Nrosci/biological Sciences Major
Biological Sciences Major
www.pitt.edu/~biology
Revised: 02/2007
The biological sciences major is intended for the biology student who wishes to develop an individualized
combination of courses at the advanced level. The student is free to plan a curriculum of great breadth or to choose
an area of specialization not offered as a major by the department. Most of the undergraduates in our department
choose the biological sciences major. This major is suitable for those planning a career in which general familiarity
with biological topics is desirable, such as jobs in scientific journalism, biological and pharmaceutical supply
industries, biological or medical research, scientific libraries and museums, or in any industry where the products or
byproducts have potential biological impact. Completing the biological sciences major fulfills the basic science
requirements for admission to medical, dental, and other health professional schools, and to graduate programs in
biology.
Required courses for the Biological Sciences major
Elective courses
Fifteen BIOSC credits, which must include at least two lab
Biological Science courses
courses, or one lab course and one field course. BIOSC
BIOSC 0150, BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology 1, 2
1690, 1901, 1903, 1904 do not count toward these credits.
BIOSC 0050, BIOSC 0060 Foundations of Biology Lab 1, 2
Up to six credits from the following courses may be used
BIOSC 0350 Genetics
toward the electives.
BIOSC 0370 Ecology or 1130 Evolution
BIOSC 1000 Biochemistry*
ANTH 1601, 1602, 1603, 1605, 1611
NROSCI 1000, 1012, 1017, 1020, 1045
* Students may choose the alternate sequence BIOSC 1810
(Macromolecular Structure and Function) and 1820 (Metabolic
Note: Any University Honors College (UHC) equivalents to required
Pathways) in lieu of BIOSC 1000. In this case, students take 12
courses or elective courses are also acceptable.
BIOSC elective credits rather than 15 as specified in elective
courses.
Grade requirements: Each required BIOSC course for the
major must be completed with a grade of C or better. The
Chemistry courses
elective courses for the major must also be completed with a
CHEM 0110, CHEM 0120 General Chemistry 1, 2
grade of C or better. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all
CHEM 0310, CHEM 0320 Organic Chemistry 1, 2
departmental courses taken is required for graduation. If a C
CHEM 0330, CHEM 0340 Organic Chemistry Lab 1, 2
or lower is earned in an elective course for the major but is
not repeated, the course will be used to calculate the overall
Mathematics courses
GPA but will not be counted toward the 32 credits required
MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
for the major. Students must also earn a minimum GPA of
MATH 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 or
2.0 in the co-requisite Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics
STAT 1000 Applied Statistical Methods
courses. A passing grade of C or lower in a co-requisite
course can be accepted if balanced by a higher grade in
Physics Courses
another co-requisite course so that the co-requisite GPA is
Choose one of the following pairs
2.0 or higher.
PHYS 0110, PHYS 0111 Introduction to Physics 1, 2
PHYS 0174, PHYS 0175 Basic Physics for Science &
Satisfactory/No Credit option: One BIOSC course may be
Engineering 1, 2
taken on an S/NC basis.
Note: While not required for the major, PHYS 0212 Introduction to
Writing (W) requirement: Students must complete at least
Laboratory Physics or PHYS 0219 Basic Laboratory Physics for
one (1) W-course in the major.
Science and Engineering is useful for graduate study in certain
sciences and is required for admission to many medical and dental
schools.
Related area: The chemistry requirements satisfy the
related area requirement for the biological sciences major
and the chemistry minor.
Advising: The Biological Sciences Departmental Advisors
Checklist for the Biological Sciences major
are available to discuss the major and answer your
questions. You are welcome and encouraged to stop by the
Biological Science courses
biological sciences advising office, A230 Langley Hall, to
_______ BIOSC 0150 or BIOSC 0715
peruse the handouts or meet with an advisor even before
_______ BIOSC 0050
declaring a major. They love visitors! After declaring a major
_______ BIOSC 0160 or BIOSC 0716
in biological sciences, students will be advised officially by
_______ BIOSC 0060
and register for classes with the biological sciences advising
_______ BIOSC 0350 or BIOSC 0355
office.
_______ BIOSC 0370 or BIOSC 1130
_______ BIOSC 1000 or BIOSC 1810 and BIOSC 1820
Advising: Christine
Berliner
LANGY
A230
Chemistry courses
412-624-4819
_______ CHEM 0110 or CHEM 0710
christin@pitt.edu
_______ CHEM 0120 or CHEM 0720
Jean
Deo
_______ CHEM 0310 or CHEM 0730
LANGY
A230
_______ CHEM 0330
412-624-4273
_______ CHEM 0320 or CHEM 0740
jed71@pitt.edu
_______ CHEM 0340 or CHEM 0750
Declaring the major: Before students officially declare the
Mathematics courses
Biological Sciences major, they must have completed
_______ MATH 0220
BIOSC 0150, 0160 and CHEM 0110, 0120 with a grade of C
_______ MATH 0230 or MATH 0235 or STAT 1000
or better. Transfer students who have finished these
requirements prior to admission to the University of
Physics courses
Pittsburgh are asked to complete one term of course work,
_______ PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0174 or PHYS 0475
including at least one BIOSC course that counts toward the
_______ PHYS 0111 or PHYS 0175 or PHYS 0476
major before declaring.
Elective courses (15 credits)
Other Biological Sciences major options
_______ BIOSC _______
Ecology and Evolution
_______ BIOSC _______
Microbiology
_______ BIOSC _______
Molecular Biology
_______ BIOSC _______
_______ BIOSC _______ (Lab Course)
_______ BIOSC _______ (Lab or Field Course)
_______ BIOSC WRIT
Note: Up to six credits of the following approved ANTH
and/or NROSCI can be used to satisfy BIOSC elective
requirements.
ANTH 1601 Structure and Function
ANTH 1602 Human Skeletal Analysis
ANTH 1603 Human Origins
ANTH 1605 Primate Anatomy
ANTH 1611 Evolutionary Theory
NROSCI 1000 Introduction to Neuroscience
NROSCI 1012 Neurophysiology
NROSCI 1017 Synaptic Transmission
NROSCI 1020 Homeostasis
NROSCI 1045 Topics in Neuroscience
