Professors: Elizabeth S. Boylan (Provost), John Glendinning, Paul E. Hertz (Ann Whitney Olin Professor), Brian Morton (Chair),
Associate Professors: Hilary S. Callahan
Assistant Professors: Jennifer H. Mansfield, Kristen A. Shepard, Matthew Wallenfang, Elizabeth Bauer, Krista McGuire
Lecturer: Jessica Goldstein
Professors Emeritus: Philip V. Ammirato, Jeanne S. Poindexter
Department Administrator: Maria Minino
Biology is a field that explores the structure, function, interactions, and evolution of living organisms. Some of the most exciting issues of our era-such as those relating to biotechnology, genetic engineering, environmental problems, and health-require a strong background in biology. Biology courses at Barnard cover a broad range of topics, including molecular and cellular biology, genetics, development, physiology, evolution, and ecology.
Many students specialize in biology in preparation for a career in medicine, dentistry, public health, nutrition, or law. Others anticipate graduate work in one of the many subfields of biology leading to a teaching and/or research career. Still others plan futures as scientific writers, illustrators, photographers, industry or government researchers, or in areas such as environmental policy and law.
The biology major is designed to provide a student with a broad education in the field as well as an opportunity to cover a specific aspect of biology in depth if she desires. The major has a strong research component, with all lab sections at both the introductory and advanced levels limited to 16 students, ensuring ample opportunity for interaction with faculty. Students also have the option of conducting individual research projects under the guidance of a faculty member, as described below. The senior requirement for the biology major can be completed either by enrolling in a senior seminar that involves reading and discussing the current literature in a specific area of biology or by completing a guided research project.
Research
Students are strongly encouraged to engage in research at Barnard. Guided Research and Seminar (BIOL BC 3591-3592) and Senior Thesis Research (BIOL BC 3593-3594) may be used to fulfill major requirements as described below while BIOL BC 3597 Guided Research may be used for degree credit.
In addition to conducting research during the academic year, students are encouraged to pursue summer research internships. Barnard faculty engage many students in paid research projects during the summer. The departmental office also has information about summer internships outside Barnard. In addition, the department awards funds on a competitive basis to support summer research not otherwise funded by internships.
Introductory Course
Selection
The Biology Department offers several options at the introductory level; students should select courses on the basis of their preparation and background in biology. Students who took advanced biology in high school should enroll in the 1500-level sequence (BIOL BC 1500, BC 1502, and the lab courses BC 1501 and BC 1503). This sequence can be started either in the fall (BIOL BC 1500 and BC 1501) or the spring (BIOL BC 1502 and BC 1503) and fulfills the laboratory science portion of the General Education Requirement as well as the premedical requirement in biology.
Students with little or no experience in biology should enroll in the 1000-level sequence, which provides an appropriate introduction to important concepts in the field. Both BC 1001 and BC 1002 include a laboratory component and together fulfill the laboratory science portion of the General Education Requirement. Students who wish to move on to the 1500-level courses, which are prerequisites for advanced classes in biology, are eligible to do so upon completion of BC 1001.
AP Course Credit
Students who have passed the Advanced Placement examination in biology with a grade of 4 or 5 are exempt from BIOL BC 1001 and receive 3 points of credit. Students with an AP biology score of 4 or 5 may complete the Barnard lab science requirement with (a) BIOL BC 1002, (b) BIOL BC 1500 and BC 1501, or (c) BIOL BC 1502 and BC 1503. However, students must complete the entire 1500-level sequence (BC 1500, 1501, 1502, and 1503) for the Biology major or minor and for the biology premedical requirements. AP credit is granted regardless of which introductory courses are completed at Barnard.
Introductory Biology: Students must complete both semesters of the 1500-level introductory sequence, including the lecture and laboratory components (BIOL BC 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503). This series is equivalent to the previous 2001-2004 series which was completed by BC08 and BC09 students.
Six Upper Level Lecture Courses: Students must complete at least six lecture courses beyond the introductory sequence.
