Biology Major, B.S.–Quantitative Biology Track

Biology is the study of life from both basic and applied perspectives across a broad range of analytical levels, from the molecule and cell to the organism and ecosystem.

This program is designed for students with a strong interest in a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates computational approaches to study biological problems, in preparation for graduate study in biological or health sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the biology (B.A., B.S.) program, students should be able to: 

  • Knowledge Base: Demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in the broad field of Biology
  • Research Methods: Apply basic research methods in the biological sciences, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation
  • Critical Thinking Skills: Demonstrate the use of critical and creative thinking skills in upper-level biology courses and in their approach to undergraduate research
  • Application of Knowledge, Research Methods, and Critical Thinking: Apply knowledge of the field of biology, research skills, and critical thinking skills to undertake a course-based, field, or laboratory research project

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must

  • earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
  • complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
  • take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
  • earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.

Gateway Course
BIOL 101
101L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Principles of Biology
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Biology Laboratory 1, H, F
4
Core Requirements
Fundamentals courses
BIOL 103IDEAs in Action General Education logo How Cells Function 2, F3
BIOL 104IDEAs in Action General Education logo Biodiversity 2, F3
BIOL 105LBiological Research Skills1
Intermediate Level Core Courses
One of the following five options: 34
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Molecular Genetics H
Cell Biology H
Evolutionary Biology
Introduction to Ecology
An organismal diversity course (see list below)
Two laboratory courses, one of which must be a quantitative biology lab course 48
A choice of three biology electives (each of three or more credits, not including BIOL 213, BIOL 222, BIOL 253, BIOL 291, BIOL 292, BIOL 293, BIOL 294, BIOL 295, BIOL 296, BIOL 353, a second semester of BIOL 395, and BIOL 495), of which at least two quantitative electives must be chosen from: 59-12
Mathematics of Evolutionary Processes
The Mathematics of Life 5
Mathematical Methods for Quantitative Biology 5
Biological Physics
Comparative Physiology
Evolutionary Genetics
Global Biodiversity and Macroecology
Analysis and Interpretation of Sequence-Based Functional Genomics Experiments 5
Computational Genetics 5, H
Seminar in Quantitative Biology 5
Quantitative Personalized Genomics 5
Mathematical Modeling in the Life Sciences
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Light Microscopy for the Biological Sciences
Comparative Biomechanics
Mathematical and Computational Models in Biology 5
Introduction to Computational Neuroscience
Statistics for Environmental Scientists 5
Statistical Analysis in Ecology and Evolution
Advanced Studies of Cell Division 5
Bioalgorithms
Mathematical and Computational Models in Biology
and Mathematical and Computational Models in Biology Laboratory
Mathematical Modeling in the Life Sciences
Biological Physics
Introduction to Medical Physics
Additional Requirements
BIOS 600Principles of Statistical Inference3
or STOR 155 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Data Models and Inference
or STOR 151 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Data Analysis
or STOR 120 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Foundations of Statistics and Data Science
CHEM 101
101L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry I
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F
4
CHEM 102
102L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry II
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F
4
CHEM 261Introduction to Organic Chemistry I H3
Select one of the following:3
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Programming with Biological Data
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Programming and Data Science H
Introduction to Scientific Programming
Foundation of Programming H
MATH 231IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F4
MATH 232IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable II H, F4
MATH 233IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of Several Variables H, F3-4
or MATH 210 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Mathematical Tools for Data Science
One of the following:4
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity H, F
One of the following:4
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta H, F
A choice of two additional allied sciences electives selected from the course list below (some courses are more than 3 credits) 66
Enough general education and free electives to accumulate 125 academic hoursvaries
Total Hours125-126
H

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

F

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

1

With a C grade or better in BIOL 101

2

Both BIOL 103 and BIOL 104 need to be completed before taking a 400-level BIOL class in the major.

3

Core courses taken beyond the required one may be used as electives.

