The Undergraduate Major

Documents: 
PDF icon The 2022-23 EEB Undergraduate Handbook

Students majoring in E&EB may receive either a B.A. or a B.S. degree. The B.A. program is intended for students who are interested in ecology, evolution and organism diversity as a part of a liberal education but do not intend to pursue graduate work in the discipline. The B.S. program is designed for students headed for medical or veterinary school or for graduate study in ecology and evolutionary biology, other biological disciplines, or the environmental sciences. The two degree programs share prerequisite and core requirements but differ in elective and senior requirements.

The prerequisites for the E&EB major provide core scientific literacy. Beyond the prerequisites, the E&EB major may be satisfied by pursuing either of two tracks.  The Biodiversity and the Environment Track emphasizes courses appropriate for careers in  ecology, evolutionary biology, and environmental science . The Organismal Biology Track is appropriate for premedical and preveterinary students who can use courses required by medical schools, but not required by the major, as electives.
 
The department also offers courses suitable for non-majors that do not require pre-requisites. These include all 100-level offerings, and the 200-level courses that deal with particular organism groups (e.g., fish, mammals, birds, arthropods, invertebrates). See the complete listing of course offerings.
 

Structure of the Undergraduate Major

The programs in the major are designed both to enhance a liberal education and to provide excellent preparation for professional and graduate study, both in the biological or environmental sciences, and in medicine and other health-related fields.  After a shared set of prerequisites, the major is organized as two tracks that differ in their core requirements. 

Prerequisites for the Major

BIOL 101  Introduction to Biochemistry
BIOL 102  Principles of Cell Biology & Membrane Physiology
BIOL 103  Basic Genetics & Developmental Biology
BIOL 104  Principles of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
2 terms of General Chemistry (CHEM 161, 165 or CHEM 163, 167)
2 terms of General Chemistry Lab (CHEM 134L and 136L)
1 term of Organic Chemistry
(CHEM 174 or 175, or CHEM 220 or 221)
1 term of Organic Chemistry Lab (CHEM 222L or 223L)
2 terms of Physics (170, 171 or higher)
1 term of MATH 115 or 116  or S&DS 100 or 230
* 2 terms of Math or Geology may be taken in lieu of the organic chemistry requirement at the discretion of the DUS and not including MATH 190.  Geology may not include paleobiology courses or 100-level offerings.

 

Core Courses for the Major

Biodiversity and the environment Track Organismal Biology Track
E&EB 220 General Ecology

MCDB 300 Biochemistry or

MB&B 300 Principles of Biochemistry 1
E&EB 225 Evolutionary Biology

E&EB 295 Comparative Physiology or

BENG 350 Physiological Systems
E&EB 2xx or 3xx Organismal Diversity Course E&EB 290 Comparative Anatomy
E&EB 2xxL or 3xxL Organismal Diversity Lab E&EB 291L Comparative Anatomy Lab

For the B.A. degree only (one credit required, one of the following must be taken in senior year):

E&EB 470 (Tutorial)

Senior Essay (no credit)

For the B.S. degree only (four credits required; 2 semesters of senior research must be taken in senior year for a letter grade):

E&EB 475 and 476 (Research)

E&EB 495 and 496 (Intensive Senior Research)

Elective lectures, labs and/or research (2 credits)

For a complete listing of E&EB offerings click here or visit OCI.

For additional details on the major please contact the current E&EB DUS and consult the Undergraduate Handbook linked at the top of the page.