Director of Undergraduate Studies, Undergraduate Programs, and Laboratories:
Prof. Deborah Mowshowitz, 744D Fairchild; 854-4497; dbm2@columbia.edu

Departmental Advisers:
Prof. Daniel Kalderon, 1013 Fairchild; 854-6469; ddk1@columbia.edu
Prof. Robert Pollack, 749 Mudd; 854-2409; pollack@columbia.edu
Prof. Elizabeth Miller, 617 Fairchild; 854-2264; em2282@columbia.edu

Biochemistry Advisers:

Biology: Prof. Alexander Tzagoloff, 716 Fairchild; 854-2920; spud@cubpet.bio.columbia.edu

Chemistry: Prof. Brent Stockwell, 614A Farichild; 854-2948; stockwell@biology.columbia.edu

Biophysics Adviser: Prof. Julio Fernandez, 1011A Fairchild; jf2120@columbia.edu

Neuroscience and Behavior Advisers:

Biology: Prof. Stuart Firestein, 920 Fairchild; 854-4531; sjf24@columbia.edu

Prof. Deborah Mowshowitz, 744D Fairchild; 854-4497; dbm2@columbia.edu

Psychology:

Prof. Hakwan Lau, 355 Schermerhorn Extension; 854-1925; hakwan@psych.columbia.edu

Prof. Tor Wager, 370 Schermerhorn Extension; 854-5318; tor@psych.columbia.edu

Departmental Office: 600 Fairchild, 854-4581; undergrad@biology.columbia.edu

• Department:
• http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/
• FAQs for first-year students:
• http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/advice/faqs/firstyr.html
• FAQs for prospective majors:
• http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/advice/faqs/major.html
• Checklist of major requirements:
• http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/pages/undergrad/cur/majors/index.html
• Additional course information:
• http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/pages/crs/main/all/index.html

The department offers broad training in basic biological disciplines, with an emphasis in cell and molecular biology. Students have many opportunities to participate in ongoing projects in research laboratories. All the biology-related majors require one year of introductory biology, plus additional courses as detailed in the major requirements and listed on the Webs ites given above.

For the first term of their introductory biology sequence, students may take either BIOL C2005, which has a prerequisite of chemistry, or EEEB W2001, which does not require chemistry. EEEB W2001 may be taken in the first year. BIOL C2005 should be taken later, after general chemistry. All students interested in biology are encouraged to take BIOL C2908 First year seminar in modern biology in the fall semester in their first year.

Premedical students should consult their advising dean or the pre-professional office for relevant details of medical school requirements.

Nonscience majors who wish to take a biology course to fulfill the science requirement are encouraged to take BIOL W1015 and/or BIOL W1130. They may also take, with the instructor’s permission, W3208, or EEEB W2001.

Interested students should consult listings in other departments for courses related to biology; for example, for courses in environmental studies see listings for Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology; for human evolution see Anthropology and Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology; and for the history of evolution see History and Philosophy of Science.

Advanced Placement

The department grants 3 credits for a score of 5 on the AP Biology exam. Placement is determined by the department. Students with a 5 on the AP are encouraged to take Biology C2005/6 but are not required to do so. For details see http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/faqs.html.

Advising

Current and prospective majors and concentrators whose last names begin with A-H should consult Prof. Kalderon. Students whose last names begin with I-P should consult with Prof. Pollack. Students whose last names begin with Q-Z should consult with Prof. Miller. Students who cannot contact their adviser should consult Prof. Mowshowitz. For additional information, including office hours, please see http://www.columiba.edu/cu/biology/pages/undergrad/cur/advising/index.html.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program

First-year students, sophomores, and juniors are eligible for the department’s paid internship program (SURF). This program is competitive; the department cannot assure every eligible student a place in any given summer.

Students apply to the program early in the spring term. A faculty committee headed by Dr. Alice Heicklen then matches selected students to appropriate labs. Current detailed descriptions of the SURF program and the application procedure are also available at SURF: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/surf/, and Amgen Scholarship Prgoram: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/amgen/.

The deadline for SURF and Amgen Scholars Program applications is at the beginning of the spring semester.

SURF students must submit a report on their work at the end of the summer ses­sion and participate in the following year’s annual Undergraduate Research Sym­posium. Although it does not carry any academic credit, SURF can be used toward the lab requirement for majors and toward graduation with honors.

The laboratory fee ($150) partially covers the cost of nonreturnable items. This fee is charged for all lab courses, including BIOL W3500.

Departmental Honors

Students must apply for departmental honors. Applications are due no later than one day after spring break of their senior year. For details, see the department Web site at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/pages/undergrad/cur/honors/index.html.