Biological Sciences

Departmental Information

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. Ron Prywes
813A Fairchild
854-8281
mrp6@columbia.edu

Prof. Lawrence Chasin
912 Fairchild
854-4645
lac2@columbia.edu

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. Prywes. Students whose last names begin with Q-Z should consult with Prof. Chasin. Students who cannot contact their adviser should consult Prof. Mowshowitz. For additional information, including office hours, please see the Biological Sciences Department Advising web site

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

Departmental Web Site
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
Additional information on the majors:
   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, including the opportunity to work in research laboratories. Biology majors and premedical students majoring in biology should refer to the requirements listed below. While the biology major requires a year of general chemistry and a year of organic chemistry, an introductory biology course, EEEB W2001 , may be taken toward the major in advance of any prerequisite chemistry. EEEB W2001 or BIOL C2005 , followed by C2006 , plus W2501 , satisfy the minimum biology requirement for the premedical curriculum. Premedical students should consult their class dean for relevant details of medical school requirements. Nonscience majors who wish to take a biology course may take, with the instructor’s permission, BIOL C1015 , 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 or Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology; and for the history of evolution see History and Philosophy of Science.

For all majors and concentrators in biology and related fields: a program of study should be planned as early as possible after discussion with the director of undergraduate studies or one of the departmental advisers. All necessary forms and information can be obtained in 600 Fairchild or on the Biological Sciences Web site. Forms should be obtained before consulting an adviser. Returning students should check the Internet for any last-minute changes and/or additional information.

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. Biology majors and premedical students majoring in biology should refer to the detailed requirements listed below. All the biology-related majors require one year of introductory biology, and chemistry through organic, plus additional courses detailed below. 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 C2908First year seminar in modern biology in the fall semester in their first year.

Premedical students should consult their class 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 C1015. They may also take with the instructor’s permission W3208, or EEEB W2001. An additional course for nonscience majors may be offered in spring 2007. 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, or Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology; and for the history of evolution see History and Philosophy of Science.

For all prospective majors and concentrators in biology and related fields: a program of study should be planned as early as possible after discussion with the director of undergraduate studies or one of the departmental advisers. Students are encouraged to fill out a program planning form that can be obtained in 600 Fairchild or on the biology department Web site. The planning form should be filled out as much as possible before consulting an adviser. Completed forms should be filed in the biology department office, 600 Fairchild.