Biological Sciences Sequence of Study

The following is a sample course selection for a student declaring the biological sciences major in Fordham College - Rose Hill. Courses taken are not indicated by semester and, except for the sequenced courses, which must be taken in numerical order, sequencing is at the discretion of the student. As a general rule, five courses (two of these in the major) must be taken each semester of freshman and sophomore year, except for one semester of freshman year (usually the first) when only four courses (two of them being Introductory Biology and Chemistry) are taken. Note that associated lecture and lab courses are counted as a single course.

Sample - Freshman Year, Fall Semester

Introductory Biology I and Lab I (BISC 1403 and 1413) - 5 credits
General Chemistry I and Lab I (CHEM 1321 and 1331) - 6 credits
Calculus I or Applied Calculus I (MATH 1206 or 1203) - 4 or 3 credits
One of the courses listed below:*

  • Composition II (ENGL 1102) - 3 credits
  • Faith and Critical Reason (THEO 1000) - 3 credits
  • Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 1000) - 3 credits
  • Understanding Historical Change (1 of HIST 1000-1990, AFAM 1600) - 3 credits
  • Pre-Health Symposium (SYMP 0001) - 1 credit

Total Credits: 18-19

Sample - Freshmen Year, Spring Semester

Introductory Biology II and Lab II (BISC 1404 and 1414) - 5 credits
General Chemistry II and Lab II (CHEM 1322 and 1332) - 6 credits
One course from group #1 and two courses from group #2, if not already completed:*
Group #1

  • Composition II (ENGL 1102) - 3 credits; if not completed, then
  • Texts and Contexts (1 of: ENGL 2000, CLAS 2000, COLI 2000, MLAL 2000, MVST 2000) - 3 credits

Group #2

  • Faith and Critical Reason (THEO 1000) - 3 credits
  • Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 1000) - 3 credits
  • Understanding Historical Change (1 of HIST 1000-1990, AFAM 1600) - 3 credits

Total Credits: 20

*One only of the above courses taken in freshman year must have the 'Eloquentia Perfecta' attribute

Sample - Sophomore Year, Fall and Spring Semesters

General Genetics and Lab (BISC 2539 and 2549) (Fall or Spring) - 5 credits
Cell Biology (BISC 3754) (Fall or Spring) - 6 credits
Organic Chemistry I and Lab I (CHEM 2521 and 2541) (Fall) - 6 credits
Organic Chemistry II and Lab II (CHEM 2522 and 2542) (Spring) - 6 credits
Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 1100) - 3 credits
Arts Course (ARHI 1100, Music 1100, 1101, VART 1101, THEA 1100) - 3 credits
First advanced course in Literature, History, or Social Science - 3 credits
One course from each group must be taken in sophomore year, if not already completed (only one of the below courses should have the 'Eloquentia Perfecta' attribute)
Group #1

  • Texts and Contexts (1 of: ENGL 2000, CLAS 2000, COLI 2000, MLAL 2000, MVST 2000) - 3 credits

Group #2

  • Understanding Historical Change (HIST 1000-1700, AFAM 1600) - 3 credits

Group #3

  • Philosophical Ethics (PHIL 3000) - 3 credits

Group #4

  • Sacred Texts & Traditions (THEO 3000-3999) - 3 credits

Total Credits per Semester: 18-21

Sample - Junior Year

Biochemistry (BISC 3521)* - 3 credits
One Biology Distribution or Elective Course - 3-5 credits
Physics I and Lab I (PHYS 1701 or 1501 and 1511) (Fall) - 4 credits
Physics II and Lab II (PHYS 1702 or 1502 and 1512) (Spring) - 4 credits
Second advanced course in Literature, History, or Social Science - 4 credits
Interdisciplinary seminar in Literature, History, or Social Science (Eloquentia Perfecta) - 4 credits
Foundations of Psychology (PSYC 1200) - 4 credits
A Statistics Course

  • Applied Statistics (MATH 1205) - 4 credits
  • Statistics (PSYC 2000) - 4 credits
  • Statistics (ECON 2140) - 4 credits

Total Credits per Semester: 15-17

Sample - Senior Year, Fall and Spring Semester

Ecology and Lab (BISC 2561 and 2571) - 5 credits
Two Biology Distribution or Elective Courses - 3-5 credits each
Senior Values Seminar (Eloquentia Perfecta) - 4 credits
Four free elective courses (included in this group are Biology Elective courses) - 4 credits each
Total Credits per Semester: 16-18

* Medical School Requirement

NB: Some time during your undergraduate career you must take one course that fulfills a Fordham College core requirement and is:

  • A global studies course (designated XXRG XXXX)
  • An American pluralism course (designated XXRP XXXX)