Biology (B.S.)

Certain pre-qualified students may be accepted into the major; others will need to complete the following:

2.5 overall GPA required

Please note: The Biology, Molecular Biology, and Marine Biology and Coastal Science majors have retention policies. By the end of their second semester in the major (i.e. spring semester), students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and have completed the following courses with a C- or better grade: BIOL112 or BIOL113, and CHEM106 or CHEM120, and MATH111 or AMAT120.

Students are required to meet with their assigned advisor.

Contact: Dr. Dirk Vanderklein, Science Hall 107A, vanderkleid@montclair.edu.

Program Requirements Overview

Unless otherwise noted, 120 credits of coursework is required for a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.

General Education Requirements32
World Languages and Cultures Requirements3-6
Major Requirements72-75
Free Electives13-7
Total Credits120

Major Requirements

Biology Major Requirements
BIOL 112Principles of Biology: Introduction to the Cell4
BIOL 113Principles of Biology: Organisms and Diversity4
BIOL 213Introduction to Ecology4
BIOL 230Cell and Molecular Biology4
BIOL 380Genetics4
BIOL 417Evolutionary Biology3
Biology Major Electives
Complete four requirements (see list below)17-20
Collateral Chemistry Courses
CHEM 120General Chemistry I4
CHEM 121General Chemistry II4
CHEM 230Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 231Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 232Experimental Organic Chemistry I2
Collateral Physics Courses
Select one of the following sequences:8
University Physics I
and University Physics II
College Physics I
and College Physics II
Collateral Mathematics Courses
Select two of the following options:8
Data Science and Statistics
and Data Science and Biostatistics
Applied Calculus A
Calculus I
Applied Calculus B
Calculus II
Total Credits72-75

Biology Major Electives

Complete the four requirements, including at least one 4-credit course (One course cannot be used in 2 areas)

Cell and Molecular
Select one of the following:
BIOL 319Genes, Brains, and Behavior4
BIOL 350Microbiology4
BIOL 410Toxicology3
BIOL 415Population Genetics3
BIOL 433Developmental Biology4
BIOL 434Molecular Biology3
BIOL 435Experimental Molecular Biology3
BIOL 444Cell Physiology3
BIOL 445Immunology3
BIOL 446Endocrinology3
BIOL 457Virology3
BIOL 458Microbial Genetics3
BIOL 468Neurobiology3
BIOL 475Medical Genetics3
BIOL 476Biology of Cancer3
BIOL 482Research Community I: Molecular Biology4
BIOL 483Research Community II: Molecular Biology4
BIOL 487Statistical Genomics3
BIOL 488Special Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology3-4
BIOL 493Molecular Ecology3
BIOL 497Genomics3
Ecology
Select one of the following:
BIMS 220Introduction to Marine Biology4
BIOL 300Environmental Biology and Related Controversial Issues3
BIOL 330Introduction to Animal Behavior3
BIOL 351Introduction to Aquatic Ecology4
BIOL 370Principles of Ecology3
BIOL 415Population Genetics3
BIOL 420Economic Botany3
BIOL 422Community Ecology3
BIOL 426New Jersey Flora4
BIOL 429Herpetology4
BIOL 430Ornithology4
BIOL 431Entomology3
BIOL 436Phylogenetic Zoology4
BIOL 451Comparative Animal Physiology3
BIOL 460Biological Oceanography3
BIOL 461Aquatic Ecology3
BIOL 484Research Community I: Ecology4
BIOL 485Research Community II: Ecology4
BIOL 493Molecular Ecology3
BIOL 495Special Topics in Ecology3
Organismal
Select one of the following:
BIOL 319Genes, Brains, and Behavior4
BIOL 320Social Neurobiology3
BIOL 340Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 341Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
BIOL 410Toxicology3
BIOL 425Elementary Plant Physiology3
BIOL 432Medical Entomology3
BIOL 433Developmental Biology4
BIOL 439Biology of Animal Parasites3
BIOL 440Gross Mammalian Anatomy4
BIOL 441Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates4
BIOL 442Human Physiology4
BIOL 443Vertebrate Embryology4
BIOL 445Immunology3
BIOL 446Endocrinology3
BIOL 447Fundamentals of Pharmacology3
BIOL 450Medical Microbiology3
BIOL 451Comparative Animal Physiology3
BIOL 457Virology3
BIOL 468Neurobiology3
BIOL 476Biology of Cancer3
BIOL 480Research Community I: Organism Biology4
BIOL 481Research Community II: Organism Biology4
BIOL 489Special Topics in Organismal Biology3-4
Additional Elective
Select two of the following:
BIMS 220Introduction to Marine Biology4
BIOL 300Environmental Biology and Related Controversial Issues3
BIOL 319Genes, Brains, and Behavior4
BIOL 320Social Neurobiology3
BIOL 330Introduction to Animal Behavior3
BIOL 340Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 341Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
BIOL 350Microbiology4
BIOL 360Introduction to Bio-Imaging3
BIOL 370Principles of Ecology3
BIOL 404Plant and Animal Histological Techniques3
BIOL 405Cell Culture3
BIOL 406Scanning Electron Microscopy4
BIOL 409Externship in Biological Research (Co-operative Education)1-4
BIOL 410Toxicology3
BIOL 411Introduction to Transmission Electron Microscopy4
BIOL 415Population Genetics3
BIOL 418Biology Independent Research1-4
BIOL 420Economic Botany3
BIOL 422Community Ecology3
BIOL 425Elementary Plant Physiology3
BIOL 426New Jersey Flora4
BIOL 429Herpetology4
BIOL 430Ornithology4
BIOL 431Entomology3
BIOL 432Medical Entomology3
BIOL 433Developmental Biology4
BIOL 434Molecular Biology3
BIOL 435Experimental Molecular Biology3
BIOL 436Phylogenetic Zoology4
BIOL 439Biology of Animal Parasites3
BIOL 440Gross Mammalian Anatomy4
BIOL 441Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates4
BIOL 442Human Physiology4
BIOL 443Vertebrate Embryology4
BIOL 444Cell Physiology3
BIOL 445Immunology3
BIOL 446Endocrinology3
BIOL 447Fundamentals of Pharmacology3
BIOL 450Medical Microbiology3
BIOL 451Comparative Animal Physiology3
BIOL 457Virology3
BIOL 458Microbial Genetics3
BIOL 460Biological Oceanography3
BIOL 461Aquatic Ecology3
BIOL 468Neurobiology3
BIOL 475Medical Genetics3
BIOL 476Biology of Cancer3
BIOL 480Research Community I: Organism Biology4
BIOL 481Research Community II: Organism Biology4
BIOL 482Research Community I: Molecular Biology4
BIOL 483Research Community II: Molecular Biology4
BIOL 484Research Community I: Ecology4
BIOL 485Research Community II: Ecology4
BIOL 486Special Topics in Biology3-4
BIOL 487Statistical Genomics3
BIOL 488Special Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology3-4
BIOL 489Special Topics in Organismal Biology3-4
BIOL 490Senior Seminar in Biology3
BIOL 491Research in Biology Literature1
BIOL 492Senior Colloquium1
BIOL 493Molecular Ecology3
BIOL 495Special Topics in Ecology3
BIOL 497Genomics3
CHEM 370Biochemistry I3

