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BIOSC Courses

Vist  the major-specific pages for help choosing the right courses for your major.

Only BIOSC courses with a grade of C or higher will count toward your major.

To progress into upper-level BIOSC courses, students must earn a grade of C or higher in all BIOSC prerequisite courses.

Looking for suggestions on what to take in your first year? Find recommended first-year courses here.

BIOSC Course List PDF organized by semester

BIOSC Course List PDF organized by semester, including pre-requisites. 

Updated June 2025.

Sample Syllabi 
  • Exact syllabus may vary from semester-to-semester and year-to-year
  • See BIOSC Course List PDF, above, for current course offering information.
  • HL = higher level

Non-Majors Courses

CourseDescriptionPre- or Co-(C)-requisites
0041Anatomy for the Health ProfessionsBIOSC 0042c
0042Anatomy for the Health Professions LabBIOSC 0041c
0805The Human Body (Non-Majors)None
0815Genes and Diseases (Non-Majors)None
0835 Our Changing World (Non-Majors)None
0100Preparation for BiologyNone

Lab Courses

CourseDescriptionPre- or Co-(C)-requisites
0057Foundations of Biology Research Lab 1BIOSC 0150
0058Foundations of Biology SEA-PHAGES Lab 1None
0067Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2 - DNA RegulationBIOSC 005X, BIOSC 0160
0067Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2 - Neural DefectsBIOSC 005X, BIOSC 0160
0067Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2 - Water ChannelsBIOSC 005X, BIOSC 0160
0067Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2 - Viral GenomesBIOSC 005X, BIOSC 0160
0068Foundations of Biology SEA-PHAGES Lab 2BIOSC 0058
0390Ecology LabBIOSC 006X, 0370c
0351Genetics LabBIOSC 006X, 0350c
0352Intro to Molecular Genetics LabBIOSC 006X, 0350
1005Introduction to Biochemistry LabBIOSC 006X, 1000c
1221Urban Ecological Field StudiesBIOSC 0370, 006X
1285Genomics LabBIOSC 006X, 0350
1290Microbial Genetics LabBIOSC 006X, 1850c
1510Cell Biology Lab BIOSC 006X, 1500c
1530Developmental Biology LabBIOSC 006X, 1520c
1740Virology LabBIOSC 0350,1855 or 1860
1830Biochemistry LabBIOSC 006X, 1820c; for Biochemistry Majors
1855Introduction to Microbiology LabBIOSC 006X, 1850c
1860Microbiology LabBIOSC 006X, 1850; for Microbiology Majors
1950Molecular Genetics LabBIOSC 006X, 1940c; for Molecular Biology Majors