4

One must be a quantitative laboratory chosen from BIOL 224H/BIOL 224L,BIOL 226/BIOL 226L, BIOL 451/BIOL 451L, BIOL 525/BIOL 525L, BIOL 526, BIOL 527/BIOL 527L, BIOL 528/BIOL 528L, BIOL 553/BIOL 553L, BIOL 562, or BIOL 563. BIOL 395 counts as a laboratory course for students entering in Fall 2022 or later. Other non-Q-Bio laboratory courses include all of the Organismal Structure and Diversity courses listed below, any course with an "L" designation (except BIOL 253/L, which does not count as an elective in the major), and the following courses: BIOL 255H, BIOL 256, BIOL 459, BIOL 461, BIOL 463, BIOL 535, BIOL 562, and BIOL 563.

5

Quantitative biology laboratory courses can be used as quantitative biology electives if the quantitative biology laboratory course requirement is satisfied by another course. One elective may consist of a total of three hours of BIOL courses numbered above 600 (not including BIOL 692H).

6

Premedical students are encouraged to take CHEM 241/CHEM 241L and CHEM 262/CHEM 262L.

Organismal Diversity Course List
BIOL 271
271L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Plant Biology
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Plant Biology Laboratory
4
BIOL 272Local Flora4
BIOL 273Horticulture4
BIOL 274
274L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Plant Diversity
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Plant Diversity Laboratory
4
BIOL 277
277L
Vertebrate Field Zoology
and Vertebrate Field Zoology Laboratory
4
BIOL 278
278L
Animal Behavior
and Animal Behavior Laboratory
4
BIOL 279
279L
Seminar in Organismal Biology
and Topics in Organismal Biology Laboratory
3-4
BIOL 422
BIOL 421L
Microbiology
and Microbiology Laboratory with Research
4-5
or BIOL 422
422L
Microbiology
and Microbiology Laboratory
BIOL 441
441L
Vertebrate Embryology
and Vertebrate Embryology Laboratory
4
BIOL 451
451L
Comparative Physiology
and Comparative Physiology Laboratory
4
BIOL 471
471L
Evolutionary Mechanisms
and Evolutionary Mechanisms Laboratory
4
BIOL 472Introduction to Plant Taxonomy4
BIOL 473
473L
Mammalian Morphology and Development
and Mammalian Morphology Laboratory
4
BIOL 474
474L
Evolution of Vertebrate Life
and Vertebrate Structure and Evolution Laboratory H
4
BIOL 475
475L
Biology of Marine Animals
and Biology of Marine Animals Laboratory
4
BIOL 476
476L
Avian Biology
and Avian Biology Laboratory
4
BIOL 479
479L
Topics in Organismal Biology at an Advanced Level
and Laboratory in Organismal Biology: Advanced Topics
4
BIOL 579Organismal Structure and Diversity in the Southern Appalachian Mountains4
H

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

Allied Science Electives

All allied science elective courses need to have a minimum of three credit hours.

