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The biology program prepares graduates for further study and employment in biology and related fields. Our graduates work in biotechnology, mathematical ecology, medicine, vaccine research, molecular genetics, dentistry, bioinformatics, pharmacology, neurobiology, veterinary medicine, forensic science, conservation biology, science teaching, environmental activism, and other areas.

The HMC biology major, in conjunction with the common technical core, is unique in its technical breadth. A set of required biology core courses provides a broad foundation in biology. Building on this foundation, each student, in consultation with a biology faculty advisor, selects a group of advanced biology and related technical courses that introduce a life sciences subdiscipline in depth. In addition to Harvey Mudd courses, students may draw upon the extensive course offerings at Pomona College and the Joint Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges, and the program in botany of Claremont Graduate University at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.

In addition to the Harvey Mudd technical core required of all majors, a biology major must successfully complete the following courses:

Biology Core:

• Biology 54: Biology Laboratory
• Biology 101: Structure & Function
• Biology 108: Ecology & Environmental Biology
• Biology 109: Evolutionary Biology
• Biology 113: Molecular Biology

Chemistry:

• Chemistry 56: Chemistry of Carbon Compounds
• Chemistry 58: Carbon Compounds Laboratory
• Chemistry 105: Organic Chemistry

Biology Electives:

• Thirteen units of advanced biology, selected by the student and advisor, to include:
  • at least two laboratory courses (selected from Bio 103, 110, 111, 184)
  • at least one seminar course (requiring student presentations and reading from the primary literature, selected from Bio 121, 122, 164, 185, 189) to be taken at Harvey Mudd College
  Related non-biology technical courses may be substituted for advanced biology courses with permission of the department. With prior permission, up to two credits of Bio 197/198 (Directed Reading) may count as Biology Electives.

Colloquium:

• Four units of Biology 191-192: Biology Colloquium

Capstone Project:

• Six units of Biology 193-194: Senior Thesis Research, Biology 195-196: Intensive Research, or an approved biology-related clinic (CS 183-184, Engineering 111-112, Environmental Studies 190, Math 193, or Physics 193-194)

Changes in the program may be made by agreement between the student and the department. For answers to questions about the most common situations, please check our Biology Major FAQs.

Students particularly interested in molecular biology may select the molecular biology option within the biology major.