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Sample Pathways to Four-Year Biology Degree

Three Examples of Four-Year Curricula

for the Biology Degree

Use as a guide only. Talk with your advisor!

LL = Liberal Learning course

Sample One:

For students who enter Calculus-ready:

Semester 1

CU

Semester 2

CU

 BIO 201/Foundations of Biological Inquiry 1 BIO 211/Bio of the Eukaryotic Cell 1
CHE 201/General Chemistry I 1 CHE 202/General Chemistry II 1
MAT 127/Calculus A 1 MAT 128 / MAT 200 / STA 215; or LL 1
FSP 1 LL or Writing 102 if needed 1

Semester 3

 

Semester 4

 

BIO 221/Ecology & Field Biology, or BIO 231/Genetics 1 BIO 221/Ecology & Field Biology, or BIO 231/Genetics 1
CHE 331/Organic Chemistry I 1 CHE 332/Organic Chemistry II 1
MAT 128 / STA 215 / MAT 200; or LL 1 LL or Elective 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1

Semester 5

 

Semester 6

 

Bio Option 1 Bio Option 1
Physics I or  Bio Option 1 Physics I or  Bio Option 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1

Semester 7

 

Semester 8

 

Bio Option 1 Bio Option 1
LL or Elective 1 BIO 498/Bio Senior Sem 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1

 

 

Sample Two: 

For students who enter needing MAT 120 (Pre-Calculus) and WRI 102.

Main elements to support success:

  • No more than 3.5 course units the first semester
  • No more than one science and one math in each of the first two semesters

 

Semester 1

CU

Semester 2

CU

BIO 201/Foundations of Biological Inquiry 1 CHE 201/General Chemistry I 1
MAT 120/Pre-Calc 1 MAT 127/Calculus A 1
WRI 102 or LL 1 WRI 102 or LL 1
FSP 1 LL 1

Summer 1

 

 CHE 202/General Chemistry II 1

Semester 3

 

Semester 4

 

BIO 211/Bio of the Eukaryotic Cell 1 BIO 221/Ecology & Field Biology, or BIO 231/Genetics 1
CHE 331/Organic Chemistry I 1 CHE 332/Organic Chemistry II 1
LL 1 LL 1
LL 1 LL 1

Semester 5

 

Semester 6

 

BIO 221/Ecology & Field Biology, or BIO 231/Genetics 1 Bio Option 1
Bio Option 1 Physics I 1
LL or Elective 1 STA 215 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1

Semester 7

 

Semester 8

 

Bio Option 1 Bio Option 1
Bio Option 1 BIO 498/Bio Senior Sem 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1

 

 

Sample Three: 

For students who enter needing MAT 095, MAT 120, and WRI 102, and needing more science background.

Main elements to support success:

  • Start with a non-majors biology course first
  • No more than 3.5 course units the first semester
  • Take major’s biology course, BIO 185, in the second semester
  • Start chemistry in the first summer
  • Take Calculus A in the first summer
  • Take Physics I during a summer

Semester 1

CU

Semester 2

CU

BIO 171/Human Form and Function, or BIO 173/Humanity & the Natural World, (these count as college electives) 1 BIO 201/Foundations of Biological Inquiry 1
MAT 095/College Algebra (0.5) MAT 120/Pre-Calculus 1
FSP 1 LL 1
WRI 102 or LL 1 WRI 102 or LL 1

Summer 1, Session 1

Summer 1, Session 2

 

 CHE 201/General Chemistry I   MAT 127/Calculus A  

Semester 3

 

Semester 4

 

BIO 211/Bio of the Eukaryotic Cell 1 BIO 221/Ecology & Field Biology,  or BIO 231/Genetics 1
CHE 202/General Chemistry II 1 CHE 331/Organic Chemistry I 1
LL 1 LL 1
LL 1 No course (or Physics I)

Summer 2, Session 1

 

 

 

Physics I 1

Semester 5

 

Semester 6

 

BIO 221/Ecology & Field Biology,  or BIO 231/Genetics 1 Bio Option 1
CHE 332/Organic Chemistry II 1 Bio Option 1
LL or Elective 1 STA 215 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1

Semester 7

 

Semester 8

 

Bio Option 1 Bio Option5 1
Bio Option 1 BIO 498/Bio Senior Sem 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1
LL or Elective 1 LL or Elective 1

 

 

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