Department of Biology Advising for Biology Major – Forensics Track

This page will help you see what courses you should take and when you should take them.  There are two basic things you should keep in mind

FIRST - REQUIRED COURSES.  FIRST PRIORITY – You must complete the required courses to obtain your degree in Biology or Biology-Chemistry.  You should take courses shown in bold letters at the times stated here or there will be trouble fitting those courses in later.  Elective Biology courses have a little more latitude regarding when you can take them  NOTE: required courses are determined by your major, so look in the College Catalogue where the required courses are listed..

SECOND - YOUR FIELD.  There are many fields in Biology at SJC.  This is a specific Biology Track. Other Biology Tracks have different requirements. Be sure to look into the advising pages on the Biology Home Page for your area of interest.  This helps you know what courses to take and what your minor should be.

Here is a very helpful guide for your planning and registration if you want a BS in Biology that fulfills the broadest range of careers.

FRESHMAN YEAR (if you want fewer hours do NOT drop chemistry, instead save math electives for Sophomore year
Fall - 4h Biol 111 (general), 4h Chem 121 (general), 6h Core 1, and get one of math093 precalculus, math125 Calculus 1 or Math342 Statistics
Winter - 4h Biol 112 (general), 4h Chem 122 (general), 6h Core 2, and one of Psych225 Statistics, Calculus or Biol 218 Intro to Forensic Science

NOTE: - Calculus 1 is needed for Physics if you had no Calculus in high school and Statistics or Intro to Forensics are required for the major and this can be a good time to do some of them.

ELECTIVES

-  more electives are further down this page.

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall - 4h Bio 225 (CVA), 4h Chem 233 (organic), 6h Core 3, and 3h Biol 318 Forensic Entomology or one of precalculus, Calculus 1 or Math342 Statistics
Winter - 4h Chem 234 (organic), 6h Core 4, 4-8h Bio (337 Genetics and/or 218 Intro to Forensics – both required) or Calculus 1 if you don't have it yet,

ELECTIVES The following courses can be taken in sophomore, junior or senior year – NOTE pay attention to the College Catalogue, some courses are offered every other year.
- Biology: Ecology, Intro to Entomology, Intro Microbiology, Amphibian Research, Animal Behavior, Invertebrate Zoology, Evolution, Ichthyology-Herpetology, Ornithology-Mammalogy, Independent Study

- Chemistry: Fall - Chem. 379 Biochemistry, Winter – Chem 246 Quantitative Analysis,

- more recommendations are further down this page

JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR - NOTE pay attention to the catalogue, some courses are offered every other year.
Cores 5-10
Physics I & II – best done in JUNIOR year
Work on getting your required courses like Bio341 Advanced Forensic Science

ELECTIVES - The following courses are usually taken in junior or senior year:
- Biology: Advanced Microbiology, Amphibian Research, Conservation Biology, Human Medical Physiology, Biochemistry, Histology, Medical Entomology, Cellular & Molecular Biology, Junior Biology Research, Senior Biology Research

- Chemistry Fall - Chem. 379 Biochemistry, Winter – Chem 246 Quantitative Analysis,

- more recommendations are in the next section.

1. BIOLOGY ELECTIVES (to total 36 hours including the required Biology courses for biology major)..

FRESHMAN – Amphibian Research (can take up to 3 years), Intro Forensic Science, Statistics
SOPHOMORES – Ecology, Entomology, Intro Microbiology, Animal Behavior, Invertebrate Zoology, Evolution,
    Ichthyology-Herpetology, Ornithology-Mammalogy, Independent Study
JUNIORS AND SENIORS - Advanced Microbiology, Advanced Forensic Science, Conservation Biology, Medical Entomology, Human Medical
    Physiology, Biochemistry, Histology, Cellular & Molecular Biology, Junior Biology Research, Senior Biology Research

2. CHEMISTRY ELECTIVES  In addition to the electives mentioned above are the following chemistry electives: Physical Chemistry I & II, Medicinal Chemistry, Instrumental Methods of Analysis, Seminar in Chemistry, Research in Chemistry

3. MINOR - BIOLOGY MAJORS - Most minor in Chemistry.  To do that you need to take at least 2 more hours of Chemistry after you finish two years of Introductory and Organic Chemistry.

KEEPING TRACK of the courses you've taken and those you still need - click here for a checklist
Biology home page