Undergraduate Major Manual Supplement:
02. Interest Areas: Courses, Advice, Advisors

Information concerning Interest Areas is provided solely to help students who have an interest in a particular area of Biology to identify relevant courses and faculty advisors knowledgeable in this area. Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area. If you choose courses within an Interest Area, be sure your choices satisfy the Major Requirements listed in Section 2 of the Biology Major Manual. Choice of courses within an interest area does not result in a notation on your transcript.

Students interested in a general background in Biology may take Biol 202, Biol 221, Biol 254 or 255, Biol 215, 219 or 251, and Biol 230, 231, or 240, together with two additional courses from the Biol 200, 300, and 400 level courses and/or from the courses from other departments that have been approved for the major. Of course, you are free to choose a different combination of courses to provide a general biology background, provided that they satisfy the Major Requirements.

If you are interested in attending graduate school in one of these Interest Areas, you may seek advice concerning graduate schools from one of the Advisors listed.

• Animal physiology
• Behavior
• Cell biology
• Computational and mathematical biology
• Developmental biology
• Ecology and conservation biology
• Evolutionary biology
• Genetics
• Molecular biology
• Neurobiology
• Plant biology
• Cellular, molecular and physiological
• Ecology and evolution

animal physiology interest area

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 215	Vertebrate Physiology
BIOL 219	Intro to Brain and Behavior
BIOL 251	Cellular Neurobiology
BIOL 325	Biology of the Invertebrates
BIOL 330	Vertebrate Biology
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 404	Immunobiology
BIOL 406	Infectious Diseases: Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis Prophylaxis
BIOL SM 409	Physiology of Psychosocial and Nutritional Influences on Health
BIOL 438	Comparative Physiology
BIOL 441	Topics in Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences
BIOL 442	Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
BIOL 446	Statistics for Biologists
BIOL 451	Systems Neuroscience
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study
BIBB 227	(Psyc 127) Physiology of Motivated Behaviors
BIBB 260	Neuroendocrinology
IMUN 508	Immune Responses
PARA 605	Biology of Parasites and Vectors

Courses that may be of interest but CANNOT be counted toward the major:

BIBB 240	Biological Rhythms
BIBB SM 390	Behavioral Medicine: Experimental and Animal Models

Recommendations: A year of introductory physics and/or a year of organic chemistry.

Advisors: Waldron (Rome)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

behavior

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 215	Vertebrate Physiology
BIOL 219	Intro to Brain and Behavior
BIOL 231	Animal Behavior
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 411	Adaptation, Systematics, and Speciation
BIOL 412	Ecology of Organisms and Populations
BIOL 416	Environmental Field Research
BIOL 432	Animal Cognition
BIOL 446	Statistics for Biologists
BIOL 451	Systems Neuroscience
BIOL 488	Advanced Topics in Behavioral Genetics
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study
ANTH 105	Human Adaptation
ANTH 244	Evolution of Behavior (formerly ANTH 104)
ANTH SM410	Primatology
PSYC 343	Research Experience in Neuroethology

Courses that may be of interest, but cannot be counted toward the major:

ANTH 623	Topics in Primatology
PSYC 121	Learning
PSYC 151	Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 170	Social Psychology
PSYC 413	Sensory Mechanisms
PSYC 441	Genetics, Evolution, and Behavior

For additional courses of interest refer to the Animal Physiology and Ecology interest areas.

Advisor: Cheney (M. Schmidt)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

cell biology interest area

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 202	Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 251	Cellular Neurobiology
BIOL 254	Developmental Biology
BIOL 255	Plant Development
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 402	Biological Chemistry
BIOL 404	Immunobiology
BIOL 406	Infectious Diseases: Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis, Prophylaxis, and Therapy
BIOL 421	Molecular Genetics
BIOL 441	Topics in Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences
BIOL 446	Statistics for Biologists
BIOL 475	Microbiology and Bioltechnology
BIOL 476	Microbiology Lab
BIOL 480	Advanced Cell Biology
BIOL SM 481	Advanced Developmental Biology
BIOL 483	Epigenetics
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study
BIOL 539	Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics
BIOL 540	Genetic Systems

Courses that may be of interest but CANNOT be counted toward the major:

CHEM 221, 222, 241, and 242

Advisors: Roos, Schultz, Tilney (Cebra, Guo, Pohlschroeder, Rea, Zigmond)

computational biology and mathematical
biology interest area

Course that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 446	Statistics for Biologists
BIOL 536	Computational Biology
BIOL 537	Advanced Computational Biology

Recommendations: See Biology Major Concentrations in Computational and Mathematical Biology for additional suggestions.

