Biology

We offer undergraduate courses that enable majors and non-majors to understand and evaluate a broad spectrum of biological information. Students find diverse opportunities to pursue cutting-edge research in faculty laboratories and hands-on experimentation. Majors develop an in-depth understanding within an area of concentration, while non-majors explore research methods and approaches in the life sciences. Our faculty are committed to providing students with a broad exposure to biological processes and systems and a deep understanding of biology at environmental, organismal, cellular, and molecular levels. With their faculty advisors, students extract DNA from plant and animal cells, study genetics of diverse life forms and species, translate their findings to higher organisms, and potentially impact human diseases and find solutions to environmental problems.

Majors

• Acquire a foundation in biology in order to understand and evaluate a broad spectrum of biological information; for example, information presented in the media and relevant to public policy decisions.
• Develop an in-depth understanding within a biological area of concentration, designed in consultation with faculty to meet the student’s educational and career goals. Such depth will allow students to understand and critically evaluate current scientific literature in one or more areas of biology.
• Understand research methods and approaches currently used in the life sciences through coursework and through an independent research project under the supervision of a Dartmouth faculty member.
• Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Develop written and oral communication skills, allowing for accurate  communication of biology information to scientists and non-scientists. 

Minors

• Acquire a foundation in biology in order to understand and evaluate a broad spectrum of biological information; for example, information presented in the media and relevant to public policy decisions.
• Understand research methods and approaches currently used in the life sciences through coursework and by having the opportunity to perform an independent research project under the supervision of a Dartmouth faculty member.
• Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Develop written and oral communication skills, allowing for accurate  communication of biology information to scientists and non-scientists. 

The biological sciences are a diverse collection of scientific disciplines that interact and intermingle in tremendously complex and interesting ways. To provide the maximum potential for students to explore this vast area of science, the Department of Biological Sciences offers a flexible major that allows students to select coursework to fit their individual interests and career aspirations. Before declaring an area of concentration, students develop their course plan in consultation with one or more faculty advisors.

Prerequisites: CHEM 5 (Philosophy of Biology) and CHEM 6 (Dinosaurs) (or equivalent), and one quantitative course from among BIOL 29 (Biostatistics), COSC 1 (Introduction to Programming and Computation), ENGS 20 (Introduction to Scientific Computing), EARS 17 (Analysis of Environmental Data), MATH 4 (Applications of Calculus to Medicine and Biology), MATH 8 (Calculus of Functions of One and Several Variables) or above. MATH 10 (Introductory Statistics) satisfies the quantitative requirement. Students who elect to include BIOL 29 (Biostatistics) in their area of concentration must fulfill this prerequisite with one of the other courses listed above. Although not required for the major, some upper-level Biology courses require CHEM 51-52 (Organic Chemistry). In addition, because many graduate and professional schools require CHEM 51-52 (Organic Chemistry) for admission, we highly recommend that students consider taking these courses. Students must pass all prerequisite courses for the major in order to graduate. 

Foundation Courses: Students take three courses from among four foundation courses: BIOL 12 (Cell Structure and Function); BIOL 13 (Gene Expression and Inheritance); BIOL 15 (Genetic Variation and Evolution); BIOL 16 (Ecology).  The foundation courses are not sequenced and may be taken in any order. In deciding which three courses to select from this list, students should discuss with their faculty advisors which foundation courses would be most appropriate for their area of concentration. Not all foundation courses need to be completed before the student moves on to courses in their area of concentration. 

Area of Concentration: To complete the major, students focus in an area of concentration by taking seven additional courses, including two courses numbered 50 or above. Biology courses numbered 10 or below may not be counted towards the major (Biology/Chemistry 8 and 9 are the exceptions). Students taking BIOL 11 (The Science of Life) as their first major course may count it as one of the seven courses. Students are not required to limit themselves to the courses listed under a single area. Students may also develop an area of concentration that is not listed. Any Biology faculty member may serve as your advisor even if they are not listed under a specific area of concentration (provided they feel comfortable advising you in that area). Our hope is that together with your advisor you will design a major that fulfills your unique interests and goals.Students interested in other areas should ask the Department Chair or the departmental Undergraduate Committee to suggest a faculty member who would be appropriate to advise the student in developing their course plan. In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of the life sciences, up to two suitable advanced courses from other departments may be included in the area of concentration when appropriate to the student’s objectives, or a modified major may be constructed. One term of Independent Research (BIOL 95) or Honors Research (BIOL 97) may also be included among the seven courses.

To satisfy the culminating experience requirement, students must take a course numbered 50 or above normally during their senior year. Any Biology course numbered 50 or above that is appropriate for the student’s area of concentration will satisfy the culminating experience requirement.  Each student will determine with their faculty advisor which course is suitable as a culminating experience for their area of concentration and interests. These courses include the Biology foreign study program, independent research courses, courses that focus on the primary literature in a discipline, and courses with substantial laboratory components and/or individual projects. The culminating experience course should be taken in a student’s senior year, although a course taken in the junior year may in exceptional circumstances satisfy the culminating experience and requires the approval of the Department Chair or the departmental Undergraduate Committee.

Students who wish to complement their interest in the life sciences with several courses in one or more disciplines, may consider a modified major.  For a modified major, the area of concentration consists of five Biology courses and four suitable advanced courses from another department or combination of departments.  Students taking BIOL 11 (The Science of Life) as their first major course may count it as one of the five courses. Prerequisite and foundation course requirements remain the same. Courses outside the Biology Department may not be substituted for foundation courses, or the five additional Biology courses.

The prerequisites for the Biology minor are CHEM 5 and CHEM 6 (General Chemistry) and one quantitative course from among BIOL 29 (Biostatistics), COSC 1 (Introduction to Programming and Computation), ENGS 20 (Introduction to Scientific Computing), EARS 17 (Analysis of Environmental Data), MATH 4 (Applications of Calculus to Medicine and Biology), MATH 8 (Calculus of Functions of One and Several Variables) or above. MATH 10 (Introductory Statistics) satisfies the quantitative requirement.  In addition, students will complete two foundation courses and four additional Biology courses. Students may choose to use BIOL 29 (Biostatistics) as a prerequisite or as one of the four additional Biology courses, but not both. Students who elect to count BIOL 29 as one of the four additional courses must fulfill the quantitative prerequisite with one of the other courses listed above.  Students do not need to develop an area of concentration for the minor but they may do so if they wish. Courses outside the Biology Department may not be substituted for foundation courses, or the four additional Biology courses.

1.       SAT Reasoning or ACT (with Writing);

2.       2 SAT Subject Test Scores;

3.       The common application essay;

4.       Within the Common Application, Dartmouth’s writing supplement requires that applicants write a brief response to one of the following supplemental essay prompts. Candidates choose one topic and respond;

5.       A counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. In addition, a peer recommendation is strongly encouraged;

6.       Resume;

7.       Brief abstract of an independent research project.

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