Curriculum Overview
The Biology major provides a comprehensive understanding of biological disciplines, with opportunities to specialize and gain hands-on experience through lab, field, and research courses. No matter what field of biology you are interested in, you can find the related course at BU!
Requirements
The Biology major requires a total of nine courses in biology (introductory, breadth, and elective courses) and a total of six to seven related courses in chemistry, math/computer science, and physics.
Excluding Introductory Biology courses and Non-Majors Courses:
- at least three biology courses must have a laboratory component
- at least three biology courses must be at the 300+ level
- at least five biology courses must be taken in the BU Biology Department (or be crosslisted with BI courses in CAS)
Introductory Biology (2 courses)
- CAS BI 107 (or CGS NS 201)
- CAS BI 108 (or BI 116)
Breadth Requirement (3 courses)
Choose one course in each of the following three areas:
Cell & Molecular Biology
CAS BI 203 (or BI 213 or BI 218* (5 units))
or
CAS BI 206 (or BI 216)
Physiology and Neurobiology
CAS BI 310* or
CAS BI 315* or
CAS BI 325 (or NE 203*)
Ecology, Behavior, Evolution
CAS BI 225 or
CAS BI 260 or
CAS BI 303* or
CAS BI 306* or
CAS BI 309 or
CAS BI 407*
*Course will also count toward the three-lab requirement.
Biology Electives (4 courses)
- Check out Biology electives here
Research Opportunities
Undergraduate students often begin their research journey as volunteers in labs. Over time, they can progress to lab courses such as "Research for Credit" or join programs like UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program).
The UROP program connects BU undergraduates with funded, faculty-mentored research projects
For biology majors, research opportunities include fields like:
- Biology
- Biomedical Science
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
- Medicine
Explore more opportunities on the BU UROP website.
Career Paths and Opportunities
Biology majors at BU typically pursue one of four career paths:
- Researcher: Enroll in PhD programs to advance scientific knowledge.
- Healthcare Professional: Attend healthcare professional schools to become health practitioners.
- Public Health: Work in government or non-profit organizations focused on improving community health.
- Non-Biology Careers: Transition to fields like finance or computer programming.
For many biology students (including myself! 😊), becoming a doctor is the most popular option.
So, what resources does BU offer to help make this path smoother?
- Pre-Health Advising: Connect with your pre-health advisor to navigate your journey.
- Pre-Health Groups: Join groups to discover valuable resources and a supportive community.
- Strong Academics: Maintain a strong GPA and achieve high scores on admission tests.
- Experience Matters: Gain as much research, clinical, and community service experience as possible.
- Stand Out: Highlight your unique experiences—both academic and non-academic—in your PS.
Remember: Be YOU (BU!) and let your authentic self shine!