Advisors: Ewens, Roos (Sniegowski)

developmental biology interest area

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 202	Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 251	Cellular Neurobiology
BIOL 254	Developmental Biology
BIOL 255	Plant Development
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 402	Biological Chemistry
BIOL 404	Immunobiology
BIOL 421	Molecular Genetics
BIOL 480	Advanced Cell Biology
BIOL SM 481	Advanced Developmental Biology
BIOL 483	Epigenetics
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study

Recommendations: Biol 202, 221 and 254 or 255. If possible, we recommend that Biol 101 or 121 and Biol 102 or122 be taken Freshman year, Biol 221 be taken spring semester Sophomore year, Biol 254 be taken spring semester Junior year, and Biol 481 be taken spring semester of Senior year.

Advisors: Bonini, Guild, Roos, Schultz, Tilney (Binns, Cebra, Poethig, Weinberg)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

ecology and conservation interest area

Majors can specialize in plant, animal, or aquatic (marine and freshwater) ecology. Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 140	Humans and the Environment
BIOL 231	Animal Behavior
BIOL 240	Ecology and Population Biology
BIOL 325	Biology of Invertebrates
BIOL 330	Vertebrate Biology (or BIOL 453 - Advanced Vertebrate Biology)
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 400	Field Botany
BIOL 410	Evolution of Populations
BIOL 411	Adaptation, Systematics, and Speciation
BIOL 412	Ecology of Organisms and Populations
BIOL 414	Ecology of Communities and Ecosystems
BIOL 416	Environmental Field Research
BIOL 423	Plant Ecology
BIOL 431	Advanced Animal Behavior
BIOL 432	Animal Cognition
BIOL 438	Comparative Physiology
BIOL 440	Advanced Analysis of Humans and the Environment
BIOL 444	Advanced Ecology and Population Biology
BIOL 446	Statistics for Biologists
BIOL 450	Plant Systematics
BIOL 453	Advanced Vertebrate Biology (or BIOL 330 - Vertebrate Biology)
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study
BIOL 514	Freshwater Ecology
BIOL 515	Advanced Limnology
BIOL SM 516	Microbial Ecology
BIOL SM 522	Biodiversity Management
BIOL 523	Field Techniques in Conservation Biology
BIOL 524	Tropical Field Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
BIOL 535	Mathematical Ecology
GEOL 205	Paleontology
GEOL SM405	Paleoecology
GEOL 415	Paleobotany

Courses that may be of interest but CANNOT be counted toward the major:

Geol 130 - Oceanography

Advisors: Cheney, Treseder (Casper, Dunham, Janzen, Petraitis)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

evolutionary biology interest area

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 230	Evolutionary Biology
BIOL 231	Animal Behavior
BIOL 240	Ecology and Population Biology
BIOL 325	Biology of the Invertebrates
BIOL 330	Vertebrate Biology
BIOL 340	Ecology Field Exercises
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 410	Evolution of Populations
BIOL 411	Adaptation,Systematics, and Speciation
BIOL 431	Advanced Animal Behavior
BIOL 432	Animal Cognition
BIOL 444	Advanced Ecology and Population Biology
BIOL 450	Plant Systematics (formerly BIOL 300)
BIOL 453	Advanced Vertebrate Biology
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study
ANTH 105	Human Adaptation
ANTH 243	Human Biology (formerly ANTH 103)
ANTH 244	Evolution of Behavior (formerly ANTH 104)
GEOL 205	Paleontology
GEOL SM 405	Paleoecology
GEOL 415	Paleobotany
GEOL 535	Macroevolution

Recommendations: BIOL 221 and 230, two semesters of calculus and at least one semester of statistics. See online information on Biology Major Concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology for additional suggestions.

Advisors: Ewens, Roos, Treseder (Casper, Dunham, Janzen, Petraitis, P. Schmidt, Sniegowski)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

genetics interest area

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 202	Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 230	Evolutionary Biology
BIOL 254	Developmental Biology
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 402	Biological Chemistry
BIOL 404	Immunobiology
BIOL 421	Molecular Genetics
BIOL 425	Molecular Biology and Genetics Lab
BIOL 446	Statistics for Biologists
BIOL 475	Microbiology and Biotechnology
BIOL 480	Advanced Cell Biology
BIOL SM 481	Advanced Developmental Biology
BIOL 488	Advanced Topics in Behavioral Genetics
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study
BIOL 539	Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics
BIOL 540	Genetic Systems

Recommendations: BIOL 202, 221, 230, 254 , 421, and 425; a full year of physics and organic chemistry. See Molecular Biology Concentration information online for additional suggestions.

