Advice for First-Year Students

Below are course suggestions for first-year students interested in biology. For more details, please see the Course Catalog, or contact Chair of Biology Drew Kerkhoff at kerkhoffa@kenyon.edu or 740-427-5734.

BIOLOGY MAJOR

Biology majors need to complete our two-semester introductory lecture series during their first two years (BIOL 115 Energy in Living Systems and BIOL116 Information in Living Systems) as well as the lab course BIOL 109Y-110Y. Biology majors also should complete at least one year of chemistry during their first two years. Information on the introductory courses is below.

1. BIOL 115-116 must be taken in sequential order. The prerequisite for BIOL 116 is BIOL 115 or AP5. Only first year students with an AP score of 5 should consider taking BIOL 116 in the Fall.
2. BIOL 109Y-110Y is a stand-alone, yearlong, entry-level lab course that should be taken either along with BIOL115-116 or after completing BIOL115.
3. BIOL 115, BIOL 116, and BIOL109-110Y are requirements for medical school and health professions.

First year students who wish to major in biology should consider these schedules for the full first year:

1. For those with strong background in science and molecular biology and biochemistry majors

Two lecture courses (BIOL115* and BIOL116).
Intro to Experimental Biology: BIOL 109Y-110Y.
Introductory Chemistry lecture: CHEM 121 (or 122) and 124.
Intro Chemistry Lab: CHEM 123, 126.
Two to four additional courses.

2. A more relaxed schedule, postponing chemistry until sophomore year.

Two lecture courses (BIOL115* and BIOL116).
Intro to Experimental Biology: BIOL 109Y-110Y.
Five to seven additional courses.

To keep biology possible as a major, or possibly a minor, select from one of the following:

Two intro lectures (BIOL115* and BIOL116.
One intro lecture (BIOL 115*) and a full year of chemistry lecture plus chem lab.

*Please note that BIOL115 is offered in the fall semester only .

AP and IB 

4 and 5 receive 0.5 units of credit. Students with 4 and 5 receive credit for BIOL 115 and we recommend they begin with BIOL 116. Those with AP 3 or 4 should start with BIOL 115. Students with IB scores of 6 or 7 on the Biology exam should begin with BIOL 116. Consult Drew Kerkhoff (kerkhoffa@kenyon.edu) for additional placement advice.

PREMEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

BIOL 115 and BIOL 116 lectures plus BIOL 109-110Y lab satisfies the medical school and health professions requirement for a course in general biology. See the pre-health advising page at kenyon.edu/premed.xml for more details about medical school requirements and suggested first-year course schedules.

NON-MAJORS

The following non-major courses are highly recommended for first-year students in 2011-12. BIOL 106: Conservation Biology (fall), BIOL107: Scaling in Biology: Size Matters (spring), and ENVS 112: Intro to Environmental Studies (spring). All three courses count toward the Natural Science distribution requirement but not the Biology major. Alternative non-majors courses may be offered in subsequent years.