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course.1
C. Communication
1. Writing 3
2. Literature3
3. Communication3
D. Fine and Performing Arts
Complete a 3 credit Fine and Performing Arts course.3
F. Humanities
1. Great Works and Their Influences3
2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives 3
G. Computer Science
Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course.3
H. Mathematics
Fulfilled by collateral Math courses in the major.
I. Natural Science Laboratory
Principles of Biology: Introduction to the Cell (Fulfilled in the major.)
J. Physical Education
Complete a 1 credit Physical Education course.1
K. Social Science
1. American and European History 3
2. Global Cultural Perspectives3
3. Social Science Perspectives 3
L. Interdisciplinary Studies
General Chemistry I (Fulfilled in the major.)
Total Credits32

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Languages
Based on language placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in the same language. Requirement is automatically fulfilled by language major courses.3-6
World Cultures
Requirement may be fulfilled by course selected in General Education - Social Science: Global Cultural Perspectives. Requirement may also be fulfilled by major coursework. See list of courses.0-3
Total Credits3-9

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar1GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing3BIOL 1134
BIOL 1124CHEM 1214
CHEM 1204Collateral Math/Applied Math/Statistics course.4
Collateral Math/Applied Math/Statistics course4 
 16 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication3GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science3
World Language 13GENERAL EDUCATION: (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives3
BIOL 2304World Language 23
CHEM 2303BIOL 2134
CHEM 2322CHEM 2313
 15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL 3804GENERAL EDUCATION: (J) Physical Education1
PHYS 191 or 1934BIOL 4173
Cell/Molecular Elective 3-4PHYS 192 or 1934
Ecology Elective 3-4Organismal Elective 3-4
 Additional Major Elective 3-4
 14-16 14-16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (D) Fine and Performing Arts3GENERAL EDUCATION: (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences3Free Electives11-7
GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives3 
GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History3 
Additional Major elective4 
 16 14-10
Total Credits 120