Students intending to major in Biology should take at least
one semester of introductory biology in their freshman year.
Candidates with an interest in molecular biology are advised
to take Biol 121 rather than the 101/102 series. In addition
to introductory biology, a student who intends to major in Biology
should plan to take the required introductory courses in math
and chemistry, as well as other Biology courses, for a total
of approximately 9.0 cu, by the end of sophomore year. Early
completion of these courses provides useful preparation for other
biology courses.
For entrance to the Biology major, a candidate should have completed
at least one biology course at Penn, normally Biol 121, 101,
or 102. Students following Track 1 must have a plan for completing
the lab requirement before declaring the major. The grade point
average in courses for the Biology major taken up to that point
(including the required courses in math, physics, and chemistry)
must be at least a "C" (2.0). No
course in the major may be taken pass/fail.
The usual time to apply for the major is during sophomore year,
before pre-registration takes place in the spring semester. Before
applying for a major, a student should first create an online
worksheet through Penn-In-Touch and then see their academic advisor
in the College or an advisor in the College of Liberal and Professional
Studies who will review the online worksheet and make it official.
To apply for the Biology major, you must complete a Biology
Department Student
Information Form and make a tentative plan of courses to
be taken to satisfy the major requirements by filling out the
Worksheet
for Selecting a Course Sequence (these forms can also be
found in the printed manual available in the Academic Office,
room 102, Leidy Lab). If you plan on having a Concentration,
request the appropriate Concentration Worksheet from the Academic
Office. Submit the completed form directly to the Biology Department
Academic Office, room 102, Leidy Lab. You may request a specific
advisor, otherwise, advisors are assigned according to your declared
area of interest and the advisor's student load. If a Biology
major wishes to change advisors, he or she should contact the
Biology Department Academic Office.
After your application has been processed, we will notify you
by e-mail whether you have been provisionally admitted to the
major and who has been assigned as your major advisor. You should
arrange an appointment with your advisor and, on your way to
the appointment, pick up your major file containing your information
form and worksheet from the Academic Office (room
102, Leidy Lab). This meeting provides you an opportunity
to discuss additional or alternative courses that can best suit
your interests, while assuring your planned course sequence satisfies
the major requirements. Once your major advisor has approved
your planned sequence of courses, your major file must be
returned to the Academic Office. You will be formally admitted
to the Biology major only after returning the approved forms.
Inquiries about the status of your application should be directed
to the Biology Department Academic Office, room 102, Leidy Lab,
(215) 898-7121 or bio-undergraduate@sas.upenn.edu.
Transfer students
usually state their choice of major upon admission
to the University. This does not automatically admit them as
Biology majors. Transfer students must have at least
one grade for a Biology major course taken at the University
of Pennsylvania before applying for the major.
Undergraduate Program