• Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
  • Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Biology Major Requirements

Introduction to College
BIOL 1000Biology at Northeastern1
or INSC 1000 Science at Northeastern
Experiential Learning Introduction
EESC 2000Professional Development for Co-op1
Biology Core Courses
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108		Foundations of Biology
and Lab for BIOL 1107		5
BIOL 2299Inquiries in Biological Sciences4
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302		Genetics and Molecular Biology
and Lab for BIOL 2301		5
BIOL 2309Biology Project Lab4
BIOL 3611
and BIOL 3612		Biochemistry
and Lab for BIOL 3611		5

Biology Major Electives

Organismal and Evolutionary Biology
Complete one of the following:4-5
BIOL 2327
Human Parasitology
BIOL 3401
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIOL 3413
Current Topics in Organismal and Population Biology
EEMB 2302
and EEMB 2303
Ecology
and Lab for EEMB 2302
EEMB 2400
Introduction to Evolution
EEMB 2700
and EEMB 2701
Marine Biology
and Lab for EEMB 2700
EEMB 3460
Conservation Biology
EEMB 3466
Disease Ecology
EEMB 3600
Animal Behavior
Intermediate and Advanced Biology
Complete three additional 4– or 5-semester-hour courses from the following:12-15
BIOL 2321 to BIOL 3999
BIOL 4705
Neurobiology of Cognitive Decline
BIOL 4707
Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOL 5000 to BIOL 5999
EEMB 2290 to EEMB 5515
EEMB 5520 to EEMB 5535
EEMB 5548 to EEMB 5569
One of the three intermediate/advanced electives can be a research course:
BIOL 4970
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
BIOL 4971
Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
BIOL 4991
Research
BIOL 4994
Internship

Biology Capstone

Please complete one of the following options to fulfill the capstone requirement:1-4
BIOL 4701
Biology Capstone
BIOL 4971
Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
BIOL 4900
Biology Research Capstone (concurrent with BIOL 4991 or BIOL 4994, which may be used toward Intermediate/Advanced Elective)

Supporting Courses

Mathematics
MATH 1341Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering4
Statistics
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501		Biostatistics
and Lab for ENVR 2500		5
Chemistry
CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163		General Chemistry for Science Majors
and Lab for CHEM 1161
and Recitation for CHEM 1161		5
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312		Organic Chemistry 1
and Lab for CHEM 2311		5
CHEM 2313
and CHEM 2314		Organic Chemistry 2
and Lab for CHEM 2313		5
Physics 1
Complete one of the following lecture/lab pairs. PHYS 1145/PHYS 1146 is recommended:5
PHYS 1145
and PHYS 1146
Physics for Life Sciences 1
and Lab for PHYS 1145 (Preferred)
PHYS 1151
and PHYS 1152
and PHYS 1153
Physics for Engineering 1
and Lab for PHYS 1151
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1151
PHYS 1161
and PHYS 1162
and PHYS 1163
Physics 1
and Lab for PHYS 1161
and Recitation for PHYS 1161
Physics 2
Complete one of the following lecture/lab pairs. PHYS 1147/PHYS 1148 is recommended:5
PHYS 1147
and PHYS 1148
Physics for Life Sciences 2
and Lab for PHYS 1147 (Preferred)
PHYS 1155
and PHYS 1156
and PHYS 1157
Physics for Engineering 2
and Lab for PHYS 1155
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1155
PHYS 1165
and PHYS 1166
and PHYS 1167
Physics 2
and Lab for PHYS 1165
and Recitation for PHYS 1165
Intermediate or Advanced Science
Complete one course from the following:4
BIOL 2301 to BIOL 5999
CHEM 2311 to CHEM 5999
EEMB 2290 to EEMB 5999
ENVR 2310 to ENVR 5999
MATH 2280 to MATH 5999
PHYS 2303 to PHYS 5999
PSYC 2290 to PSYC 5999

Writing Requirements

ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
ENGW 3307Advanced Writing in the Sciences4
or ENGW 3315 Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

Biology Major Credit/GPA Requirement

Complete 78 semester hours in the major with a cumulative GPA of 2.000.

Due to overlap in course content, double majoring in biology and cell and molecular biology, biology and biochemistry, biology and behavioral neuroscience, or biology and marine biology is not permitted.

