Undergraduate Major in Developmental and Cell Biology

The Developmental and Cell Biology major is intended to provide students with intensive training in cutting edge approaches to understanding the structure and function of cells and how they interact to produce a complex organism, starting with a fertilized egg. The focus of the B.S. in Developmental and Cell Biology is to provide students with intensive training aimed at preparing them for graduate programs in modern Developmental and Cell Biology or other biomedical sciences. In-depth training in the molecular basis of cell and developmental biology will be coupled with integrating knowledge obtained from the recent explosive advances in genomic technology to provide a strong working understanding of how to approach problems in basic research.

University and School Requirements

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

Major Requirements

A. Required Major Courses:
BIO SCI D103 Cell Biology
BIO SCI D104 Developmental Biology
BIO SCI D114 Developmental and Cell Biology Majors Seminar
BIO SCI D145 Genomics, Development, and Medicine
B. Upper-Division Laboratories:
BIO SCI D111L Developmental and Cell Biology Laboratory
and select two of the following: 1
Habitats and Organisms
Physiology Laboratory
Evolution Laboratory
Image Analysis in Biological Research
Evolution and the Environment Laboratory
Biology of Birds Lab
Field Biology
Field Freshwater Ecology
Biochemistry Laboratory
Molecular Biology Laboratory
Experimental Microbiology Laboratory
Advanced Immunology Laboratory
Virology and Immunology Laboratory
Advanced Molecular Lab Techniques
Neurobiology Laboratory
C. Upper-Division Biology Electives:
Select one of the following:
Human Anatomy
Eukaryotic and Human Genetics
Development and Disease
Applied Human Anatomy
and select one of the following:
Advances in Regenerative Medicine
Cell Biology of Human Disease
Topics in Developmental and Cell Biology
Signal Transduction in Mammalian Cells
Cell Organelles and Membranes
and select three of the following:
Cell, Developmental, and Molecular Biology of Plants
Photomedicine
Introduction to Precision Medicine
Advances in Regenerative Medicine
Human Anatomy
Eukaryotic and Human Genetics
Critical Thinking in Cell Biology
Development and Disease
Applied Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Advanced Biochemistry
Advanced Molecular Biology
Molecular Biology of Cancer
Microbial Genetics
Human Parasitology
Cell Organelles and Membranes
Neurobiology and Behavior
Neurobiology of Aging
Neuropharmacology
Molecular Neurobiology

Undergraduate Major in Genetics

Genetics is an inescapable part of modern society; it features in intellectual news articles and popular talk shows, in discussions of topics from health care to reproductive cloning, in conversations about how CRISPR genome modification will change life as we know it, to how much Neanderthal DNA you have. With human genome sequencing widely available, it is more important now than ever for biology students to have a broad background in the study of heredity and evolution. The Genetics major enables undergraduates interested in molecular, developmental, and evolutionary genetics to explore how genetic mechanisms contribute to understanding human development and disease. Genetics majors in their Junior and Senior years meet with faculty advisors who help plan their curricula, select appropriate Bio 199 research labs and provide career advice. The Genetics major provides training in the skills necessary to pursue graduate degrees in biomedical research, teacher-training programs, medical school, and veterinary school. Genetics majors may also use their backgrounds effectively in planning careers in law, business, education, and public affairs.

University and School Requirements

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
A. Required Major Courses:
BIO SCI D103 Cell Biology
BIO SCI D104 Developmental Biology
BIO SCI D113 Genetics Majors Seminar
B. Upper-Division Laboratories:
Select three of the following: 1
Developmental and Cell Biology Laboratory
Habitats and Organisms
Physiology Laboratory
Evolution Laboratory
Image Analysis in Biological Research
Evolution and the Environment Laboratory
Biology of Birds Lab
Field Biology
Field Freshwater Ecology
Biochemistry Laboratory
Molecular Biology Laboratory
Experimental Microbiology Laboratory
Advanced Immunology Laboratory
Virology and Immunology Laboratory
Advanced Molecular Lab Techniques
Neurobiology Laboratory
C. Upper-Division Biology Electives:
Select two of the following:
Introduction to Precision Medicine
Eukaryotic and Human Genetics
Genomics, Development, and Medicine
Development and Disease
Microbial Genetics
Select one from the following:
Advances in Regenerative Medicine
Cell Biology of Human Disease
Eukaryotic and Human Genetics
Development and Disease
Functional and Structural Evolutionary Genomics
Developmental Neurobiology
Select three from the following:
Cell, Developmental, and Molecular Biology of Plants
Photomedicine
Human Anatomy
Critical Thinking in Cell Biology
Applied Human Anatomy
Topics in Developmental and Cell Biology
Human Physiology
Advanced Biochemistry
Advanced Molecular Biology
Signal Transduction in Mammalian Cells
Molecular Biology of Cancer
Human Parasitology
Cell Organelles and Membranes
Neurobiology and Behavior
Neurobiology of Aging
Molecular Neurobiology