ANTH 143Human Evolution and Adaptation3
ANTH 148IDEAs in Action General Education logo Human Origins3
ANTH 298IDEAs in Action General Education logo Biological Anthropology Theory and Practice3
ANTH 315IDEAs in Action General Education logo Human Genetics and Evolution3
ANTH 318IDEAs in Action General Education logo Human Growth and Development3
ANTH 412Paleoanthropology3
ANTH 414IDEAs in Action General Education logo Laboratory Methods: Human Osteology3
ANTH 415IDEAs in Action General Education logo Laboratory Methods: Zooarchaeology3
ANTH 416IDEAs in Action General Education logo Bioarchaeology3
ANTH 470Medicine and Anthropology3
ANTH 623Human Disease Ecology3
ASTR ---Any ASTR course above 993
BIOC 107Introduction to Biochemistry4
BIOC 108Introduction to Biochemistry4
BIOL ---Any BIOL course above 101, except BIOL 213, BIOL 291, BIOL 292, BIOL 294, BIOL 295, BIOL 296, and BIOL 4953
BIOS ---Any BIOS course3
BMME 335Biomaterials3
CHEM ---Any CHEM course above 1013
COMP ---Any COMP course above 100, except COMP 3803
EMES ---Any EMES course above 1003
ENEC 202IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to the Environmental Sciences4
ENEC 256Mountain Biodiversity4
ENEC 324IDEAs in Action General Education logo Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems3
ENEC 403Environmental Chemistry Processes3
ENEC 406Atmospheric Processes II4
ENEC 410Earth Processes in Environmental Systems4
ENEC 411Oceanic Processes in Environmental Systems4
ENEC 415Environmental Systems Modeling3
ENEC 471Human Impacts on Estuarine Ecosystems4
ENEC 489Ecological Processes in Environmental Systems4
EPID 600Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health3
EXSS 175IDEAs in Action General Education logo Human Anatomy F3
EXSS 276Human Physiology3
GEOG 110IDEAs in Action General Education logo The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth's Environmental Systems H3
GEOG 111IDEAs in Action General Education logo Weather and Climate3
GEOG 212IDEAs in Action General Education logo Environmental Conservation and Global Change3
GEOG 222Health and Medical Geography3
GEOG 253Introduction to Atmospheric Processes4
GEOL ---Any GEOL course above 1003
MASC ---Any MASC course above 1003
MATH ---Any MATH course above 110, except MATH 129P3
MCRO 251Introductory Medical Microbiology4
NSCI 175IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Neuroscience3
NSCI 222Learning H3
NSCI 225Sensation and Perception H3
NUTR 240Introduction to Human Nutrition3
PHIL 155IDEAs in Action General Education logo Truth and Proof: Introduction to Mathematical Logic H3
PHYS ---Any PHYS course above 99, except PHYS 132
PSYC 101IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Psychology F3
PSYC 210IDEAs in Action General Education logo Statistical Principles of Psychological Research H3
PSYC 220Biopsychology H3
PSYC 230Cognitive Psychology H3
STOR 120IDEAs in Action General Education logo Foundations of Statistics and Data Science F4
STOR ---Any STOR course above 1513
SPHS 570Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech, Language, and Hearing Mechanisms3
H

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

F

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans can be used as a guide to identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. The actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Students should meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests. The sample plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UNC–Chapel Hill in the fall term. Some courses may not be offered every term.

Suggested Program of Study for the Quantitative Track

Plan of Study Grid
First YearHours
First-Year Foundation Courses
IDST 101 IDEAs in Action General Education logo College Thriving 1
ENGL 105
IDEAs in Action General Education logo English Composition and Rhetoric
or IDEAs in Action General Education logo English Composition and Rhetoric (Interdisciplinary)
3
First-Year Seminar or First-Year Launch F 3
Triple-I and Data Literacy 4
Global Language through level 3 varies
Major Courses
BIOL 101
101L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Principles of Biology
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Biology Laboratory H, F
4
CHEM 101
101L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry I
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F
4
A fundamentals course BIOL 103 or BIOL 104 3
MATH 231 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F 4
MATH 232 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable II H, F 4
Hours 30
Sophomore Year
A fundamentals course BIOL 103 or BIOL 104 3
BIOL 105L Biological Research Skills 1
A core BIOL class 3
CHEM 102
102L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry II
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F
4
CHEM 261 Introduction to Organic Chemistry I H 3
BIOS 600
Principles of Statistical Inference
or IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Data Models and Inference
or IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Data Analysis
or IDEAs in Action General Education logo Foundations of Statistics and Data Science
3
MATH 233 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of Several Variables H, F 4
Gen Ed and elective courses 12
Hours 33
Junior Year
Two Biology electives including one quantitative laboratory 7
PHYS 114
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F
or IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity
4
PHYS 115
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F
or IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta
4
A programming class 3
Gen Ed and elective courses 12
Hours 30
Senior Year
Three Biology electives 10-11
Allied sciences electives (CHEM 241/CHEM 241L if premed) 6
Electives to accumulate 125 academic hours 16
Hours 32-33
Total Hours 125-126
H

