Molecular and Cellular Biology Major Requirements (B.S.)
(Also see Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree.)
The Biology Department offers a B.S. degree in molecular and cellular biology. The B.S. program is designed to provide a rigorous preparation for advanced study in the biomedical sciences. The program is tailored not only to students planning to enter Ph.D. programs or obtain employment in the biotechnology industry but also for premedical students.
All courses required for the molecular and cellular biology major must be taken for a letter grade (not S/U) and be passed with a grade of C- or better with one exception. The department will accept one passing grade below C- in senior year provided that the average for all formal lecture and laboratory courses is at least 2.0.
Writing and Communication Requirement in the Major
Students must complete at least 6 credits of Writing and Communication Foundational Ability coursework in one major. Students can fulfill this requirement by selecting 6 credits from a combination of core and elective courses in the major that are designated as FA#1: Writing and Communication (FA#1).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | ||
| AS.110.106 | Calculus I (Biology and Social Sciences) | 4 |
| or AS.110.108 | Calculus I (Physical Sciences & Engineering) | |
| AS.110.107 | Calculus II (For Biological and Social Science) | 4 |
| or AS.110.109 | Calculus II (For Physical Sciences and Engineering) | |
| Physics | ||
| AS.171.101 | General Physics: Physical Science Major I | 4 |
| or AS.171.103 | General Physics I for Biological Science Majors | |
| or AS.171.107 | General Physics for Physical Sciences Majors (AL) | |
| AS.171.102 | General Physics: Physical Science Major II | 4 |
| or AS.171.104 | General Physics/Biology Majors II | |
| or AS.171.108 | General Physics for Physical Science Majors (AL) | |
| AS.173.111 | General Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| AS.173.112 | General Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Chemistry | ||
| AS.030.101 & AS.030.105 | Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| AS.030.102 & AS.030.106 | Introductory Chemistry II and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| or AS.030.103 | Applied Chemical Equilibrium and Reactivity w/lab | |
| AS.030.205 | Introductory Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| AS.030.206 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| or AS.030.212 | Honors Organic Chemistry II | |
| AS.030.225 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 3 |
| or AS.030.227 | Chemical Chirality: An Introduction in Organic Chem. Lab, Techniques | |
| Biology | ||
| AS.020.303 | Genetics | 3 |
| AS.020.304 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| AS.020.306 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| AS.020.305 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| AS.020.363 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
| AS.020.315 | Biochemistry Project lab | 1-3 |
| or AS.250.253 | Protein Engineering and Biochemistry Lab | |
| AS.020.340 | Developmental Genetics Lab | 3 |
| AS.020.316 | Cell Biology Lab | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| At least four courses totaling at least 12 credits (see POS-Tag BIOL-UL in the Schedule of Classes) from the courses approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. At least one course must be taught by the Biology Department (AS.020.xxx) and be a 2 or 3 credit course. | 12 | |
| Research | ||
| Research (totaling at least 6 credits) * | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 75-77 | |
- *
The supervised research will include participation in group meetings and writing a summary of accomplished work at the end of the year.
Sample Program of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.030.101 | 3 | AS.030.102 | 3 |
| AS.030.105 | 1 | AS.030.106 | 1 |
| AS.110.106 | 4 | AS.110.107 | 4 |
| AS.020.303 | 3 | ||
| AS.020.340 | 3 | ||
| 8 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.030.205 | 4 | AS.020.306 | 3 |
| AS.030.225 or 227 | 3 | AS.020.316 | 1 |
| AS.020.304 | 3 | AS.030.206 | 4 |
| 10 | 8 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.020.305 | 3 | AS.020.363 | 3 |
| AS.020.315 or AS.250 253 | 1 | AS.171.104 or 102 | 4 |
| AS.171.103 or 101 | 4 | AS.173.112 | 1 |
| Upper Level Biology Elective | 2-3 | Upper Level Biology Elective | 2-3 |
| AS.173.111 | 1 | ||
| 11-12 | 10-11 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| Upper Level Biology Elective | 2-3 | Upper Level Biology Elective (if needed) | 2-3 |
| Upper Level Biology Elective | 2-3 | Research | 3 |
| Research | 3 | ||
| 7-9 | 5-6 | ||
| Total Credits 73-78 | |||
Honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Students completing the B.S. in molecular and cellular biology major are eligible to receive their degree with honors.
The B.S. in molecular and cellular biology with honors requires, in addition to the regular requirements for the major, a 3.5 GPA for natural sciences and quantitative studies courses, a presentation of a poster describing the independent research, and a recommendation from the research sponsor.
The research requirement must be completed under the direction of a faculty member in a department associated with the Johns Hopkins University or the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. If the student’s research director for independent research is not a member of the Department of Biology, a Biology faculty member must serve as a sponsor and approve the recommendation from the research director.