Cell and Molecular Biology

Department of Biological Sciences

Biology Major

Completion of this concentration provides background for advanced studies in cell biology,
molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, immunology and diverse fields that involve molecular tools in research. In addition, students may select this concentration as preparation for professional degree programs in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine or for a career in biology education, biomedical research or fields that integrate biology with other disciplines such as business or law.

Students completing this concentration are encouraged to take at least two upper-level labs among the elective courses within this concentration. Students are encouraged to participate in a research experience or as an internship (e.g., BIOL 491 Independent Research in Biology, BIOL 493 Internship in Biology, BIOL 498 Honors Research or BIOL 499 Senior Thesis in Biology). They should consult with their adviser regarding these opportunities.

FOUNDATION COURSES
Course		Units
BIOL 201	Biology I: Cellular Biology and Genetics	4
BIOL 202	Biology II: Introduction to Ecology and Evolution	4
BIOL 204	Educational and Career Planning for the Biologist	1
BIOL 309	Principles of Genetics	3
Total units		13

BREATH COURSES
Course		Units
BIOL 208 or BIOL 205 and BIOL 207	Biodiversity General Botany General Zoology	3 4 4
Take two of the following:
BIOL 405 BIOL 408 BIOL 409	Molecular Ecology Cell Biology Molecular Biology	4 4 4
BIOL 221 & 221L and BIOL 222 & 222L or BIOL 325 or BIOL 436	Human Anatomy and Physiology I Human Anatomy and Physiology II Animal Physiology Plant Physiology	4 4 4 4
Total units		14-24

ELECTIVE COURSES
Courses		Units
BIOL 410 or CHEM 356	Molecular Biology Laboratory Biochemistry Laboratory	2 2
Choose two of the following:
BIOL 315	Medical Microbiology	4
BIOL 318	Microbiology	4
BIOL 360	Histology	4
BIOL 420	Microbiology of Infectious Disease	3
BIOL 421	Immunology	4
BIOL 428	Virology	3
BIOL 463	Developmental Biology	3
CHEM 351	Biochemistry I	3
MBBB 301	Introduction to Bioinformatics	3
MBBB 315	Genomics	3
Total units		8-10

FREE ELECTIVE
Course		Units
Select one biology elective from lists of electives in any Biology concentration or BIOL 491 or BIOL 222 & BIOL 222L* or BIOL 498 and BIOL 499	Elective independent research Human Anatomy & Physiology II Honors Research in Biology Honors Thesis in Biology	3-4 3 4 2 2
Total units		3-4

* If Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 221 & 221L) was selected for the physiology breadth, that may satisfy the Free Elective requirement after successfully completing BIOL 222 & 222L.

ANCILLARY COURSES
Courses		Units
CHEM 331 & 331L and CHEM 332 & 332L	General Chemistry I Lecture General Chemistry II Lecture	4 4
CHEM 330 or CHEM 331 and CHEM 332	Essentials of Organic Chemistry Organic Chemistry I Organic Chemistry II	5 5 5
PHYS 211 and PHYS 212 or PHYS 241 and PHYS 242	General Physics I General Physics II General Physics I Calculus-based General Physics II Calculus-based	4 4 4 4
MATH 211 or MATH 237 or MATH 273 or PSYC 212	Calculus for Applications Elementary Biostatistics Calculus Behavioral Statistics	3 4 4 4
Total units		24-30

**Recommended courses

Department of Biological Sciences
Smith Hall, Room 341 (map)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-3042
Fax: 410-704-2405
E-mail: biology@towson.edu

Students in the cell and molecular biology concentration gain hands-on experience with modern laboratory techniques.