Undergraduate Advising

Declaring Biology as Your Major

Welcome to NYU Biology at NYU Arts & Science! Get started by completing Principles of Biology I and II and General Chemistry I and II. Then, fill out the Biology Major Declaration Form to formally file, even if you applied to NYU as a Biology student. Transfer students and BA/DDS students, you may have already declared Biology as your major when you applied to NYU.

Courses vary slightly between tracks, but you do not need to state a track when declaring your major. It is possible to pursue the Standard track and then switch to the Ecology track later. Prehealth students should pursue the Standard track. Learn more about the Standard and Ecology tracks, and the Biology/GPH double-major.

Major Requirements

Sixteen courses totaling 69 or 70 credits (depending on track) with a grade of C or higher are required. For more information, visit the CAS Bulletin.

Biology Core

These four courses should be completed as early as possible to declare biology as your major, and are typically completed by the end of the sophomore year:

  • Principles of Biology I (BIOL-UA 11)
  • Principles of Biology II (BIOL-UA 12)
  • Molecular and Cell Biology I (BIOL-UA 21)
  • Standard Track: Molecular and Cell Biology II (BIOL-UA 22)
  • Ecology Track: Fundamentals of Ecology (BIOL-UA 63)

Molecular and Cell Biology I and II must be completed at NYU and cannot be transferred.

Chemistry Core

Biology majors must also establish a foundational understanding of chemistry by completing the following four courses. These courses are usually completed during your first two years.

  • General Chemistry I & Laboratory (CHEM-UA 125)
  • General Chemistry II & Laboratory (CHEM-UA 126)
  • Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory (CHEM-UA 22)
  • Organic Chemistry II & Laboratory (CHEM-UA 226)

Physics and Mathematics Core

All students must take a combination of three physics and mathematics courses, but specific courses differ slightly between the Standard and Ecology tracks. Math courses are typically completed in your first year and physics courses in junior year.

  • Calculus I (MATH-UA 121)
  • General Physics I (PHYS-UA 11)
  • Standard Track: General Physics II (PHYS-UA 12)
  • Ecology Track: Calculus II (MATH-UA 122) or Linear Algebra (MATH-UA 140)

APs, IBs, or A-Levels: A 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus exam may satisfy the Calculus I requirement. Check with Prehealth Advising for guidance if you are considering applying to medical or dental school.

Upper-Level Biology Core Courses

You must take one course in each of the following categories (laboratory, quantitative, and reasoning) as well as two electives from any category, for a total of five upper-level courses. These courses are typically completed in junior and senior year.

  • Laboratory Skills Courses- at the bench or research courses, choose at least one
  • Quantitative Skills Courses- math, computational, and modeling courses, choose at least one
  • Reasoning Skills Courses- reading-intensive courses, choose at least one
  • Two additional courses from these categories or advanced biology electives

Transfer Students

  • Molecular and Cell Biology I and II are typically completed at NYU. Transfer credits are rarely accepted for these courses.
  • If you have completed other courses that are equivalent to biology core requirements, email biology.dugs@nyu.edu.
  • Transfer students who already completed General Chemistry I & II and Organic Chemistry I & II at another university should contact the Department of Chemistry to determine if the coursework is equivalent.
  • Transfer students who already completed physics courses at another university should send their completed course syllabi to the Department of Physics’ Undergraduate Advisor to determine if the coursework is equivalent.
  • For math courses, contact the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.

Questions?

Make an appointment with a Biology advisor to go over your requirements, what you’ve completed so far, and what to register for next. To make an appointment, contact biology.dugs@nyu.edu.

Each Biology major is also assigned a faculty advisor from the department to help you select courses in the context of your academic and career goals.