Recommended for First Years

The following courses are recommended for first year students. Selecting the call number of a course will take you to its description. These include options for introductory biology, journal clubs, and research-related courses. You will find answers to frequently asked questions, such as how to sign up for introductory lab courses/research apprenticeship seminar, in the accordions at the bottom of this page. Please note that for AY2020–2021, several of these courses will not be offered.

BIOL BC1002 Global Health and Ecology & BIOL BC1012 Lab — Fall only (not offered in AY 20–21)

Please note: For AY20–21, we will offer BIOL BC1008 (more information coming soon!) in lieu of BIOL BC1002 + BIOL BC1012. This remote course will act as a co-requisite for enrollment in BIOL BC1501 lab for those who seek to fulfill the Science Laboratory GER or who plan to declare a major in Biology.

Fundamentals of human physiology and microbiology are explored in the context of major global health issues. Principles of ecology are outlined, with an emphasis on the bidirectional impact of the interactions of humans with the global environment. Lab exercises introduce biological techniques for studying these topics.

This course is a good first course for students with little background in Biology, but who intend to major in Biology and/or pursue a pre-health career, though it does not fulfill either of these requirements. This is also a good first course for non-science majors wishing to fulfill the Science Lab GER. Students who take BIOL BC1002 in the fall can take either BIOL BC1502/03 or BIOL BC1001 in the spring, depending on their goals (see table at the bottom of this page). Students fulfilling a Foundations requirement, may take BC1002 as a one-semester course, with no prerequisites. It also fulfills Thinking through Global Inquiry.

Lab is required. Enrollment is limited to 16 students per section.

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BIOL BC1001 Revolutionary Concepts in Biology — Spring only (not offered in AY 20–21)

Exploration of the major discoveries and ideas that have revolutionized the way we view organisms and understand life. This is an introductory survey course that explores basic concepts of molecular and cellular biology, genetics, and evolution. Students will focus on biological concepts, biotechnology, and bioethics, which inundate contemporary society. This is a foundational course intended for less experienced biologists and/or non-science majors.

This course fulfills the Science Lecture GER, but not the Science Lab GER as there is no lab component to this course.

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BIOL BC1500/BC1501 Introduction to Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Lecture & Lab (Fall) | BIOL BC1502/BC1503 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Lecture & Lab (Spring)

These courses are targeted at prospective biology majors and pre-health students, although non-majors are certainly welcome. This course is most appropriate for students with more than one biology course in high school, AP/IB Biology, or a strong interest in the field. Although most students begin the BC1500-series in the fall semester, it is perfectly acceptable to begin in the spring semester.

The fall semester lecture and lab courses focus on evolutionary and organismal biology. The spring semester lecture and lab courses focus on cell and molecular biology. Common lab times are listed in the table below, but these are subject to change each semester.

The lecture components must be taken either as co- or pre-requisites to lab and the associated recitation section. In order to receive credit for lab, students must enroll in a 0 point recitation section. Lab is not required to enroll in lecture.

Please note that for AY20–21, all labs will be offered remotely and enrollment in recitation will not be required in the fall nor the spring. Because of this, both lab courses will count for 1.5 points (instead of 2 points). Both 3 point lecture courses will require enrollment in a 0 point discussion section during the first week of classes. In the fall, two sections of the lecture course will be offered: you must attend the lecture and discussion section for which you are enrolled.

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BIOL BC1599: Science Journal Club (Section 001) 

Students participating in the Science Pathways Scholars Program will be introduced to the scientific literature by reading a mix of classic papers and papers that describe significant new developments in the field. Seminar periods will be devoted to oral reports, discussion of assigned reading, and student responses. The class meets once-a-week for one hour and is graded on a Pass-Fail basis.

BIOL BC1599: Biology Journal Club (Section 002) (not offered in AY 20–21)

This is a one point seminar course that serves as an enhancement to the Introductory Biology curriculum for first-year students who scored a 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam (or equivalent preparation) and are currently enrolled in the BIOL BC1500-level courses. The class meets once a week for one hour and is graded on a Pass-Fail basis.

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HSPP BC1001/BC1002 Research Apprenticeship Seminar (not offered in AY 20–21)

This year-long 3.0 point credit seminar is offered by the Biology Department under the auspices of the Hughes Science Pipeline Project (HSPP). It is open to 16 first-year students who are also enrolled in an introductory lab science sequence; applications will be made available via the first-year class blog.

The course will meet in a seminar format, and will discuss how research problems are defined, how scientists immerse themselves in the existing literature on a topic, how researchers craft experimental protocols and collect data, and how data can be used to test hypotheses. Students will also consider science stories in the New York Times and lead formal debates about ethical and social issues. Occasionally, the seminar period will be devoted to tours of faculty science labs to learn about the research that Barnard professors conduct and the research opportunities available on campus.

Additionally, students will participate in a month-long laboratory rotation each semester. During the rotation period, each student will spend 3 hours per week shadowing a Barnard junior or senior Research Intern who is conducting a year-long research project. In addition to this exposure to research at Barnard, students will discuss how to obtain summer science internships in laboratories off campus. Seminar assignments will include readings about the research process, as well as short library-based research projects about scientific claims in textbooks. In the fall, students will develop their presentation skills in a session with Barnard’s Speaking Fellows. In the spring, each student will deliver an oral presentation about the research career of a scientist of her choosing.

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BIOL BC3597 Guided Research

For AY 20–21, remote projects may be suitable to enroll in this course. You may want to confirm with your internal adviser once you identify them and confirm that 

This is a variable-point course without a seminar component that is offered during the academic year in order for students conducting research (either on or off campus) to receive degree credit for their work based on the number of hours they are working. Once you have planned your project with your mentor, and discussed it with your internal Barnard adviser (if your lab is off campus), you should complete and submit a Project Approval Form.

Each Barnard faculty member has their own section of Guided Research; all sections automatically place students on a wait list. You should sign up for the section assigned to your Barnard Research Mentor. If your lab is outside of Barnard, you must have an Internal Adviser and will sign up in that adviser’s section. Please note that you must contact an internal adviser PRIOR to signing up for their section in order for them to remove you from the wait list and PRIOR to submitting a Project Approval Form. Students should also note that BIOL BC3597 Guided Research does not count toward the major, but rather, counts toward degree credit.

For more information on undergraduate research at Barnard, visit: Undergraduate Research.

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The following table summarizes which course(s) you should take depending on your goals and background in biology. Visit the First Year & Prospective Major FAQ for more information.

**You are no longer required to take two science lectures from the same discipline to satisfy the Lab Science GER. Therefore, you may take BIOL BC1001, BIOL BC1500, or BIOL BC1502 lectures, in combination with a lecture+lab from a different scientific discipline. Or you may take the lecture + lab combinations of BIOL BC1002/1012 (Fall), BIOL BC1500/1501 (Fall), or BIOL BC1502/1503 (Spring) with a lecture from a different discipline.

For AY 20–21, you may take BIOL BC1008 in combination with a lecture+lab from a different scientific discipline.

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Introductory Biology Labs (BC1012 & BC1501/BC1503)

Sign-up for BC1012 and BC1501/BC1503 labs are the same as all other courses. Please note that BC1012 will not be offered in AY 20–21.

If you receive a spot in a lab, you MUST attend the first lab. If you are absent from the first lab, you will be dropped from the course and your spot will be filled. Introductory labs typically meet starting the 2nd week of classes.