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Minor in Biological Sciences

General Program Requirements

The minor in biological sciences requires a total of 18 credit hours. In order to enter the biological sciences sequence, students must have completed BIOS 10171/11173 and BIOS 10172/11174. Students must also maintain a 2.5 GPA or better in the minor courses.

Restrictions

  • Following College of Science policy, at least 50% of the courses for the minor must be unique and not double counted at the major, college, or university level.

  • All courses for the minor must be taken at Notre Dame or through an ND approved study abroad program.

  • The following majors will be unable to take the minor in Biological Sciences: all majors in the College of Sciences, Neuroscience and Behavior and Arts and Letters Pre-Health majors in the College of Arts and Letters.

Required Courses

Students must complete courses in the introductory biology sequence with their corresponding laboratories.

  1. BIOS 10171 - Biology I: Big Questions (3 credits) + BIOS 11173 - Biological Investigations Laboratory (1 credit)

  2. BIOS 10172 - Biology II: Molecules to Ecosystems (3 credits) + BIOS 11174 - Research Experience in Biology Laboratory (1 credit)

Additional Required Coursework

Students must take at least one course in two of the four core Biological Science disciplines: Genetics, Evolution, Cell Biology & Physiology, and Ecology & Environment. In addition, they must take one BIOS elective at the 30000 or 40000 level. Completion of two courses provides the student an opportunity to begin focusing within the breadth of biology and prepares them for 3/4000-level biology electives relevant to their interests. Alternatively, students with a broad interest in biology may complete an additional core course to satisfy the upper-level elective requirement. This flexibility encourages students to develop a curriculum suited to their interests and career goals. Students are also required to enroll in one additional credit of laboratory course.

For more information, please contact Professor Jennifer Robichaud (jrobicha@nd.edu), Director of Undergraduate Studies, with questions regarding the minor.