Welcome! The Biology Major is designed for students with broad interests in the biological sciences and also those who wish to postpone specialization. Many students will focus their interests and transfer out of the Biology Major to a more specialized major, while some who desire broad training in biology will graduate in the Biology Major. The curriculum provides rigorous background in mathematics and the sciences relevant to biology while allowing students to keep their options open. It offers a balanced spectrum of upper level biology courses for those who remain in the major.

Students majoring in Biology must complete 31 credits of biological coursework plus the college requirements for a degree in either the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences-Natural Sciences or the College of Letters and Science Bachelor of Science. The Major is designed to facilitate students moving to more specialized majors as their interests develop.

Students are advised by professors from any college or school on campus. Students are assigned to advisors based on interests. In addition, there is a professional advisor dedicated to advising in biology. Students expressing no college preference are assigned to L&S but are advised to keep track of CALS requirements as well in order to keep options open. Students are encouraged to declare a preference for CALS if they expect to eventually move to a CALS major (such as Genetics or Forest Ecology).