Suggested Degree Pathway for Biology - Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Option

For students who entered fall 2023 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BIOL.1110Principles of Biology I3
BIOL.1170LPrinciples of Biology I Laboratory1
BIOL.1160Freshmen Seminar1
CHEM.1210Chemistry I (SCL)3
CHEM.1230LChemistry I Lab1
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100		College Writing I / FYSH (CW)3
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)13

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BIOL.1120Principles of Biology II3
BIOL.1180LPrinciples of Biology II Laboratory1
CHEM.1220Chemistry II (SCL)3
CHEM.1240LChemistry II Lab1
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)3
MATH.1380Calculus for Life Sciences I4

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
BIOL.2xxxOrganisms, Evolution and Environment Elective2/63
CHEM.2210Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM.2290LOrganic Chemistry IB Lab1
MATH.2830Statistics (MATH)63
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)13
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
CHEM.2230Organic Chemistry IIB3
CHEM.2300LOrganic Chemistry IIB Lab1
BIOL.2330LExperimental Methods in Biology62
BIOL.2350Genetics (CTPS), (QL)2/64
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective33
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BIOL.2xxxCell and Tissue Elective2/63
BIOL.3150Principles of Ecology3
BIOL.3170LPrinciples of Ecology Lab2
PHYS.1030General Physics I (STEM)3
PHYS.1030LGeneral Physics I Lab1
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)13

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
BIOL.4260Evolutionary Biology3
PHYS.1040General Physics II3
PHYS.1040LGeneral Physics II Lab1
xxxx.3/4xxxEcology Elective4/63
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective33
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15-16
BIOL.4510Senior Seminar (AIL), (WOC), (IL)62
xxxx.3/4xxxEcology Elective w/Lab4/64-5
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective33
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective33
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective33

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total12-13
BIOL.3/4xxxBiodiversity Elective w/Lab4/64-5
xxxx.3/4xxxEcology Elective4/63
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective33
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective3/51-3
Total Minimum Credits = 120

1The Arts and Humanities (AH) and Social Sciences (SS) perspectives are subsets of the Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) requirements in the Core Curriculum. No more than two BOK courses can be taken with the same four-letter prefix.

The Core Curriculum also includes seven Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs). The Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) and Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) are met outside the major requirements. See the DCA course listing and the SRE course listing for a full list of classes that fulfill these requirements.

The Class Search tool can be used to identify AH and SS courses that simultaneously satisfy the DCA or SRE requirement.

The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your college-based professional advisor and/or faculty advisor to determine how best to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements.

2Students are required to take one course from the “Organisms, Evolution, and Environment” (OEE) category and one from the “Cell and Tissue” (CT) category to ensure they have adequate Breadth of Knowledge at the sophomore level. Students should consult with their advisor regarding course selection to satisfy the OEE and CT elective requirements. BIOL.2400 Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation is recommended as the OEE elective for the Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology option as it is a pre-requisite for upper-level Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology option electives.

  • Organisms, Evolution, and Environment Electives
  • Cell and Tissue Electives

3Free Electives can be satisfied by any UML course xxxx.1010 or above, with the following exceptions:

  • Courses with the MATH prefix must be above the level of Calculus I.
  • Courses with the LIFE prefix may NOT be used.
  • Additional Biology courses can be used, but NO MORE than 60 credits of BIOL coursework may be applied towards the minimum 120 credits requirement to graduate.

4Students must complete four (4) upper-level electives – two (2) of which must be lab courses. These courses are selected from two different categories:

Note: Some labs can be taken as a 3 credit lecture with a 1 credit lab or both combined into a 4 credit class. In addition, some lab courses have a 3 credit lecture with 2 credit lab for a total of 5 credits.

5Free Elective can vary from 1-3 credits depending on the number of 1 credit or 2 credit labs completed. For example:

  • If a student completes no more than two elective 1 credits labs (whether the lab is a separate course or combined with the lecture into a 4 credit class), then Free Elective will be a 3 credit class.
  • However, if a student completes no more than two elective labs and each has a separate 2 credit lab, then the student will have earned two additional credits which can be counted towards Free Elective thus reducing it to one credit.

6Courses may be taken in either semester of the year listed.

No more than two Breadth of Knowledge courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.