芝加哥大学

Biology is the study of life, past and present. Life operates within supportive ecosystems that generate selective pressures driving diversity and complexity through natural selection. The faculty of the College believe that a sound knowledge of biology is essential for understanding many of the most pressing problems of modern life and for intelligent involvement in their eventual solution. The Biological Sciences Collegiate Division, therefore, provides a variety of general education courses for all College students-prospective biologists and non-biologists alike. Although most of the course offerings beyond the introductory year are designed to serve the needs of students majoring in biological sciences, many of these courses are well suited to students in other areas who wish to study some aspect of modern biology in greater detail. Courses on the ethical and societal implications of the biological sciences, for example, are of interest to many non-majors.

The goals of the biological sciences program are to give students (1) an understanding of currently accepted concepts in biology and the experimental support for these concepts and (2) an appreciation of the gaps in our current understanding and the opportunities for new research in this field. Emphasis is placed on introducing students to the diversity of subject matter and methods of investigation in the biological sciences. The program prepares students for graduate or professional study in the biological sciences and for careers in the biological sciences. The following sections describe the requirements for a BA in the biological sciences. Sequences in the first year of the program are referred to as the Fundamentals and consist of the following: (1) The Advanced Biology sequence is designed for first-year students who have achieved a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Biology test and are primarily interested in pursuing a research career. (2) The Track A and B sequences are designed for second-year students and are structured to provide them with a broad-based understanding of contemporary biology. (3) Track C (Life, Ecosystems, and Evolution) is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in ecology and evolution or environmental science and includes a broad survey of these fields. At the completion of the first three quarters of a Fundamentals sequence students begin taking the upper-level advanced elective courses and may start a specialization.

Honors in Biological Sciences can be earned via one of two tracks. Scholar Honors: This track recognizes exceptional academic performance (minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6 or above), including submission and acceptance of a scholarly thesis. Research Honors: This track emphasizes exceptional achievement in a program of original research (minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or above) plus submission and acceptance of an in-depth research thesis.

Specializations available in:

1. Cancer Biology
2. Cellular and Molecular Biology
3. Ecology and Evolution
4. Endocrinology
5. Genetics
6. Immunology
7. Microbiology
8. Neuroscience
9. Global Health Sciences