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.
On This Page
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 32 | |
| World Languages and Cultures Requirements | 3-6 | |
| Major Requirements | 72-75 | |
| Free Electives | 13-7 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Major Requirements | ||
| BIOL 112 | Principles of Biology: Introduction to the Cell | 4 |
| BIOL 113 | Principles of Biology: Organisms and Diversity | 4 |
| BIOL 213 | Introduction to Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 230 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 380 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 417 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| Biology Major Electives | ||
| Complete four requirements (see list below) | 17-20 | |
| Collateral Chemistry Courses | ||
| CHEM 120 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 230 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 231 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 232 | Experimental Organic Chemistry I | 2 |
| 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 | ||
or MATH 122 | Calculus I | |
| Applied Calculus B | ||
or MATH 221 | Calculus II | |
| Total Credits | 72-75 | |
Biology Major Electives
Complete the four requirements, including at least one 4-credit course (One course cannot be used in 2 areas)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Cell and Molecular | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| BIOL 319 | Genes, Brains, and Behavior | 4 |
| BIOL 350 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 410 | Toxicology | 3 |
| BIOL 415 | Population Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 433 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 434 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 435 | Experimental Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 444 | Cell Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 445 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOL 446 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| BIOL 457 | Virology | 3 |
| BIOL 458 | Microbial Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 468 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 475 | Medical Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 476 | Biology of Cancer | 3 |
| BIOL 482 | Research Community I: Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 483 | Research Community II: Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 487 | Statistical Genomics | 3 |
| BIOL 488 | Special Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology | 3-4 |
| BIOL 493 | Molecular Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 497 | Genomics | 3 |
| Ecology | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| BIMS 220 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 300 | Environmental Biology and Related Controversial Issues | 3 |
| BIOL 330 | Introduction to Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BIOL 351 | Introduction to Aquatic Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 370 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 415 | Population Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 420 | Economic Botany | 3 |
| BIOL 422 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 426 | New Jersey Flora | 4 |
| BIOL 429 | Herpetology | 4 |
| BIOL 430 | Ornithology | 4 |
| BIOL 431 | Entomology | 3 |
| BIOL 436 | Phylogenetic Zoology | 4 |
| BIOL 451 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 460 | Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| BIOL 461 | Aquatic Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 484 | Research Community I: Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 485 | Research Community II: Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 493 | Molecular Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 495 | Special Topics in Ecology | 3 |
| Organismal | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| BIOL 319 | Genes, Brains, and Behavior | 4 |
| BIOL 320 | Social Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 340 | Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 341 | Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOL 410 | Toxicology | 3 |
| BIOL 425 | Elementary Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 432 | Medical Entomology | 3 |
| BIOL 433 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 439 | Biology of Animal Parasites | 3 |
| BIOL 440 | Gross Mammalian Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 441 | Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates | 4 |
| BIOL 442 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 443 | Vertebrate Embryology | 4 |
| BIOL 445 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOL 446 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| BIOL 447 | Fundamentals of Pharmacology | 3 |
| BIOL 450 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 451 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 457 | Virology | 3 |
| BIOL 468 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 476 | Biology of Cancer | 3 |
| BIOL 480 | Research Community I: Organism Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 481 | Research Community II: Organism Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 489 | Special Topics in Organismal Biology | 3-4 |
| Additional Elective | ||
| Select two of the following: | ||
| BIMS 220 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 300 | Environmental Biology and Related Controversial Issues | 3 |
| BIOL 319 | Genes, Brains, and Behavior | 4 |
| BIOL 320 | Social Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 330 | Introduction to Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BIOL 340 | Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 341 | Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOL 350 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 360 | Introduction to Bio-Imaging | 3 |
| BIOL 370 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 404 | Plant and Animal Histological Techniques | 3 |
| BIOL 405 | Cell Culture | 3 |
| BIOL 406 | Scanning Electron Microscopy | 4 |
| BIOL 409 | Externship in Biological Research (Co-operative Education) | 1-4 |
| BIOL 410 | Toxicology | 3 |
| BIOL 411 | Introduction to Transmission Electron Microscopy | 4 |
| BIOL 415 | Population Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 418 | Biology Independent Research | 1-4 |
| BIOL 420 | Economic Botany | 3 |
| BIOL 422 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 425 | Elementary Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 426 | New Jersey Flora | 4 |
| BIOL 429 | Herpetology | 4 |
| BIOL 430 | Ornithology | 4 |
| BIOL 431 | Entomology | 3 |
| BIOL 432 | Medical Entomology | 3 |
| BIOL 433 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 434 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 435 | Experimental Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 436 | Phylogenetic Zoology | 4 |
| BIOL 439 | Biology of Animal Parasites | 3 |
| BIOL 440 | Gross Mammalian Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 441 | Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates | 4 |
| BIOL 442 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 443 | Vertebrate Embryology | 4 |
| BIOL 444 | Cell Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 445 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOL 446 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| BIOL 447 | Fundamentals of Pharmacology | 3 |
| BIOL 450 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 451 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 457 | Virology | 3 |
| BIOL 458 | Microbial Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 460 | Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| BIOL 461 | Aquatic Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 468 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 475 | Medical Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 476 | Biology of Cancer | 3 |
| BIOL 480 | Research Community I: Organism Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 481 | Research Community II: Organism Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 482 | Research Community I: Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 483 | Research Community II: Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 484 | Research Community I: Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 485 | Research Community II: Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 486 | Special Topics in Biology | 3-4 |
| BIOL 487 | Statistical Genomics | 3 |
| BIOL 488 | Special Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology | 3-4 |
| BIOL 489 | Special Topics in Organismal Biology | 3-4 |
| BIOL 490 | Senior Seminar in Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 491 | Research in Biology Literature | 1 |
| BIOL 492 | Senior Colloquium | 1 |
| BIOL 493 | Molecular Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 495 | Special Topics in Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 497 | Genomics | 3 |
| CHEM 370 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 3. Communication | 3 | |
| D. Fine and Performing Arts | ||
| Complete a 3 credit Fine and Performing Arts course. | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | 3 | |
| 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 Perspectives | 3 | |
| 3. Social Science Perspectives | 3 | |
| L. Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
| General Chemistry I (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| Total Credits | 32 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 3-9 | |
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | BIOL 113 | 4 |
| BIOL 112 | 4 | CHEM 121 | 4 |
| CHEM 120 | 4 | Collateral Math/Applied Math/Statistics course. | 4 |
| Collateral Math/Applied Math/Statistics course | 4 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science | 3 |
| World Language 1 | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives | 3 |
| BIOL 230 | 4 | World Language 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 230 | 3 | BIOL 213 | 4 |
| CHEM 232 | 2 | CHEM 231 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOL 380 | 4 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (J) Physical Education | 1 |
| PHYS 191 or 193 | 4 | BIOL 417 | 3 |
| Cell/Molecular Elective | 3-4 | PHYS 192 or 193 | 4 |
| Ecology Elective | 3-4 | Organismal Elective | 3-4 |
| Additional Major Elective | 3-4 | ||
| 14-16 | 14-16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (D) Fine and Performing Arts | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences | 3 | Free Electives | 11-7 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History | 3 | ||
| Additional Major elective | 4 | ||
| 16 | 14-10 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||