The major requirements for the Biological Science B.S. are the same regardless of college. However, in addition to courses required for completion of a major program, (and University-wide Catamount Core courses), each college has its own requirements to ensure graduates have received a well-rounded education.  Outlined below are the descriptions for the courses required by each college that hosts the Biological Science major. Note: courses taken for the major (e.g. biology, mathematics, etc.) can doubly count toward these college-level requirements, as well as the Catamount Core courses.

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

• Distribution Requirements*: Foundational Writing (1 course), Arts (3 cr.), Literature (1 course), Humanities (2 courses), Social Sciences (2 courses), Natural Sciences (2 courses), Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses), Common Ground values (3 courses), and Language (2 courses).  *CAS Distribution requirements overlap almost entirely with Catamount Core requirements, but will require two additional Arts, Literature or Humanities course.
• 84 credits must be from within CAS.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)

• In addition to the Catamount Core requirements, CALS requires two Foundations courses (2): CALS 1010: Communication Methods and CALS 1020: Information Technology (or equivalent courses).

The Biological Science major requires 26 credits of Advanced Life Science Electives - meaning 7-8 courses at the 2000-, 3000-, or 4000-level that you choose from a list of over 150. These courses come from over 20 different departments, and include undergraduate research. You could take a variety of different topics, or all of your credits from one field; it’s up to you. In year two, meet with an advisor to map a plan of study for completing your Advanced Life Science Electives.

The following rules apply to the Advanced Life Science Elective requirement:

• No more than 8 credits at the 2000-level may be applied to the requirement except with written permission from an advisor and not exceeding three such courses.

• With an advisor's permission, biologically relevant 5000- or 6000-level courses may be applied to the requirement.

• Up to 6 credits of undergraduate research in any biological discipline may be applied toward the requirement. Only three of these can be taken for credit at the 2000-level, and these will be counted in the 8 credits allowed at that level.