Major Requirements

The ten courses in Biology for the major must be taken for a letter grade. This includes Gateway courses, Ecology, Diversity, and Structure/Function areas, and all electives including approved alternates and Independent Study. Courses taken S/U will not count towards the major, with the exception of the math/chemistry/physics pre & co-requisite courses.

Gateway Courses in Biology (2 courses*)

Can be taken in either order, however, students who completed Biology 201L, AP Biology, or otherwise have a strong preparation in biology typically perform better in Biology 202L than students without a prior biology course.

• Biology 201L, Molecular Biology (prereq; Chem 101DL, Core Concepts in Chemistry, or equivalent)
• Biology 202L, Genetics & Evolution

Biology Area Menus (3 courses)

1 approved course in each area; a course listed in 2 areas may only be used to meet one area requirement.

• Organismal Diversity
• Structure/Function: Cells & Organisms
• Ecology

Biology Electives (5 courses)

- All Biology courses numbered between 205-699 are acceptable as electives (if not used for area menu requirements above).
- At least 3 electives must be in courses listed or cross-listed as Biology at the 200-level or above.
- A maximum of 2 approved independent studies (BIO, BIOCHEM, CELLBIO, IMM, MGM, NEUROBIO, PATH, PHARM others by approval) or tutorials may count toward the major.
- A maximum of 2 approved alternate electives in the biological sciences may be counted toward the major

• Biology Elective
• Biology Elective
• Biology Elective
• Biology Elective or approved alternate elective
• Biology Elective or approved alternate elective

The Area Menu & Elective Courses Above Must Include:

1. At least two full lab courses, not including Bio 201L/202L. Only one Independent study may count as a lab course.
2. At least one full Biology ‘Capstone’ at the 400-level or above. Independent Study can only count towards this requirement if it is a second semester continuation with the same research supervisor.

*Students who took Biology 203L must complete a 6th Biology elective or approved alternate elective to reach the required 10 Courses

Math, Chemistry & Physics Pre- and Co-Requisites:

The Math/Chem/Physics pre & co-requisites taken at Duke can be on the S/U grading basis. Be sure that will be acceptable if planning on enrolling in a post-graduate program.

Demonstrated proficiency for the course material is acceptable via AP or Transfer credit

For the B.S. Degree

• MATH 111L, Laboratory Calculus I or equivalent: MATH 105L AND 106L or MATH 21 (AP credit) or MATH 121 (transfer)
• STATISTICS 101 or above OR Calculus II, MATH 112 or MATH 122L or MATH 22 (AP Credit)**
• CHM 101DL, Core Concepts in Chemistry or CHM 110DL, Honors Core Concepts in Chemistry or CHM 21 (AP Credit)
• CHM 201DL, Organic Chemistry I
• PHYSICS 121L/141L, General Physics I or equivalent: PHYS 25 (AP Credit), 116L (transfer), 151L, 161D OR General Physics II, 122L/142L

For the A.B. Degree

• STATISTICS 101 or above OR MATH 111L, Lab Calculus I or equivalent: MATH 105L AND 106L or MATH 21 (AP credit) or MATH 121 (transfer)**
• CHM 101DL, Core Concepts in Chemistry or CHM 110DL, Honors Core Concepts in Chemistry or CHM 21 (AP Credit)

**or EvAnth 585 or PSY 204 and 205 - cannot double count as EvAnth 585 an elective if used to fulfill math requirement

Note: CHM 202L, CHM 210DL, & PHY 122L/142L recommended for pre-med, pre-vet, biochem, pharmacology, others

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