Lecture Courses counting towards Bio Department Majors

CourseDescriptionPre- or Co-(C)-requisites
0100Preparation for BiologyNone
0150Foundations of Biology 1None
0155Honors Foundations of Biology 1 Min. 3.25 CUM GPA, min. AP Bio score of 4 or 5 
0160Foundations of Biology 2BIOSC 0150
0165Honors Foundations of Biology 2Min. 3.25 CUM GPA, BIOSC 0715 or AP Bio score of 5
0350GeneticsBIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120
0370EcologyBIOSC 0160
1000Biochemistry*BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0310
 *Course repeat warning: Students who need biochemistry should either take BIOSC 1000 or 1810+1820. BIOSC 1000 and 1810 are considered course repeats, and you cannot take both for credit. BIOSC 1000 is a one-semester biochemistry course, whereas BIOSC 1810+1820 is a two-semester biochemistry sequence that goes into more depth. If you are a Biochemistry major or old Molecular Biology major, you must take BIOSC 1810+1820. If you are a Biological Sciences, Computational Biology, Microbiology, or revised Molecular Biology major, typically you will take BIOSC 1000. However, if  you elect to take BIOSC 1810+1820 instead of BIOSC 1000, then BIOSC 1820 can count as an elective for your major.
1050Cell and Molecular Biology of Disease*BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120
 *BIOSC 1050 is intended to provide a basic background in Cell Biology and Molecular Biology for Biological Sciences majors. If you want or need in depth background, we recommend that you take BIOSC 1500 Cell Biology and/or BIOSC 1940 Molecular Biology instead.
1070Human Physiology (Honors)BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120, NROSCI 1000
1120Biostatistics (HL)BIOSC 0160, BIOSC 0350 or 0370 or 1000 or 1810, STAT 1000
1130Evolution (HL)BIOSC 0350
1200Vertebrate MorphologyBIOSC 0160 
1205Vertebrate Morphology LabBIOSC 006X, 1200c
1250Human PhysiologyBIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120
1255Physiology Lab BIOSC 006X, 1250c
1275Genomics (HL)BIOSC 0350
1280Microbial Genetics (HL)BIOSC 0350, 1850
1320Population Biology (HL)BIOSC 0370, 1130c
1375Tropical BiologyBIOSC 0160
1425Sex and Gender in the Natural World BIOSC 0160
1435Environmental Physiology of Animals (HL)BIOSC 0370
1445Animal Communication (HL) BIOSC 0370
1455Human Endocrinology (HL)BIOSC 1070 or 1080 or 1250
1470Biophysical ChemistryBIOSC 1000 or 1810
1500Cell Biology (HL)BIOSC 1000 or 1810
1520Developmental Biology (HL)BIOSC 0350
1540Computational Biology BIOSC 0160
1542Computational GenomicsBIOSC 1540, CS 0011
1544Simulation and ModelingBIOSC 1540, CS 0011
1550Ecology/Evolution Seminar BIOSC 0350, 0370, 1130
1562Molecular Biology SeminarBIOSC 1940, 1945c
1570Microbiology Seminar BIOSC 1865
1580Biochemistry Seminar BIOSC 1810, 1820
1630Computational Biology SeminarBIOSC 1540, ENGCMP 0200, Jr or Sr Level
1640Computational Biology ResearchBIOSC 1540, CS 0011, CS 0445
1730Virology (HL)BIOSC 0350, 1000, 1850 or Instructor Permission
1760Immunology (HL)BIOSC 0350, 1000
1810Macromolecular Structure and Function*BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0320
 *Course repeat warning: Students who need biochemistry should either take BIOSC 1000 or 1810+1820. BIOSC 1000 and 1810 are considered course repeats, and you cannot take both for credit. BIOSC 1000 is a one-semester biochemistry course, whereas BIOSC 1810+1820 is a two-semester biochemistry sequence that goes into more depth. If you are a Biochemistry major or old Molecular Biology major, you must take BIOSC 1810+1820. If you are a Biological Sciences, Computational Biology, Microbiology, or revised Molecular Biology major, typically you will take BIOSC 1000. However, if you elect to take BIOSC 1810+1820 instead of BIOSC 1000, then BIOSC 1820 can count as an elective for your major.
1820Metabolic Pathways and Regulation (HL)BIOSC 1810
1850MicrobiologyBIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120
1865Microbial Physiology (HL)BIOSC 1850, 1000 or 1810
1940Molecular Biology (HL)BIOSC 1000 or 1810; 0350
1945Advanced Molecular Biology  (HL)BIOSC 1940
1998Beneficial Microbes, Symbiosis, and the Microbiome (HL)BIOSC 1850
1999Medical Microbiology (HL)BIOSC 1850

Field Courses offered in summers at the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology (Northwestern PA)

CourseDescriptionPre- or Co-(C)-requisites
0370+0390Combined Ecology lab & LectureBIOSC 006X, 0160
1160Forest EcologyBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1170Freshwater Ecology (Limnology)BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1180Ecology of Amphibians and ReptilesBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1230OrnithologyBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1270Ecology of FishBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1140Behavioral Ecology*BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
 *Course repeat warning: BIOSC 1440 Animal Behavior and BIOSC 1140 Behavioral Ecology are considered course repeats, and you cannot take both for credit. Although BIOSC 1140 is a field course with an experimental component, both courses cover much of the same material.
1330Field BotanyBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1310Wetland Ecology and ManagementBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1340Field EntomologyBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1350Plant BiologyBIOSC 0160
1360Ecology of Fungi BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1390Field Techniques in Ecology and ConservationBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1400Disease Ecology (HL)BIOSC 0370
1415Field MammologyBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1420Wildlife ManagementBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641
1610Conservation BiologyBIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641

Writing Classes for Bio Department Majors

CourseDescriptionPre- or Co-(C)-requisites
0391Ecology Lab Writingfor Ecology & Evolution Majors
1010Communicating in the Biological Sciences (Writing)for Biological Sciences Majors
1551Ecology and Evolution Seminar Writingfor Ecology and Evolution Majors
1563Molecular Biology Seminar Writingfor Molecular Biology Majors
1571Microbiology Seminar Writingfor Microbiology Majors
1581Biochemistry Seminar Writingfor Biochemistry Majors
1741Virology Lab Writingfor Microbiology Majors
1831Biochemistry Lab Writingfor Biochemistry Majors
1861Microbiology Lab Writingfor Microbiology Majors
1905Honors Research Writing PracticumDepartmental Honors students
1951Molecular Genetics Lab Writingfor Molecular Biology Majors

Special Enrollment

CourseDescriptionPre- or Co-(C)-requisites
1690Experience in Undergraduate Teachingby arrangement with instructor
1901Independent Studyby arrangement with instructor
1903Undergraduate Researchby arrangement with instructor
1904Undergraduate Honors Researchby arrangement with instructor
1909ASBMB Degree Certification Exam PreparationBiochemistry and Molecular Biology seniors

 

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