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

F

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

Biology Major, NUS Joint Degree

Biology B.S. majors may wish to consider applying for the Joint Degree Program, an innovative joint undergraduate degree program between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the National University of Singapore. UNC–Chapel Hill undergraduates spend anywhere from two to four semesters at the National University of Singapore and receive a joint bachelor of science degree from both institutions. For further information, contact the Study Abroad Office.

Special Opportunities in Biology

Students are encouraged to speak with their advisor about opportunities to serve as peer advisors in the Health Professions Advising Office, or to join Tri-Beta, the National Biological Sciences Honor Society.

Honors in Biology

Candidates for honors or highest honors must secure approval from the departmental honors advisor. They must have three hours of BIOL 395, take BIOL 692H, and maintain a grade point average of 3.3, both overall and in biology courses (exclusive of BIOL 692H and including only one semester of BIOL 395), calculated at the end of the semester preceding the semester in which they graduate. Other requirements are detailed on the department website.

High-Impact/Experiential Education 

After completing BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 (or a 200-level core course under the new curriculum), students are encouraged to pursue high-impact/experiential education opportunities. The department offers several courses that meet the High-Impact/Experiential Education requirement and the Research and Discovery requirement from the General Education curriculum.

Laboratory Teaching Apprenticeships and Assistantships

Opportunities exist to assist graduate instructors in lecture or undergraduate laboratory courses. Interested students should contact the instructor of the course, and will need to submit a form to obtain approval from the departmental director of undergraduate studies.

Undergraduate Awards

All awards include a personal plaque, a monetary gift, and a place on Coker Hall’s list of department honorees. The awards include

  • The Stephen G. Brantley Award in honor of Henry Van Peters Wilson, given annually to a senior biology major for excellence in research in molecular and cellular biology.
  • The Robert Ervin Coker Award, given annually to a senior biology major for excellence in research in organismal biology and ecology.
  • The John N. Couch Award, given annually to a senior biology major with interests in plant biology who has demonstrated the highest ideals of scholarship and research.
  • The Irvine R. Hagadorn Award, given annually to the junior biology major based on academic and research excellence. This award is also recognized by the UNC–Chapel Hill chancellor at the Annual Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony.
  • The Francis J. LeClair Award, given annually to a senior biology major for academic excellence in biology with an emphasis in plant sciences.

Undergraduate Research

An undergraduate research experience can be extremely valuable to explore career choices and to prepare for postgraduate work in the biological sciences. Undergraduates may take a CURE course, and/or participate directly in the research of faculty in the Department of Biology or other departments (with Biology sponsorship). This research opportunity allows students to put their knowledge of biology into practice through participation in cutting-edge research. Students’ participation in research can begin as early as their second year by registration in BIOL 395.

Undergraduates with a 2.0 grade point average or higher in biology courses are encouraged to enroll in BIOL 395. Information concerning the procedure for enrolling in a research course can be obtained from the chair of the department’s undergraduate honors research program. Additional information can be found on the department's website.

Department of Biology

Visit Program Website

Coker Hall, 120 South Road, CB# 3280

(919) 962-3390

Chair

Robert Duronio

duronio@med.unc.edu

Departmental Advisor, Abbey Fellow

Gidi Shemer

bishemer@email.unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Steve Rogers

srogers@bio.unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Jason W. Reed

jreed@email.unc.edu

Biology Study Abroad

Elaine Yeh

yeh@email.unc.edu

Career Advising

Mara Evans

mara1@email.unc.edu

Assistant for Undergraduate Services

Summer Montgomery

sundance@unc.edu