Biology Major Four-Year Course Plans

Select a major track below to view a suggested four-year course plan. There is also a simple guide to requirements for each major track here.

If you are a transfer student, click on Transfer Students for additional information and advice.

If you have been following the pre-health track for non-Biology majors (taking Principles of Biology as a sophomore) and wish to join the Biology major, click on Joining the Biology Major After Sophomore PoB for advice.

For information on studying at an NYU global site while meeting major requirements, click on Study Away.

For any questions, please consult your academic adviser or the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Biology.




  • Courses shown in italics may be taken in either the Fall or Spring semester, or in a different year.
  • Study Abroad is required for the GPH major. This course plan shows two possible Study Abroad semesters, Sophomore Spring (at NYU Tel Aviv) or Senior Fall (at one of several NYU Global Sites). For advice on study away as a GPH/Biology major, please consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Freshman Fall

  1. Principles of Biology I (BIOL-UA 11)
  2. General Chemistry I (CHEM-UA 125)
  3. Calculus I (MATH-UA 121) *
  4. Freshman Seminar
  5. CORE course **
  • * if no AP credit
  • ** if AP Math credit

Freshman Spring

  1. Principles of Biology II (BIOL-UA 12)
  2. General Chemistry II (CHEM-UA 126)
  3. Health and Society (UGPH-GU 10)
  4. CORE (Writing in the Sciences)

Sophomore Fall

  1. Molecular and Cell Biology I (BIOL-UA 21)
  2. Molecular and Cell Biology Lab (BIOL-UA 223) (Optional, but strongly recommended)
  3. Organic Chemistry I (CHEM-UA 225)
  4. CORE SSS
  5. CORE Foreign Language I

Sophomore Spring

  • Possible Study Abroad Semester at NYU Tel Aviv, with UGPH-GU 50 replaced by Internship in Biology (BIOL-UA 9980); NYU Tel Aviv also offers GPH Experiential Learning and UGPH-GU 10
  1. Molecular and Cell Biology II (BIOL-UA 22)
  2. Organic Chemistry II (CHEM-UA 226)
  3. Environmental Health (UGPH-GU 50)
  4. CORE Foreign Language II

Junior Fall

  1. General Physics I (PHYS-UA 11)
  2. Health Policy (UGPH-GU 40)
  3. Biology Area Elective #1
  4. CORE Foreign Language III

Junior Spring

  1. General Physics II (PHYS-UA 12)
  2. Biostatistics (Biol-UA 42)
  3. Epidemiology for Global Health (UGPH-GU 30)
  4. CORE Foreign Language IV

Senior Fall

  • Possible Study Abroad Semester
  1. Advanced Foreign Language
  2. GPH Experiential Learning (UPGH-GU 60)
  3. CORE C/C
  4. Elective

Senior Spring

  1. Biology Area Elective #2
  2. Biology Elective
  3. Biology Elective or GPH Elective
  4. CORE T/I
  • This course plan assumes a student enters knowing they want to pursue the Ecology track. It is also possible to follow the Standard track for the first three or four semesters then pursue the Ecology track. The key differences between the tracks to note are:
    • Fundamentals of Ecology (BIOL-UA 63) is required for the Ecology track, whereas Molecular and Cell Biology II (BIOL-UA 22 or 9022) is required for the Standard track (each of these courses counts as an upper-level elective for the opposite track)
    • Calculus II (MATH-UA 122) or Linear Algebra (MATH-UA 140) is required for the Ecology track, whereas General Physics II (PHYS-UA 12) is required for the Standard track
    • the lists of upper-level electives that satisfy the quantitative skills, reasoning skills, lab skills, or advanced biology requirements for each track overlap somewhat but are not identical.
  • Ecology-track students interested in study away at NYU Tel Aviv should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies for advice.

Freshman Fall

  1. Principles of Biology I (BIOL-UA 11)
  2. General Chemistry I (CHEM-UA 125)
  3. Calculus I (MATH-UA 121) *
  4. Freshman Seminar
  5. CORE course **
  • * if no AP credit
  • ** if AP Math credit

Freshman Spring

  1. Principles of Biology II (BIOL-UA 12)
  2. General Chemistry II (CHEM-UA 126)
  3. Calculus-II or Linear Algebra (MATH-UA 122 or 140)
  4. CORE SSS: Intr Psy/Soc

Sophomore Fall

  1. Fundamentals of Ecology (BIOL-UA 63)
  2. Organic Chemistry I (CHEM-UA 225)
  3. CORE (Writing in the Sciences)
  4. CORE Foreign Language I

Sophomore Spring

  1. Molecular and Cell Biology I (BIOL-UA 21)
  2. Organic Chemistry II (CHEM-UA 226)
  3. CORE C/C
  4. CORE Foreign Language II

Junior Fall

  1. Biostatistics (BIOL-UA 42)
  2. Ecological Field Methods (BIOL-UA 16), or At the Bench Course (Biology Elective #1)
  3. CORE T/I
  4. CORE Foreign Language III

Junior Spring

  1. Biology Elective #2
  2. Biology Elective #3
  3. CORE EC/Writing
  4. CORE Foreign Language IV

Senior Fall

  1. Biology Elective #4
  2. General Physics I (PHYS-UA 11)
  3. Elective
  4. Elective

Senior Spring

  1. Biology Elective #5
  2. Elective
  3. Elective
  4. Elective
  • This plan requires the student to be Calculus ready.
  • The optional Molecular and Cell Biology Lab (BIOL-UA 223) is strongly recommended for Biology majors.
  • The Fall course BIOL-GA 1045 is the preferred Biochemistry course for Biology majors interested in pre-health. If this course is not completed, students should consider Biochemistry I (CHEM-UA 881).
  • For more information on pre-health requirements, see this page and consult with a preprofessional adviser.
  • The recommended semester for study away is Sophomore Spring at NYU Tel Aviv.

Freshman Fall

  1. Principles of Biology I (BIOL-UA 11)
  2. General Chemistry I (CHEM-UA 125)
  3. Calculus I (MATH-UA 121) *
  4. Freshman Seminar
  5. CORE course **
  • * if no AP credit
  • ** if AP Math credit

Freshman Spring

  1. Principles of Biology II (BIOL-UA 12)
  2. General Chemistry II (CHEM-UA 126)
  3. CORE SSS: Intr Psy/Soc
  4. CORE (Writing in the Sciences)

Sophomore Fall

  1. Molecular and Cell Biology I (BIOL-UA 21)
  2. Molecular and Cell Biology Lab (BIOL-UA 223) (Optional, but strongly recommended)
  3. Organic Chemistry I (CHEM-UA 225)
  4. Elective
  5. CORE T/I

Sophomore Spring

  1. Molecular and Cell Biology II (BIOL-UA 22)
  2. Organic Chemistry II (CHEM-UA 226)
  3. CORE C/C
  4. Elective

Junior Fall

  1. General Physics I (PHYS-UA 11)
  2. Biology Elective #1 (BIOL-GA 1045 Protein Biochemistry)
  3. CORE Foreign Language I
  4. Elective

Junior Spring

  1. General Physics II (PHYS-UA 12)
  2. Biology Elective #2
  3. CORE Foreign Language II
  4. CORE EC/Writing

Senior Fall

  1. Biology Elective #3
  2. Biology Elective #4
  3. CORE Foreign Language III
  4. Elective or CHEM-UA 881 Biochemistry I

Senior Spring

  1. Biology Elective #5
  2. Elective
  3. CORE Foreign Language IV
  4. Elective