Biology Information Session
Sponsored by BUSAC and the
Biology Department
November 16, 2005
What is BUSAC?
Biology Undergraduate Student
Advisory Committee
 A group of students who want to
improve the biology curriculum!

Basics of Biology Curriculum

A year by year look at the biology
curriculum…
Curriculum: Freshman Year

Required Courses:
– Intro to Molecular Biology (Bi 8)
– Cell Biology (Bi 9)

Recommended Courses:
– Current Research in Biology (Bi 2)
– Cell Biology Lab (Bi 10)
Curriculum: Sophomore Year
Required Courses:
– Organic Chemistry (Ch 41 abc)
– Genetics (Bi 122)

Recommended Courses
– Genetics: Genetics Lab (Bi 123), Human Genetics
and Genomics (Bi 188), Advanced Genetics (Bi
190)
– Neuroscience: Comparative Nervous Systems
(Bi/CNS 157), Vertebrate Evolution (Bi/CNS 158)
– Other: Virology (Bi 115)
– Research: Bi 22!
Curriculum: Junior Year

Required Courses:
– Introduction to Biochemistry (Bi/Ch 110)
– Introduction to Neurobiology (Bi/CNS 150)
– Developmental Biology (Bi 117)
– Biology Writing Requirement (Bi 24)
Curriculum: Junior Year (cont’d)
Recommended Courses
– Biochemistry: Biochemistry of Gene Expression
(Bi/Ch 111), Biochemistry of the Cell (Bi/Ch 113)
– Neuroscience: Neuronal Basis of Consciousness
(Bi/CNS 120), Molecular Basis of Behavior (Bi
156), Social Neuroscience (SS/Psy/Bi/CNS 140),
Advanced Neurobiology Lab (Bi/CNS 161 or 162)
– Premed: Anatomy and Physiology (Bi 145ab),
Organic Chemistry Lab (Ch 4 or 3b)
– Research: Bi 22, Current Bio Research (Bi 251)
Curriculum: Senior Year

Required Courses: Bio Major Seminar (Bi
80), Pick 3 Courses, Advanced Bio Units
 Recommended Courses:
– Biochemistry: Biophysics of Macromolecules (Bi
132), Principles of 3-D Protein Structure (Bi 170)
– Neuroscience: Behavior of Mammals (Bi/CNS
216), Central Mechanisms in Perception (Bi/CNS
217)
– Molecular Biology: Methods in Molecular Genetics
Lab (Bi 180)
– Research: Bi 22, Current Bio Research (Bi 251)
Advantages of Biology Major





You really don’t have to overload!
Curriculum is versatile: can follow genetics,
biochemistry, neuroscience tracks
It prepares you for graduate school and/or
medical school
Its flexibility allows you to study abroad
And there is lots of interesting biology
research!
Questions?
We welcome suggestions and
comments from all of you about the
biology major
 We accept applications for new BUSAC
members during third term

Contact Information

Feel free to contact any of us!
 BUSAC Chair
– Neha Das (das@caltech.edu)
 Other BUSAC Members
– Senior: Ransom Poythress, Corinna Zygourakis
– Junior: Kelly Lin, Greg Stachelek
– Sophomore: Csilla Felsen, Vickie Pon, and
Winston Zhao
 BUSAC Faculty Adviser
– Prof. Marianne Bronner-Fraser