Current Courses
We strongly suggest reading the Gustavus Catalog to learn more about the various majors and minors supported by the Biology Department.
Our Core Sequence. All students are required to complete a core introductory biology sequence of courses (BIO-101, 102, 201, and 202) augmented with courses in chemistry and mathematics. The core course sequence prepares students for advanced studies and also presents the breadth of biological studies. The core courses are taken in sequence. It is required that CHE-107 and CHE-141 be taken prior to BIO-201 and BIO-202. Level II (200-299) courses have a prerequisite of BIO-101 and BIO-102, while Level III (300-399) courses require completion of the four course biology core and 2 courses in chemistry.
Grade Minima. Sequential courses and courses with prerequisites require that prior courses have been completed with a grade of C or better (with the exception of BIO-101 and CHE-107 which must be graded C- or better) for all students.
Current Offerings. Courses offered by our department, as well as courses from other departments that can count towards our majors, are listed below. Some of these classes (marked with strikethrough letters) are not currently offered, but will most likely be offered in future semesters. Click on course titles for a sample syllabus. Please use the syllabus for general information only; exact course content and requirements will vary among instructors and semesters!
Credit Transfer, Study Abroad Credits, Special Requests. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Fall |
Spring |
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Classes for Non-Majors |
FTS 100 First-Term Seminar WRITI (past offerings include: reproductive technology, explorer naturalists, genetic testing, pirates and sea monsters, and more) NDL144 Life Hacks for STEM Success |
BIO100 Biology Explorations NASP |
Biology Core & required Chemistry |
BIO101 Principles of Biology NASP (syllabus from Grinnell; 2016 lab syllabus) CHE107 Principles of Chemistry NASP BIO201 Cell and Molecular Biology |
BIO102 Organismal Biology (syllabi from Bloch-Qazi; lab syllabus) CHE141 Organic Chemistry BIO202 Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior RR |
200-level Electives One may count as a required elective. |
BIO241 Invertebrate Zoology WRITD, ODD BIO245 Conservation Biology WRITD, RR CHE255 Biochemistry RR GEO241 Paleontology ODD |
BIO218 Fundamentals of Microbiology BIO242 Vertebrate Zoology CHE255 Biochemistry RR PSY260 Introduction to Neuroscience |
300-level Electives Requires completion of Core. Biology majors require 4 additional courses, of which 3 must be of 300-level. |
BIO344 Bioinformatics OCC BIO344 Ecosystem Processes OCC, RR BIO372 Animal Behavior BIO374 Genetics LEC BIO375 Cancer Biology WRITD, RR BIO376 Entomology EVEN BIO378 Plant Physiology EVEN BIO383 Aquatic Biology ODD BIO384 Neurobiology WRITD CHE360 Proteins OCC, WRITD |
BIO370 Ecology RR BIO373 Cell Biology WRITD, RR BIO377 Plant Systematics ODD BIO380 Microbiology WRITD, RR BIO382 Developmental Biology BIO386 Comparative Physiology RR BIO388 Molecular Genetics WRITD, RR CHE360 Proteins OCC, WRITD PSY385 Neuroscience Capstone |
Additional Options
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List of Abbreviations
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The following table provides a complete, sortable list of sections (with instructors) offered this semester.
Term | Name | Course | Section | Professor |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023/FA | Principles of Biology | BIO-101 | 001 | Yuta Kawarasaki |
2023/FA | Principles of Biology | BIO-101 | 002 | Robert Shoemaker |
2023/FA | Principles of Biology | BIO-101 | 003 | Angela Walczyk |
2023/FA | Principles of Biology | BIO-101 | 004 | Yuta Kawarasaki |
2023/FA | Principles of Biology | BIO-101 | 005 | Robert Shoemaker |
2023/FA | Principles of Biology | BIO-101 | 006 | Angela Walczyk |
2023/FA | Principles of Biology | BIO-101 | 007 | Reina Nielsen ’16 |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 009 | Eric Elias |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 010 | Reina Nielsen ’16 |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 011 | Reina Nielsen ’16 |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 012 | Jeff Dahlseid ’90 |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 013 | Amy Kochsiek |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 014 | Eric Elias |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 015 | Reina Nielsen ’16 |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 016 | Eric Elias |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 017 | Jim Parejko |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 018 | Jim Parejko |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 019 | Angela Walczyk |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 020 | Jon Grinnell |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 021 | Eric Elias |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 022 | Eric Elias |
2023/FA | Principles Lab | BIO-101 | 023 | Eric Elias |
2023/FA | Cell and Molecular Biology | BIO-201 | 001 | Laura Burrack |
2023/FA | Cell and Molecular Biology | BIO-201 | 002 | Katherine Leehy |
2023/FA | Cell and Molecular Biology | BIO-201 | 003 | Jeff Dahlseid ’90 |
2023/FA | Cell Biology Lab | BIO-201 | 005 | Heather Haemig |
2023/FA | Cell Biology Lab | BIO-201 | 006 | Katherine Leehy |
2023/FA | Cell Biology Lab | BIO-201 | 007 | Jeff Dahlseid ’90 |
2023/FA | Cell Biology Lab | BIO-201 | 008 | Heather Haemig |
2023/FA | Cell Biology Lab | BIO-201 | 009 | Jim Parejko |
2023/FA | Conservation Biology | BIO-245 | 001 | Amy Kochsiek |
2023/FA | Conservation Biology | BIO-245 | 002 | Robert Shoemaker |
2023/FA | Conservation Biology Lab | BIO-245 | 004 | Amy Kochsiek |
2023/FA | Conservation Biology Lab | BIO-245 | 005 | Robert Shoemaker |
2023/FA | Conservation Biology Lab | BIO-245 | 006 | Amy Kochsiek |
2023/FA | ST:Exploring Microbiomes | BIO-344 | 001 | Jim Parejko |
2023/FA | ST:Explore Microbiomes lab | BIO-344 | 003 | Jim Parejko |
2023/FA | Animal Behavior | BIO-372 | 001 | Jon Grinnell |
2023/FA | Animal Behavior Lab | BIO-372 | 003 | Jon Grinnell |
2023/FA | Genetics w/Lab | BIO-374 | 001 | Katherine Leehy |
2023/FA | Genetics Lab | BIO-374 | 003 | Katherine Leehy |
2023/FA | Cancer Biology | BIO-375 | 001 | Laura Burrack |
2023/FA | Cancer Biology Lab | BIO-375 | 003 | Laura Burrack |
2023/FA | Plant Physiology | BIO-378 | 001 | Pamela Kittelson |
2023/FA | Plant Physiology Lab | BIO-378 | 003 | Pamela Kittelson |
2023/FA | Evolution | BIO-385 | 001 | Angela Walczyk |
2023/FA | IS: Bioinformatics Res | BIO-391 | 001 | Janie Frandsen |
2023/FA | Biology Research | BIO-392 | 001 | Laura Burrack |
2023/FA | Biology Research | BIO-392 | 002 | Laura Burrack |