Program Requirement

130 total semester hours required

Please note that these are sample plans of study.  While the requirements are the same for all students, individual schedules may vary.  This sample plan of study also presumes selection of course options that carry corequisite labs and a 4 SH capstone option.  Total program hours may be lower for students who choose other course options and/or other capstone options.

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 11074BIOL 22994BIOL 23014Vacation
BIOL 11081CHEM 23114BIOL 23021 
CHEM 11614CHEM 23121Elective4 
CHEM 11621ENGW 11114  
INSC 10001Elective4  
MATH 13414   
Elective4   
 19 17 9 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CHEM 23134BIOL 23094BIOL 36114Co-op0
CHEM 23141EESC 20001BIOL 36121 
ENVR 25004PHYS 11454Elective4 
ENVR 25011PHYS 11461  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 18 18 9 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0PHYS 11474Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4Co-op0
 PHYS 11481Elective4 
 Organismal/Evolutionary Bio Elective4  
 Organismal/Evolutionary Biology laboratory1  
 Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4  
 ENGW 33074  
 0 18 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0BIOL 47014  
 Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4  
 Intermediate/Advanced Science Elective4  
 Elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 132

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
AP Credit for Biology5BIOL 23014BIOL 23094Vacation
BIOL 10001BIOL 23021Elective4 
BIOL 22994CHEM 23114  
CHEM 11614CHEM 23121  
CHEM 11621ENGW 11114  
MATH 13414Elective4  
Elective4   
 23 18 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CHEM 23134Co-op0Co-op0PHYS 11474
CHEM 23141  PHYS 11481
EESC 20001  Elective4
ENVR 25004   
ENVR 25011   
PHYS 11454   
PHYS 11461   
 16 0 0 9
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 36114Co-op0Co-op0Intermediate/Advanced Science Elective4
BIOL 36121  Elective4
ENGW 33074   
Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4   
Elective4   
 17 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4BIOL 47014  
Organismal/Evolutionary Bio Elective4Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4  
Organismal/Evolutionary Biology laboratory1Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4   
 17 16  
Total Hours: 132

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 10001BIOL 22994BIOL 23014Vacation
BIOL 11074CHEM 23114BIOL 23021 
BIOL 11081CHEM 23121Elective4 
CHEM 11614ENGW 11114  
CHEM 11621Elective4  
MATH 13414   
Elective4   
 19 17 9 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CHEM 23134BIOL 23094VacationCo-op0
CHEM 23141EESC 20001  
ENVR 25004PHYS 11454  
ENVR 25011PHYS 11461  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 18 18 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0BIOL 36114VacationCo-op0
 BIOL 36121  
 ENGW 33074  
 PHYS 11474  
 PHYS 11481  
 Elective4  
 0 18 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4VacationCo-op0
 Intermediate/Advanced Biology Laboratory1  
 Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4  
 Intermediate/Advanced Biology Laboratory1  
 Organismal/Evolutionary Bio Elective4  
 Organismal/Evolutionary Bio Elective laboratory1  
 0 15 0 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0BIOL 47014  
 Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4  
 Intermediate/Advanced Biology Laboratory1  
 Intermediate/Advanced Science Elective4  
 Elective4  
 0 17  
Total Hours: 131

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
AP Credit for Biology5BIOL 23014BIOL 23094Vacation
BIOL 10001BIOL 23021Elective4 
BIOL 22994CHEM 23114  
CHEM 11614CHEM 23121  
CHEM 11621ENGW 11114  
MATH 13414Elective4  
 19 18 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CHEM 23134Co-op0Co-op0PHYS 11474
CHEM 23141  PHYS 11481
EESC 20001  Elective4
ENVR 25004   
ENVR 25011   
PHYS 11454   
PHYS 11461   
 16 0 0 9
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 36114Co-op0Co-op0Vacation
BIOL 36121   
ENGW 33074   
Elective4   
Elective4   
 17 0 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4Co-op0Co-op0Vacation
(Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective Lab)1   
Organismal/Evolutionary Bio Elective4   
Elective4   
Elective4   
 17 0 0 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4BIOL 47014  
Elective4Intermediate/Advanced Biology Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4   
 16 12  
Total Hours: 132