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Department of Biology Undergraduate Program
 

Undergraduate Major Manual:
15. Requirements for a Biology Minor

required courseload

courses

CU

Introductory Biology

Track 1: BIOL 121 and BIOL 124 (lab course)

Track 2: BIOL 101 and BIOL 102 (or BIOL 121 and 122)
For Class of 2009 or earlier only: BIOL 091 (assigned for AP or transfer credit) and either BIOL 121 or 122 (plus an additional lab credit) can satisfy this requirement (see Advanced Placement)

 

2
or
3

Introductory Chemistry: any combination of 2 semesters of introductory or organic chemistry from the following:

  • CHEM 1 or 101 (1.0 cu; first semester of introductory chemistry lecture)
  • CHEM 102 (1.0 cu; second semester of introductory chemistry lecture)
    • or CHEM 15 (1 cu; honors chemistry; instead of Chem 1 or 101 and 102)
  • CHEM 51 or 53 (0.5 cu; first semester of introductory chemistry lab)
  • CHEM 54 (0.5 cu; second semester of introductory chemistry lab)
    • or Chem 55 (1.0 cu; introductory chemistry lab; instead of Chem 51 or 53 and 54)
  • CHEM 241 (1.0 cu; first semester of organic chemistry)
  • CHEM 242 (1.0 cu; second semester of organic chemistry)
  • CHEM 245 (1.0 cu; organic chemistry lab)

2

Biology courses at the 200 level:

Track 1: must take three courses from three different groups
Track 2: must take two courses from two different groups

  • BIOL 202 - Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
  • BIOL 221 - Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • BIOL 215 - Vertebrate Physiology or BIOL 251 - Cellular Neurobiology
  • BIOL 230 - Evolution or BIOL 240 - Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems

After meeting the group distribution requirements, additional 200-level biology courses can be applied toward the "2 additional course units" requirement.

 

3
or
2

Two additional course units selected from

  • BIOL 200 level courses
  • BIOL 300, 400, or 500 level courses or BIOL 140*

One of these additional courses may be a course given in another department from the list given in Section 4. Only 1 CU of BIOL 399 or 499 may be counted toward the minor.

*Students who plan to submatriculate for the Masters of Environmental Studies should take BIOL 440 instead of 140.

2

    For additional information and for restrictions on CGS and transfer courses see Restrictions on CGS, Transfer, and Summer Courses

    At least three of the five credit units of Biology courses required for the minor should be unique to the Biology minor and should not be counted toward the student's major or other minors.

    A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required for courses taken to satisfy the minor.

    If a student has AP credit for both Biol 101 and 102 or Biol 121 (1.0 cu each without lab), one of the 200 level or "additional" courses must be a lab course, unless Biol 123 and 124 is taken to fulfill the lab requirement.

    To apply for the minor, obtain the necessary form from the Biology Academic Office, Leidy lab, Room 102 and bring the completed form, together with a copy of your transcript (available from Penn InTouch) to the Undergraduate Chair for approval. For office hours, please see postings on the bulletin boards in Leidy Lab, call the Biology Academic Office at 898-7121, or check the undergraduate page.

 


Undergraduate Program
Department of Biology
School of Arts and Sciences
University of Pennsylvania

last updated October 11, 2007