Undergraduate Programs

Our undergraduate degree programs are focused in the areas of general biological sciences, molecular biology and ecology and biodiversity. We also offer a minor in biological sciences, a concentration in cognitive neuroscience and a research-oriented honors distinction program.

Students will learn a broad foundation in the fundamentals of biology, explore applications of biological sciences through case study examination, and participate in hands-on labs, gaining analytical and research skills that will serve them well after graduation.

Degree Requirements

Visit DU's current Bulletin to view specific required courses and degree plans for each of the program options listed below.

Advising questions? Send inquiries to biology.advising@du.edu. Please include your DU ID number in your email.

Biological Sciences

We offer two distinct undergraduate majors in biology and one minor.

Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences
Degree requirements
- 45 quarter hours of biology
- 20 quarter hours toward a chemistry minor OR any other minor plus one year of chemistry
- 8 quarter hours of mathematics/statistics
View a detailed course plan in the current undergraduate Bulletin.
Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences
Degree requirements
- 45 quarter hours of biology
- 20 quarter hours toward a chemistry minor PLUS a second minor from any other department or program
- 12 quarter hours of mathematics (calculus/statistics)
- 15 quarter hours of physics
View a detailed course plan in the current undergraduate Bulletin.

Students pursuing a BS might be eligible to study abroad in the accelerated Global Masters Scholars program.
Minor in Biological Sciences
A minor in biological sciences requires 20 hours of biology coursework, including:
- Physiological Systems and lab (BIOL 1010/1020; offered in Spring term)
- Evolution, Heredity & Biodiversity and lab (BIOL 1011/1021; offered in Winter term)
- 10 quarter hours of 2000-level biology coursework OR 3000-level biology coursework
Please note: if you intend for this minor to also cover the SI-NATS requirement, you must take a third course with a lab in addition to BIOL 1010/1020 and BIOL 1011/1021 from the following list:
- Cell Structure & Function (BIOL 2120/2121)
- General Genetics (BIOL 2510/2511)
- General Ecology BIOL 2010/2011)
- Human Physiology (BIOL 3250)

Ecology & Biodiversity

We offer two undergraduate majors in ecology and biodiversity.

Bachelor of Arts in Ecology and Biodiversity
Degree requirements
- 44 quarter hours of biology
- 8 quarter hours of mathematics/statistics
- 4 quarter hours of general chemistry (CHEM 1010 with lab) or NATS course by permission
Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Biodiversity
Degree requirements
- 49 quarter hours of biology
- 12 quarter hours of chemistry
- 15 quarter hours of physics
- One minor from any department within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- A second minor from any department at DU

Molecular Biology

We offer two undergraduate majors in the area of molecular biology.

Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology
Degree requirements
- 44 quarter hours in biology
- 20 quarter hours toward a chemistry minor
- 8 quarter hours of mathematics/statistics
Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology
Degree requirements
- 50 quarter hours in biology
- 20 quarter hours toward a chemistry minor PLUS a second minor selected from any other department or program
- 12 quarter hours of mathematics (calculus/statistics)
- 15 quarter hours of physics

Physiology in Health & Disease

We offer an undergraduate major in the area of physiology.

Bachelor of Science in Physiology
Degree requirements
- 50 quarter hours of coursework from biology
  - 30 hours are required courses
  - 20 hours are 2000 or 3000 level electives
- Two minors are required, one of which must be Medical Physics
- One year of chemistry and one year of mathematics are required

Integrated Sciences

Integrated Sciences is an interdisciplinary major for the student who desires general preparation for a career in a science-related field. Each student designs a unique baccalaureate program to meet his or her needs in consultation with a faculty advisor from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Sciences
Degree requirements
- 60 quarter hours of coursework selected from biological sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, physics, geography, computer science and mathematics
  - At least 20 quarter hours must be selected from two different departments
  - 30 of the 60 quarter hours must be upper-level courses (2000-level or above)
- 8 quarter hours of mathematics

Cognitive Neuroscience

A concentration in cognitive neuroscience can be pursued with the BA or BS tracks in either biology or molecular biology.

Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration for Biology Majors
Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience
- 45 quarter hours of biology
- 20 quarter hours of physics
- One year of chemistry
- 8 quarter hours of mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience
- 45 quarter hours of biology
- 20 quarter hours toward a psychology minor
- 20 quarter hours toward a chemistry minor
- 15 quarter hours of physics
- 12 quarter hours of mathematics
Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration for Molecular Biology Majors
Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology with a Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience
- 44 quarter hours of biology
- 20 quarter hours toward a minor in psychology
- 20 quarter hours toward a minor in chemistry
- 8 quarter hours of mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology with a Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience
- 50 quarter hours of biology
- 20 quarter hours toward a minor in psychology
- 20 quarter hours toward a minor in chemistry
- 15 quarter hours of physics
- 12 quarter hours of mathematics
Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration for Psychology Majors
(This gives you BOTH a Biological Sciences minor and the cognitive neuroscience concentration)

Requires the following biology courses:
- Physiological Systems and lab (BIOL 1010/1020)
- Evolution, Heredity & Biodiversity and lab (BIOL 1011/1021)
- Cell Structure & Function (BIOL 2120/2121; prerequisite for the 3000 level courses below)
- Cognitive Neuroscience (BIOL 3646) Note: this is a different course than PSYC 3035. Both seminar courses are required for the psychology major and the biology minor/cognitive neuroscience program.
PLUS any two of the following neuroscience courses:
- Introduction to Neurobiology (BIOL 3640)
- Neuropharmacology (BIOL 3642)
- Systems Neurosciences (BIOL 3641)
- Endocrinology (BIOL 3650)
- Neuromuscular Pathophysiology (BIOL 3644)
- Biophysics: Ion Channels and Disease (BIOL 3160)

Health Sciences & Pre-Health Advising

We offer comprehensive advising for health-related career paths and a Human Health Science & Systems minor.

Human Health Science & Systems Minor
Minor requirements
- 10 hours of required courses
- 10 hours of elective health courses
Pre-Health Advising

DU offers extensive advising services for students interested in pursuing medical, physician assistant, nursing, dental, pharmaceutical, physical therapy, and other health-related graduate programs. Support begins before first year and extends past graduation, and is available to students in a wide variety of majors. More information can be found at the Pre-Health Advising website.

Global Masters Scholars

DU's Department of Biological Sciences has partnered with Lund University in Sweden and University of Western Australia in Perth to bring the Global Masters Scholars Program to biology majors. A Global Masters Scholars, students can earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in biological sciences from the University of Denver and a Master of Science from one of our partner universities in just five years.