Biology at Emory University

A Course Schedule for Biology Majors:

The intention of the schedule below is to demonstrate one possibility for completing all course requirements for a BS degree as well as all General Education Requirements (GERs) over 8 semesters (4 years), exclusive of summer school. All introductory biology, chemistry, and physics courses are completed by the end of the junior year. This is greatly advantageous for it allows majors to devote the senior year to undergraduate research and specialty elective courses. Completion of the two semester introductory sequence courses in biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics by the end of the junior year is particularly important for those students who are following a premed track and who wish to complete the MCAT before the senior year. The proposed schedule presented here does not allow for minor concentrations, double majors, the BS/MS degree, study abroad, Advanced Placement credit, or specific courses that satisfy the Post-Freshman writing requirement of the GER. Some students may choose to satisfy the two year inorganic/organic chemistry sequence by enrolling as freshmen in Chem 171 and 172 (Organic Structure and Reactivity I and II). The possibility for many exceptions to the schedule below makes it imperative that students consult with a Biology advisor as often as possible when planning a course schedule.

Fall Semester	Spring Semester
Freshman Year
Chem 141 Biology 141 Math 115 English 101 or 110 Freshman Seminar P.E.	Chem 142 Biology 142 Math 116 P.E.
Sophomore Year
Chem 221 Biology Column A GER Area IV GER Area III P.E.	Chem 222 Biology Column B Biology Elective GER Area III P.E.
Junior Year
Physics 141 Biology Elective GER Area V GER Area IV	Physics 142 Biology Column C Biology Elective GER Area V
Senior Year
Biology Elective Elective Elective	Biology Elective Elective Elective Elective

Transfer Students:

Transfer students who wish to become biology majors should contact Ms. Barbara Shannon in the Biology Department (Rollins Research Center, Room 2006) shortly after arrival on campus to declare the major. First time registration may pose problems since regular students have preregistered and many courses may be closed. Initial registration therefore is advised by the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Darrell Stokes, with whom an appointment should then be made to review transfer credits and to establish a schedule of courses. Students transferring to Emory College must complete the General Education Requirements (GERs)-Fall 1999 and later OR Fall 2005 and later. Some of these requirements can be satisfied by transfer credit and some may be waived on the basis of sufficient residence at previous schools. Students should bring to this meeting a copy of their admissions audit of the General Education Requirements. Subsequently, transfer students will then be assigned an advisor by Ms. Shannon.

Oxford Continuees:

Students continuing at Emory College from Oxford College should contact Ms. Barbara Shannon in the Biology Department (Rollins Research Center, Room 2006) during the designated preregistration period in the Spring semester prior to enrollment for the Fall Semester. At this initial meeting, Oxford students can complete paperwork associated with the declaration of a biology major. More importantly, however, Ms. Shannon will assign an advisor who will assist with course registration for the Fall term. It is the student's responsibility to arrange an appointment with the assigned advisor. It is expected that Oxford continuees will have completed coursework for the General Education Requirements, with the exception of WR courses and the Senior Seminar. However, continuees should bring to the advisor meeting a copy of their GER audit. For additional information, Oxford continuees should contact Dean Preetha Ram.

AP and Advanced Credit :

Students matriculating in Emory College prior to Fall 2005 or Fall 2008 and later: An AP score of 4 or 5 may be used to exempt out of Biology 141 only. Four credits will be applied toward the 36 hours of Biology courses needed for the major. Biology 142 will still be required.
Students matriculating Fall 2005 through Summer 2008: If you have been given advanced placement credit in biology upon acceptance to Emory College , it may be used only as elective credit towards the 128 graduation credits, and not towards the biology major. (AP Biology credit will only count toward Biology 120, the non-science Biology majors course, but does not count toward Biology 141 or Biology 142.

Enrolling in Graduate Courses:

Undergraduates who wish to take graduate level courses (numbered 500 and above) may do so in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), Dr. Darrell Stokes. A permission note from the DUS, as well as from the course instructor, is required for each graduate course. Enrollment is effected by bringing the permission notes to the GDBBS Office (Room 314, 1462 Clifton Road), who will complete the online registration process. Only those graduate courses completed at Emory can be used. A maximum of two graduate courses (8 semester hours) can be applied as elective credit towards the BS or BS/MS Degrees. BA majors may not satisfy undergraduate degree requirements with graduate level courses.

Joint Majors:

Students majoring in biology (there is no minor) may elect to complete the requirements for a joint degree (major or minor) in another undergraduate department. To do so requires careful time management as well as attention to scheduling. It is recommended that such students obtain advisors in both departments so that requirements for both degrees, as well as satisfaction of the GER requirements, can be met comfortably within the four year time frame. Graduation with Honors requires an additional level of complexity, particularly if students are focusing on multiple disciplines, or wish to spend a semester abroad.

BS/MS Program:

It is possible for a biology major to complete requirements for the combined BS/MS in biology in four years. All requirements for both the BS degree and graduate MS degree must be satisfied. This is a very difficult program designed for students highly focused on graduate research and academic carrers. Students normally enter the program by selecting a faculty mentor by the beginning of the junior year. Students then apply for admission into the graduate school. The application necessitates submission of the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exams (GRE). To complete the program, a student must enroll in one semester of graduate level research (599) plus 4 graduate level courses (500 and above), write a Master's thesis, and defend it before a graduate committee. A maximum of 2 graduate courses may be used as elective credits to fulfill the BS requirement. Contact Dr. Darrell Stokes for further information.