Programs · Barnard College · 2025-2026

1. Introductory Biology & Genetics

   All of these

   All of these: BIOL BC1500, BIOL BC1510, BIOL BC1501, BIOL BC1511, BIOL BC1502, BIOL BC1512, BIOL BC1503, BIOL BC1513, BIOL BC2100.

   The full introductory sequence, discussion and recitation sections included: Organismal & Evolutionary Biology (BC1500) with its discussion (BC1510) and lab (BC1501) with its recitation (BC1511); Cell & Molecular Biology (BC1502) with its discussion (BC1512) and lab (BC1503) with its recitation (BC1513); and Genetics (BC2100). The department recommends but does not require taking Genetics immediately after the 1500-level sequence.

2. Five upper-level lectures

   N matching

   5 courses matching BIOL or CHEM or EEEB courses, numbered 2200 to 4999, not counting courses already used for another group in this program.

   Five upper-level lecture courses. Which categories they must come from depends on your specialization — General Biology needs at least one from each of C&M, P&O and E&E; the three focused specializations need four from their own category and one from another. See the distribution requirement below.

3. Upper-level category distribution

   Attested

   You confirm this yourself. My five upper-level lectures satisfy my specialization's category distribution.

   General Biology: at least one lecture from each of Cellular & Molecular, Physiology & Organismal, and Ecology & Evolutionary. C&M, P&O or E&E: four from your own category plus one from another. Computational Biology: four CB-COMP plus one CB-BIOL. You certify this because the department's category lists overlap deliberately and a course may be used toward only ONE category — a rule about how your courses are assigned, not about any course. Several rows are also marked "cannot fulfill the breadth requirement".

4. Three upper-level laboratories

   N matching

   3 courses matching BIOL courses, numbered 2101 to 3999, not counting courses already used for another group in this program.

   Three upper-level Barnard Biology labs — numbered above BIOL BC2100. COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY students need only ONE, from a restricted list (BC3303, BC3305, BC3311, BC3321, BC3361, BC3363). Two options this cannot see: the year-long Guided Research & Seminar (BC3591 + BC3592) may fulfil up to two of the three, and non-CB students may count exactly one CB-Comp course as a lab — but then it cannot also count as an elective.

5. Senior Capstone Experience

   One sequence

   One sequence: Senior Seminar (BIOL BC3590), or Senior Thesis Research and Seminar (BIOL BC3593, BIOL BC3594).

   One semester of BIOL BC3590 Senior Seminar, or the year-long Senior Thesis Research and Seminar (BIOL BC3593 then BC3594), which is only offered fall-to-spring. One interaction to watch: if you are using Guided Research & Seminar to fulfil two upper-level labs you may NOT take Senior Thesis at the same time — your capstone must then be BIOL BC3590.

6. Chemistry

   All of these

   All of these: CHEM BC2001, CHEM BC3230, CHEM BC3328.

   One semester of General Chemistry with laboratory and one semester of Organic Chemistry with laboratory. The page names three codes — CHEM BC2001 (General Chemistry lecture, fall only), CHEM BC3230 (Organic lecture) and CHEM BC3328 (Organic lab) — and does not name the general chemistry laboratory, so it is not encoded here; check it with your adviser. Equivalent Columbia courses may be substituted. COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY students do NOT take this at all: they complete one introductory computing course (COMS W1004, COMS BC1016 or ENGI E1006) and one introductory statistics course (STAT UN1010, UN1101, UN1201, UN2102, NSBV BC2002 or EEEB UN3005) instead.