Major Requirements

Major Requirements: The biology major requires eleven courses: Biology 111 and 112; eight biology courses numbered 300 or above; and Chemistry 115. At least one course must be taken from each of the following groups: Group A (301, 302, 303, 304, 306, and 308); Group B (305, 311, 312, 316, 317, and 331); and Group C (314, 315, 321, 322, 323, and 341). To fulfill the distribution requirement for Group A, B, or C, a given course must be the version offered with a laboratory/field component. Seven of the courses required for the major must be Davidson courses taught by Davidson College faculty. Chemistry 121, 201, 202; Mathematics 130 and either 135 or 110; and Physics 120/220 or 130/230 are strongly recommended.

Honors Requirements: The departmental honors program is designed to promote individual excellence through directed independent study and research. Twelve lecture and research courses are required, including Biology 111, 112, and 371, 372. Students should plan their programs with their faculty advisors such that the combination of courses and research meets, in general, the balance of courses specified for the major. The program should be submitted for departmental action by the end of the fall semester of the candidate's junior year. Research results must be presented in writing and orally to the department or another appropriate forum. The recommendation of the department regarding honors will be based upon quality of the course work and the research and its presentation.

For more information about being a Biology major and the department, check out the Student Handbook for Biology Majors. (This file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If the Reader is not installed on your computer, click the link below for a free download.)

To see a list of course offerings for the upcoming academic year, click here.