Biology

Professor David A. Haig, Head Tutor

THE REQUIREMENTS BELOW ARE FOR BIOLOGY CONCENTRATORS WHO ENTERED THE COLLEGE BEFORE SEPTEMBER 2006. THE BIOLOGY CONCENTRATION IS NOT OPEN TO STUDENTS ENTERING THE COLLEGE IN SEPTEMBER 2006 OR LATER.

REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements: 13 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Six half-courses in Biology
• Biological Sciences 50 (or Life Sciences 1b).
• Three half-courses chosen from OEB 10, MCB 52, OEB 53, MCB 54 (formerly Biological Sciences 51, 52, 53, 54).
• Two additional life science half-courses, to be chosen from Biological Sciences, OEB and MCB courses.
  -or-
  
• Life Sciences 1a and Life Sciences 1b.
• Two half-courses chosen from OEB 10, MCB 52, OEB 53, MCB 54 (formerly Biological Sciences 51, 52, 53, 54).
• Two additional life science half-courses, to be chosen from Biological Sciences, MCB and OEB courses.
2. Four half-courses in related fields:
1. One half-course in inorganic chemistry (Physical Sciences 1 or Chemistry 7 or 15).
2. One half-course of organic chemistry (e.g., Chemistry 17 or 20).
3. Mathematics 1b.
4. One half-course in physics (e.g., Physics 1a or 11a or Physical Sciences 2 or 3 ).
3. Scientific electives to bring the total to 13 half-courses. Courses in biology, biological anthropology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics can be counted as scientific electives. Other courses will be considered for concentration credit on a case-by-case basis, and must be approved prior to course enrollment. With prior approval, up to two courses taken while studying abroad can be counted as scientific electives.
2. Tutorial: Biology 95hf, recommended but not required (see 6c below).
3. Thesis: None.
4. Supervised Research and Reading Courses (Biology 91r, 98r, 99r, OEB 121b): No more than three supervised research and reading half-courses may be taken for concentration credit, and no more than one half-course may be taken Pass/Fail. Any supervised research and reading course undertaken with mentors outside of MCB or OEB should be co-sponsored by a Biology concentration faculty member (your faculty adviser assumes this role by default, unless someone more suitable can be found), who is responsible for assigning the course grade in consultation with your mentor.
5. General Examination: None.
6. Other information:
1. Advanced Placement: Because equivalency is in reality very hard to assess, Biology discourages the use of AP credit in lieu of chemistry or physics courses. Nonetheless, with exam grades of 5, students may petition to use their AP credits to offset concentration requirements as follows:
1. AP Math BC to substitute for Math 1b and reduce concentration requirements by one half-course.
2. AP Chemistry to substitute for Chemistry 7 or Chemistry 15, and reduce concentration requirements by one half-course.
3. AP Physics to substitute for one half-course of introductory physics and reduce concentration requirements by one half-course.
4. AP Biology does not substitute for any concentration requirement in Biology.
   
   It is important to note that, for students interested in post-graduate programs in such fields as medicine or the life sciences, AP science courses may not fulfill the entrance requirements of these post-graduate programs. Students should consult with appropriate premedical or other advisers to ensure that the options they are considering are consistent with their career plans.
   
   
2. Pass/Fail: All specific requirements (items 1a-1b) must be taken for letter grade if the student has not used any Advanced Placement, Harvard Summer School or Studies Elsewhere courses for concentration credit.
3. Tutorials: About 20 different Biology 95hf courses are offered each year. These tutorials focus on in-depth coverage of material complementary to that covered in other life science offerings and integrate new scientific advances. Biology 95hf (half-course throughout the year) cannot be divided or combined for credit. Tutorial seminars offered in 2006-2007 are listed in the Courses of Instruction. Syllabi are available on the Biology Program website (www.biology.harvard.edu) or in the Biology Undergraduate Office. Tutorials must be taken for letter grade. Biology 95hf tutorials will be offered for the last time in 2006-2007.

Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 16 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Seven half-courses in Biology.

   	i-iii.	Same as Basic Requirements.
   	iv.	One half-course of independent research for letter grade credit (Biology 99r or OEB 121b) or one half-course of project laboratory (MCB 100, 116, 117, 119 or OEB 121a).