One of the six lecture courses must be selected from each of the following three groups:
1. Molecular and Cellular Level of Organization:
BIOL BC 3302 Molecular Biology OR
BIOL BC 3310 Cell Biology OR
BIOL BC 2100 Mol. and Men. Genetics (previously BIOL BC3200)
2. Physiological Level of Organization
BIOL BC 3360 Animal Physiology OR
BIOL BC 3340 Plant Physiology OR
BIOL BC 3320 Microbiology
3. Ecological and Evolutionary Level of Organization
BIOL BC 2278 Evolution OR
BIOL BC 2272 Ecology OR
BIOL BC 3280 Applied Ecology and Evolution OR
BIOL BC 2240 Plant Evolution and Diversity
Three additional lecture courses may be selected from any Barnard Biology offering (including all of the courses listed above) or, with the department’s chair’s permission, from offerings in the Columbia Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology.
Three Upper Level Laboratory Courses: Students must complete at least three Biology laboratories beyond the 1500 level. Laboratories may require a lecture course as co-requisite or prerequisite.
Research Option: A student may count two consecutive semesters of Guided Research and Seminar (BIOL BC 3591x followed by BIOL BC 3592y) as a laboratory course for the major. Biology laboratories at Barnard require a lab fee. Appropriate Biology courses at Columbia University may be used to satisfy the lab requirement, as may those at other institutions, with permission of the department chair.
Senior Seminar or Individual Research: Students must enroll in one section of the Senior Seminar (BIOL BC 3590) or complete two semesters of Senior Thesis Research (BIOL BC 3593x followed by BIOL BC 3594y). A student cannot take both Senior Thesis Research and Guided Research and Seminar at the same time.
Chemistry Requirement: One year of Chemistry with laboratory, including one term of Organic Chemistry, is required.
Introductory Biology: Students must complete both semesters of the 1500-level introductory sequence, including the lecture and laboratory components (BIOL BC 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503). This series is equivalent to the previous 2001-2004 series which was completed by BC08 and BC09 students.
Genetics: Students must complete BIOL BC 2100 Molecular and Mendelian Genetics. It is recommended, but not required, that this be completed immediately following the completion of the Spring semester Introductory courses (BIOL BC 1502 and 1503).
Five Upper Level Lecture Courses: Students must complete at least five additional lecture courses at the 2000 and 3000 levels.
One of the five lecture courses must be selected from each of the following two groups:
1. Physiological Level of Organization
BIOL BC 3360 Animal Physiology OR
BIOL BC 3340 Plant Physiology OR
BIOL BC 3320 Microbiology
2. Ecological and Evolutionary Level of Organization
BIOL BC 2278 Evolution OR
BIOL BC 2272 Ecology OR
BIOL BC 3280 Applied Ecology and Evolution OR
BIOL BC 2240 Plant Evolution and Diversity
The three additional lecture courses may be selected from any Barnard Biology offering (including all of the courses listed above) or, with the permission of the department chair, from offerings in the Columbia Department of Biological Sciences and the Columbia Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology.
Three Upper Level Laboratory Courses: Students must complete at least three Biology laboratories beyond the 1500 level. Laboratories may require a lecture course as co-requisite or prerequisite; such requirements are specified in the Barnard catalogue.
Research Option: A student may count two consecutive semesters of Guided Research and Seminar (BIOL BC 3591x followed by BIOL BC 3592y) as a laboratory course for the major. Biology laboratories at Barnard require a lab fee. Appropriate Biology courses at Columbia University may be used to satisfy the lab requirement, as may those at other institutions, with permission of the department chair.
Senior Seminar or Individual Research: Students must enroll in one section of the Senior Seminar (BC 3590) or complete two semesters of Senior Thesis Research (BIOL BC3593x followed by BIOL BC3594y). A student cannot take both Senior Thesis Research and Guided Research and Seminar at the same time.
Chemistry Requirement: One year of Chemistry with laboratory, including one term of Organic Chemistry, is required.
A minor in biology must include one year of introductory biology (BIOL BC 1500, BC 1501, BC 1502, BC 1503), three additional lecture courses at the 2100 level or higher, and two additional laboratory courses. One of the lab courses may be replaced by two semesters of Guided Research and Seminar (BIOL BC 3591x followed by BIOL BC 3592y).
Biochemistry, chemistry,
environmental science, physics, and psychology majors need to take only one
advanced laboratory instead of two, but the lab may not be a guided research
course.
Requirements for the major in Environmental Biology are listed alphabetically.