North Central College
Course Planning for the Life Sciences

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology includes two degree tracks that serve students with specific interests: Using the Biology Professions track track, students can build a program to prepare for careers at the interface between biology and a field such as math, computer science, environmental studies, psychology, neuroscience, physics or business. This track requires a second major in a complementary area. The Health Professions track is compatible with requirements of professional schools in areas such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, chiropractic, etc. (The BS Biomedical Science track is recommended for MD, DDS, DVM, and PA programs.) See the College catalog for course descriptions and pre-requisites.

Option 1: Biology Professions track
YearFallSpring
1 BIOL 195
CHEM 121
GenEd quantitative
GenEd seminar
BIOL 210
CHEM 122
BIOL 2901 (0 cr)
GenEd seminar
GenEd or 2nd major
2 BIOL 220
BIOL 3902 (2 cr)
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
BIOL 230
BIOL 240 (2 cr)
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
3 300-level BIOL3
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
300-level BIOL3
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
4 BIOL 4004 (2 cr, Fall or Spring)
BIOL 4901 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
BIOL 4004 (2 cr, Fall or Spring)
BIOL 4901 (1cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
Option 2: Health Professions track
YearFallSpring
1 BIOL 195
CHEM 121
GenEd quantitative
GenEd seminar
BIOL 210
CHEM 122
BIOL 2901 (0 cr)
GenEd seminar
GenEd or elective
2 BIOL 220
CHEM 251 or PHYS 1315
BIOL 3902 (2 cr)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
BIOL 230
BIOL 240 (2 cr)
CHEM 252 or PHYS 1325
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
3 BIOL 201
300-level BIOL3
BIOL 2901 (0 cr)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
BIOL 202
PHIL 213 or SOAR 215
   or KINE 230 or 300
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
4 300-level BIOL3
   or BIOL 4004 (2 cr)
BIOL 4901 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
300-level BIOL3
   or BIOL 4004 (2 cr)
BIOL 4901 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective

Notes:

1BIOL majors take the BIOL 290 Seminar course once for zero credit as audience members/evaluators prior to presenting their own research in BIOL 490. Taking BIOL 290 in the first or second year is recommended.

2BIOL majors take BIOL 390 for two credits to explore careers through seminar presentations and classroom study; fall of sophomore year is recommended.

3BA majors take two 300-level electives; they may be taken in any semester or order following completion of BIOL 230. Some of these courses are offered only in alternating years. Be sure to consider the subjects you will need to be successful in the BIOL 400 research area you are interested in.

4BIOL 400 is taught each semester with two different lab sections, one more molecular/cellular and one more organismal/ecological. Choose your lab section based on the kind of research project you would like to complete.

5Choose organic chemistry or physics based on the requirements of the professional program you plan to apply for. Some programs require both.