2013–2014 The Bulletin - USS at Tufts - Tufts University

Biology >
At least two courses in biology must include a
laboratory study, and one of these must be above
the level of Biology 14. In fulfilling this laboratory
requirement, students may choose from among
those biology courses for which laboratory is
specified in the course description, with the
following exceptions: Biology 93, 94, and 187.
Biology 193 or 194 may be used as only one of
the eight biology courses for completion of the
concentration requirements; on approval of a
petition to the department, a maximum of two such
courses may be applied toward the major. In no case
may more than one of these courses be used to
fulfill the laboratory requirement.
The foregoing is a minimal program. For many
purposes, additional preparation in related sciences
and calculus is needed. A course in calculus and
laboratory courses in both organic chemistry and
physics are strongly advised. A course in statistics
should be included when advanced work in ecology,
evolution, or genetics is anticipated. Medical
schools require a year of general chemistry and a
year of organic chemistry—both with laboratory, a
year of physics with laboratory, and a year of
biology with laboratory. Calculus is recommended.
Students planning to enter graduate school or
seeking employment in biological research should
take more than the minimal number of laboratory
courses required for the biology major.
To be eligible for a summa cum laude degree, a
student must have done biology research equivalent
to Biology 93. Comparable research in related fields
will also be considered. Participation in the Thesis
Honors Program will entail writing and defending
a thesis based on laboratory or field research.
Major in Biochemistry
Chemistry 1, 11, or 16; and Chemistry 2 or 12;
Chemistry 51/53, 52/54, 31, 42, 171, and 172;
Biology 13, 41, 50 (or Chemical and Biological
Engineering 163), and 105. Course work in
mathematics (Mathematics 34) and physics
(Physics 2 or 12) is required as a prerequisite to
Chemistry 31. The following sequence of courses is
suggested for students concentrating in biochemistry:
first year, Chemistry 1 (or 11) and 2 (or 12),
Biology 13; second year, Chemistry 51/53, 52/54,
Biology 50 (or Chemical and Biological Engineering
163); third year, Chemistry 31 and 42, Biology
41 and 105; fourth year, Chemistry 171/172.
Major in Biopsychology
An interdepartmental major for students particularly
interested in neurobiology and behavior. Required
courses: five in biology and five in psychology.
These include the following: Cells and Organisms
(Biology 13), General Genetics (Biology 41),
Animal Behavior (Biology 130), one course in
animal physiology (chosen from among Biology 75,
110, 115, 116, 134), and an elective in biology;
Statistics (Psychology 31 or Biology 132), Experimental
Psychology (Psychology 32), Brain and
Behavior (Psychology 103), plus two electives from
among Psychology 22, 26, 27, 29, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48,
49, 104, 112, 123, 127, 128, 129, 142, 146, 154, and
159. Biopsychology majors may not double major
in psychology or biology. Majors are encouraged to
elect an advanced laboratory course in either
department. Consult the departments of either
biology or psychology for details about this
program.
Course Selection for Undergraduates
For students with an interest in biology or the
health sciences and a strong high-school science
background, Biology 13 is the most appropriate
beginning course, and may be taken concurrently
with Chemistry 1 or 11. Biology 13 and 14 are
normally prerequisites for more advanced work in
biology.
Students interested in biology but not planning
to major in the sciences might take Biology 1, 2, 6,
7, 8, 10 or 12. None of these may be counted
among the eight courses in biology used to satisfy
the concentration requirements.
GRADUATE ProgrAM
Before beginning advanced study in a specialty, all
graduate students in biology are expected to have
the broad course work and laboratory experience
that is equivalent to the requirements for an
undergraduate major in this department. The
student’s entrance committee will determine what
courses, if any, should be taken in the first year to
fulfill these requirements. Graduate instruction and
research opportunities are offered in six areas:
1) ecology, behavior, and evolution; 2) genetics and
molecular biology; 3) developmental biology; 4)
neurobiology and animal behavior; 5) cell physiology;
and 6) conservation and the environment.
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