2. Seven half-courses in related fields.
1. Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Two half-courses of organic chemistry (e.g., Chemistry 17 and 27 or Chemistry 20 and 30).
3. Mathematics 1b (or a higher level math course) plus an additional half-course of mathematics, statistics or computer science (including Mathematics 19a, 19b, 21a, 21b, Computer Science 50, Quantitative Reasoning 20 or an introductory half-course in statistics).
4. Two half-courses of physics (e.g., Physics 1a and 1b, Physics 11a and 11b, Physics 15a and 15b, or Physical Sciences 2 and 3).
3. Scientific electives to bring the total to 16 half-courses, otherwise the same as Basic Requirements.
2. Tutorial: Biology 95hf, recommended but not required (see 6c above).
3. Thesis: Required for award of degree with Highest Honors in Field. Optional for award of Honors or High Honors in Field. The thesis is based on original research in biology, and may be conducted in the field, the laboratory, through mathematical analysis or computer simulation. Thesis research is generally carried out in combination with registration in supervised research half-courses (Biology 99r, OEB 121b), although this is not a requirement. Theses undertaken with mentors outside of MCB or OEB should be co-sponsored by a Biology concentration faculty member (your faculty adviser assumes this role by default, unless someone more suitable can be found). All students planning to submit a senior thesis must submit a short thesis proposal. The thesis proposal is usually submitted during spring term of junior year, but must be submitted prior to the first day of classes of the fall term of senior year. The thesis proposal form is available at the concentration website or from the Biology Undergraduate Office. The Biology Undergraduate Committee evaluates theses based on input from mentor, co-sponsor and other readers.
4. Supervised Research and Reading Courses: Same as Basic Requirements.
5. General Examination: None.
6. Other information:
1. Advanced Placement: Same as Basic Requirements.
2. Pass/Fail: Same as Basic Requirements.
3. Tutorials: Same as Basic Requirements.
4. Honors Recommendations: In addition to grades and thesis achievements, the Biology Undergraduate Committee will consider the rigor and breadth of a student's concentration program in its recommendation.

Neurobiology
Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 16 half-courses

For concentrators wishing to specialize in neuroscience, the Biology program offers a track in Neurobiology. This is one of the tracks developed in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Mind, Brain, and Behavior. Biology concentrators must file an application (available on the Biology website or in the Biology Concentration Office) to enroll in Neurobiology.

1. Required courses:
1. Seven half-courses in biology with an emphasis on neurobiology.
• Biological Sciences 50 (or Life Sciences 1b).
• Two half-courses chosen from OEB10, MCB 52, OEB 53, MCB 54 (formerly Biological Sciences 51, 52, 53, 54).
  -or
  
• Life Sciences 1a and Life Sciences 1b.
• One half-course chosen from OEB10, MCB 52, OEB 53, MCB 54 (formerly Biological Sciences 51, 52, 53, 54).
• MCB 80 (formerly Biological Sciences 80).
• Science B-29 (but only if taken freshman year) or OEB 57 (formerly Biological Sciences 57).
• One neurobiology elective (MCB 105, 115, 117, 129, 138, 141) or other MCB or OEB course in neurobiology approved in advance by petition.
• One half-course of independent research for letter grade credit in a topic appropriate to the neurosciences (Biology 99r).
2. Seven half-courses in related fields. Same as Requirements for Honors Eligibility.
3. Tutorial or MBB-Approved Seminar: Required during junior year.
4. Mind, Brain, and Behavior electives to bring the total to 16 half-courses, to be chosen from a list of such courses approved by the Biology Undergraduate Committee. For a list of approved electives for Neurobiology MBB students only, consult the Biology website (www.biology.harvard.edu). Other courses not on this list will be considered for concentration credit on a case-by-case basis, and must be approved prior to course enrollment.
2. Tutorial: See 1c above.
3. Thesis: Required. Theses undertaken with mentors outside of MCB or OEB should be co-sponsored by a Biology concentration faculty member (your faculty adviser assumes this role by default, unless a more suitable faculty member can be found). The Biology Undergraduate Committee evaluates theses based on input from mentor, co-sponsor and other readers.
4. Supervised Research and Reading Courses: Same as Requirements for Honors Eligibility.
5. General Examination: None.
6. Other information: Same as Requirements for Honors Eligibility.

ADVISING

A faculty adviser is selected at the time that a Biology concentrator submits the concentration worksheet to the Biology Concentration Office. The adviser is responsible for providing individualized guidance in program design, course selection, and other matters related to the Biology concentration. Students are responsible for arranging meetings with their advisers at the beginning of each term. A list of advisers' office hours and telephone numbers is posted on the Biology website. Students should keep their advisers informed of changes in their courses. The advisers' signature on study cards is required. Students are encouraged to contact their advisers as appropriate when concentration issues arise during the year.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

All questions concerning Biology undergraduate policies should be directed to Barbara Cerva, Coordinator of Biology Undergraduate Programs (617-495-2319, barbara@mcb.harvard.edu). The Head Tutor for Biology is Professor David Haig (dhaig@oeb.harvard.edu).

The Biology Undergraduate Office in the Biological Laboratories, staffed by the Coordinator of Biology Undergraduate Programs, is the central office for Biology concentrators. The Office administers Biology 91r, 95hf, 99r, and the Thesis Program, and also serves as the clearinghouse for information on all aspects of the concentration.

The Biology Concentration website address is www.biology.harvard.edu.

The Biology Undergraduate Committee is a board of faculty and students whose responsibility is to formulate and review policies relating to the undergraduate curriculum and then to present these to the two Biology faculties for review. In turn, the two faculties propose issues to the Committee for review. The Committee is comprised of faculty members from MCB and OEB, one of whom serves as the Head Tutor, student representatives, and the Coordinator of Biology Undergraduate Programs. Students interested in serving on the Committee should contact the Coordinator for information on how to apply.

ENROLLMENT STATISTICS
Number of Concentrators as of November