Combining study abroad with a biology major requires careful advance planning, especially if you aren’t going to take any science courses abroad. The best established programs for science majors who want to spend a semester or a year abroad are at St. Andrew’s, in Scotland, and several of the universities in Australia. It may be possible to earn credit toward the major at other, usually English-speaking international institutions, but this must be carefully planned with your advisor. If you are interested in studying abroad, be sure to meet with the Director of International Studies, in the Dean’s Office, as early as possible.

Biology majors can earn some credit toward the major requirements in programs like this. The decision is made by the Department, on an individual basis, and usually depends on the biological content of the courses chosen. If you are interested in any of these programs, you should get specific information about them as soon as possible, and discuss your plans with the Department Chair.

It is important to get prior approval of summer courses from the appropriate department chair, otherwise you might discover at the end of the summer that your courses won’t count. The approval form is available from the Dean’s Office.

These courses are often taught at the introductory level (without prerequisites), and may cover much of the same material as Biology 111 and 112. Because of this, such courses might not count toward the major. You should obtain the syllabus of a course you are interested in taking, and discuss its suitability with the Department Chair ahead of time.

Students wishing to receive credit for Biology 111 or 112 based on a dual-enrollment course taken in high school must pass a test to demonstrate a grasp of the topics included in our introductory sequence.