Nov 21, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2019-2020 
    
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Rensselaer Catalog 2019-2020 [Archived Catalog]

Biology

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The undergraduate curriculum in biology is designed to prepare students for admission to graduate or professional school or to enter the workplace. Recognizing that flexibility is essential for students with specific interests and goals other than those spelled out in the traditional curricula, it is designed to leave many options open to the student. The following is a sample biology curriculum, completion of which requires a minimum of 128 credit hours.

First Year

Fall

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 2 below)

Spring

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 2 below)

Second Year

Fall

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 2 below)

Spring

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 2 below)

Third Year

Please note: The third year of the program varies depending upon which semester the student chooses to take away following The Arch Summer Semester classes. Please note the following differences in curriculum:

  • If students are going to be away during the Fall semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Fall Away Track for year three of their program.
  • If students are going to be away during the Spring semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Spring Away Track for year three of their program.

The Arch Summer Semester*

*For students who have applied for and been granted an exception, The Arch Summer courses will be taken during the fall semester. For listing of the exception process go to: http://info.rpi.edu/arch/students/#ExceptionProcess.

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 2 below)

Fall Away Track

  • Advanced Laboratory Requirement Credit Hours: 6
    (See footnote 3 below)
  • Elective Credit Hours: 2
    (See footnote 6 below)

Spring Away Track

  • Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 5 below)
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4

Fall or Spring

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 2 below)

Fall Away Track

  • Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 5 below)
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring Away Track

  • Advanced Laboratory Requirement Credit Hours: 6
    (See footnote 3 below)
  • Elective Credit Hours: 2
    (See footnote 6 below)

Fourth Year

Fall

  • BIOL - Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 5 below)
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring

  • BIOL - Culminating Experience Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 4 below)
  • BIOL - Biology Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 5 below)
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4

Additional Information

Transfer credit can be accepted for one Biology elective course at the 4000 level, but two Biology elective courses must be taken at Rensselaer. If the course accepted for transfer credit is a 3-credit course, the course will be accepted but the total number of credits for the Biology electives must equal 12 credits. The two required Rensselaer biology electives must be 4-credit BIOL/BCBP courses. BIOL 4900 or BIOL 4970 may not be substituted for these two required courses.

Culminating Experience Courses

Advanced Laboratory Courses

Summer Courses*

*Available to Arch Summer Semester students from all programs with science requirements.

This curriculum requires a minimum of 128 credit hours.

Footnotes

  1. Students who apply Advanced Placement credits in place of BIOL 1010 may take BIOL 2120 in its place.
  2. Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) Core Electives: A total of 24 credits of HASS Core Electives should be taken. Students should take an Inquiry course during their first year. For a listing of HASS Inquiry courses go to: https://info.rpi.edu/hass-inquiry. In addition, students should take a HASS Communications Intensive course during their first three semesters.
  3. Communication Intensive Requirement (4 credits) cannot be satisfied with transfer credits and must be fulfilled via the Advanced Laboratory requirement.
  4. Culminating Experience Requirement (4 credits). Cannot be satisfied with transfer credits. Majors can select Senior Research Thesis (BIOL 4990) or any of the BIOL or BCBP listed in Culminating Experience Courses.
  5. Biology Elective Requirement (12 credits). Biology electives may include any BIOL courses, and up to 1 BCBP course. No 1000- or 2000-level courses can serve as Biology electives. No more than one of the following courses may serve as Biology electives: BIOL 4900 or BIOL 4970. No more than one 4000-level elective can be met with transfer credits.
  6. An additional 2-credit elective may be satisfied by mentoring, research (e.g. BIOL 2900, 2900, 2930, 2940, 4940, 4970), or any other elective and may be taken at any time.
  7. May not be satisfied with transfer credits.

 

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