. Students should demonstrate an ability to use and apply quantitative methods, especially: interpretation of graphical or tabular data; expression of physical, chemical, or biological process in mathematical form; solving equations to determine the value of physical, chemical, or biological variables.
3. Students at the lower level should demonstrate an ability to carry out key experimental techniques used in the chemical and life sciences disciplines.
4. Students at the lower level should have a basic understanding of how to express questions as a hypothesis, how to design a test of a hypothesis, and how to gather and analyze simple data.
5. Students at the upper level should be able to integrate and apply a relevant body of basic knowledge to the evaluation of existing scientific studies and to design studies to test specific hypotheses that includes design elements typically found in a specific field of the chemical and life sciences.
6. Students should effectively communicate in writing the processes of science and the results of scientific inquiry.

Admission to the Major

The Biological Sciences major is a Limited Enrollment Program. Please see the admission requirements and procedures at:
chembio.umd.edu/undergraduateprograms/advising/howtobecomeaclfsmajor.

Requirements for the Major

		Credits
	General Education Program Requirements
	Basic Program in Biological Sciences	15
BSCI105	Principles of Biology I	4
BSCI106	Principles of Biology II	4
BSCI207	Principles of Biology III	3
BSCI222	Principles of Genetics	4
	Supporting courses	30-32
MATH130 or	Calculus I	3
MATH140		4
MATH131 or	Calculus II	3
MATH141		4
CHEM131/132	Fundamentals of General Chemistry  /Lab	4
CHEM231/232	Organic Chemistry I / Lab	4
CHEM241/242	Organic Chemistry II / Lab	4
CHEM271/272	Gen Chem & Energetics / Gen Bioanalytical Lab	4
PHYS121 or	Fundamentals of Physics I, or	4
PHYS141	Principles of Physics	4
PHYS122 or	Fundamentals of Physics II, or	4
PHYS142	Principles of Physics	4
	Advanced Program in Specialization Area	27
	See website for details of specialization Area requirements.
ELECT	Electives	15-18

 

Advising

Advising is mandatory during each pre-registration period for all Biological Sciences majors. All freshmen and new transfer students will be assigned an advisor from the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences Student Services advising staff. Students will be assigned to a departmental faculty advisor once a basic sequence of courses has been successfully completed. The departmental faculty advisors are coordinated by the following persons for the indicated specialization areas. These coordinating advising offices can be contacted for making appointments with an advisor or for any other information regarding that specialization area.

Straney	1225 H.J. Patterson	301-405-2766	CEBG,GENB,MICB
Jensen	2227 Biology-Psychology	301-405-6904	ECEV, PHNB
Kent	3142 Plant Sciences	301-405-3911	GENB
Presson	1322 Symons Hall	301-405-6892	BIVS, Education Double major

 

Honors Program

Outstanding students are encouraged to apply to departmental Honors Programs. Through the Honors Programs students will become actively involved in the ongoing scientific research at the university. Information about these honors programs may be obtained from the Undergraduate Academic Programs Office, 1322 Symons Hall, 301-405-6892.

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