Steps to Planning Concentration Programs

Our website, bms.brown.edu/bug, contains information about all BioMed concentration programs, courses and research opportunities.

1. For freshmen and sophomores, Dean Thompson is available for advising and planning. For appointments and office hours, phone 863-3133; email is invited at Marjorie_Thompson@brown.edu.

2. Sophomores: To develop concentration plans, schedule an appointment (863-3133) to map out possible paths, clarify requirements, and, in your fourth semester, be assigned a faculty concentration advisor.

3. Contact your assigned concentration advisor for a meeting to formalize your concentration plans. Along with Dean Thompson, your advisor will be working with you throughout your senior year.

Coursework for the biology concentration is offered joinly by departments including: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry; Microbiology and Molecular Immunology; Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology; Neuroscience; and Pathology. Opportunities to focus within any of these areas are available from within the curriculum as well as the individual research projects.


AB Biology Program (Parts A and B are required)

Part A (AP scores of 4 or 5 may substitute):

   1. Mathematics: MATH 0090 plus 0100 (or 0170); or equivalent placement.
   2. Chemistry: CHEM 0330; 0350.

Part B, Core:

Ten courses, which may be chosen from BIOL and/or NEUR offerings for concentrators, but must include:

   1. BIOL 0200 (AP credit accepted; placement test is available).
   2. At least two BIOL or NEUR courses must be above 1000-level.
   3. At least three of the BIOL or NEUR courses must include lab or fieldwork.
   4. The Area requirement must be fulfilled by taking at least one course in each of these groups:

• Area 1 (Cell/Molecular Biology): BIOL 0280, 0470, 0500, 0510, 0530, 1050, 1100, 1310; NEUR 1020.

• Area 2 (Structure-Function): NEUR 0010, 0310, 0320, 0400, 0440, 0800, 1100, 1800, 1880.

• Area 3 (Organismal Biology): BIOL 0390, 0410, 0420, 0430, 0450, 0460, 0480; ENVS 0490, BIOL 1410, 1490 (=ENVS 1500); BIOL 1880.

(No substitutions per above Area lists. If a course is listed in more than one area, it may be used to fulfill one of those; the other must be fulfilled by a different course.)

Options within the Core may include up to two related sciences which are approved courses for science concentrators, as follows:

• GEOL 0220 or above.
• CHEM above the prerequisite courses used.
• CSCI 0040 and above.
• APMA 0330 and above (except 0420).
• MATH 0180 and above.
• PHYS 0470 and above.
• PSYC (physiological psychology): e.g., 0470, 0500, 0750, 1020, 1040.
• Courses in the history or philosophy of science (e.g.. HIST 1190); also BIOL 1920.
• Statistics: e.g., SOC 1100; PSYC 0090 (COGS 0090); APMA 0650; MATH 1600; EDUC 1110; ECON 1620. 

NOTE: Related sciences must be above prerequisite level, and suitable for science concentrators.

BIOL 1950/1960 (Directed Research) may be included but it is not required.

HONORS: Honors in biology requires a thesis and oral presentation based on a research project (conducted via BIOL 1950/1960), and quality grades in the concentration. Guidelines, a manual, and information on faculty research are available in the Biology Undergraduate Affairs Office (Arnold Lab, Room 124) or at the Research Projects Collection, found at bms.brown.edu/bug/ugres page of our website.


ScB Biology Program (Parts A, B and C are required):

Part A. (AP scores of 4 or 5 may substitute)

  1. Mathematics: MATH 0090, 0100 or 0170.
  2. Chemistry: CHEM 0330, 0350, 0360.
  3. Physics: PHYS 0030, 0040 (or PHYS 0050, 0060) or (ENGN 0030, 0040).

Part B: 10 Core Courses

Same as Part B core for the AB program with the exception that program must include research proficiency (via BIOL 1950/1960) among the core courses. Note: To fulfill program stipulations, BIOL 1950/1960 carries credit for just one lab course, and one advanced course. (If substantial research is carried out away from Brown, it must be approved by an appropriate Brown BioMed faculty member and does not carry course credit toward the Core program, but serves only as fulfillment of this requirement.)

Part C, 3 Cluster Courses (Choose either Option 1 or Option 2):

   1. Option 1: Three additional courses from the following areas, above prerequisite levels and suitable for science concentration credit: applied mathematics; chemistry; computer science; engineering (except ENGN 0090; 0900); mathematics; physics; geology.

   2. Option 2: Three additional biological sciences courses (not including BIOL 1950/1960 research) that form a logical thematic cluster.*

*Note: At least two, and preferably all three, must be above 1000-level.
Thematic cluster, to be approved by advisor and/or Dean Thompson, within the context of the individual's planned program.

Examples of thematic clusters include (but are not limited to): Molecular Biology; Biochemistry; Immunology; Evolutionary and Comparative Biology; Physiology and Biotechnology; Neurobiology; Genetics; Plant Sciences.

HONORS: Same requirements as described under AB Biology.

STIPULATIONS FOR BIOLOGY PROGRAMS:

   1. For double concentrations, no more than two courses may overlap (i.e., be used to meet requirements of both) programs, prerequisites excepted.
   2. No more than two semesters of directed research may be used towards this program.
   3. Transfer or study abroad courses may be used within the program, subject to approval of advisor, and Dean Thompson.