Advisors: Bonini, Daldal, Ewens, Guild, Roos, (Cashmore, Guo, Poethig, Sniegowski, Weinberg)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

molecular biology interest area

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 202	Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 254	Developmental Biology
BIOL 255	Plant Development
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 402	Biochemistry
BIOL 421	Molecular Genetics
BIOL 425	Molecular Biology and Genetics Lab
BIOL 475	Microbiology and Biotechnology
BIOL 476	Microbiology Lab
BIOL 480	Advanced Cell Biology
BIOL SM 481	Advanced Developmental Biology
BIOL 483	Epigenetics
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study
BIOL 539	Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics
BIOL 540	Genetic Systems
CHEM 451	Biological Chemistry I
MICRO 540	Fundamental Virology

Recommendations: BIOL 202, 221, 254, 421; BIOL 402 or CHEM 451; a full year of introductory physics and organic chemistry. See Molecular Biology Concentration in the Biology Major Manual for additional suggestions.

Advisors: Bonini, Daldal, Guild, Roos (Binns, Cashmore, , Guo, Pohlschroeder, Rea, Sniegowski, Wagner, Weinberg)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

neurobiology interest area

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 202	Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
BIOL 215	Vertebrate Physiology
BIOL 219	Intro to Brain and Behavior
BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 251	Cellular Neurobiology
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 438	Comparative Physiology
BIOL 441	Topics in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
BIOL 442	Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
BIOL 446	Statistics for Biologists
BIOL 451	Systems Neuroscience
BIOL 461	The Chemical Senses
BIOL 488	Advanced Topics in Behavioral Genetics
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study
BIBB 260	Neuroendocrinology
BIBB 269	Chemistry of the Brain
BIBB 310	Laboratory in the Structure of the Nervous System
INSC 595	Behavioral Neuroscience
INSC 597	Developmental Neurobiology
PSYC 127	Psychology of Motivated Behaviors
PSYC 343	Research Experience in Neuroethology

Courses that may be of interest but cannot be counted toward the major:

ANAT 505	Structural Adaptations to Function
ANAT 507	Introduction to Nervous System
BIBB 240	Biological Rhythms
BIBB 370	Drugs, Brain, and Mind
BIBB 380	Biological Basis of Psychiatric Disorders
BIBB SM 390	Behavioral Medicine: Experimental and Animal Models
BIBB 481	Behavioral Pharmacology
PSYC 111	Perception
PSYC 121	Learning
PSYC 413	Sensory Mechanisms

Recommendations: A full year of introductory physics. See the Neuroscience Concentration for additional suggestions.

Advisors: Bonini (Abel, M. Schmidt)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

plant biology interest areas

cellular, molecular, and physiological

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 202	Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 251	Cellular Neurobiology
BIOL 255	Plant Development
BIOL 399	Independent Study
BIOL 402	Biochemistry
BIOL 421	Molecular Genetics
BIOL 423	Experimental Plant Ecology
BIOL 482	Current Topics in Plant Molecular Biology
BIOL 499	Advanced Independent Study

Recommendations: BIOL 202, 221, and 255

Advisors: Daldal (Binns, Cashmore, Poethig, Rea, Wagner)

ecology and evolution

Courses that can be counted toward the major:

BIOL 221	Molecular Biology and Genetics
BIOL 230	Evolutionary Biology
BIOL 240	Ecology and Population Biology
BIOL 255	Plant Development
BIOL 400	Field Botany
BIOL 410	Evolution of Populations
BIOL 411	Adaptation, Systematics, and Speciation
BIOL 412	Ecology of Organisms and Populations
BIOL 423	Experimental Plant Ecology
BIOL 444	Advanced Ecology and Population Biology
BIOL 446	Statistics for Biologists
BIOL 450	Plant Systematics
GEOL 415	Paleobotany

Recommendations: BIOL 221, 230, and 255.

Advisors: Treseder, (Casper, Janzen)

* Students are not required to choose courses within an Interest Area.

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

last updated November 20, 2001