North Central College
Course Planning for the Life Sciences

Any of the Biology or Biochemistry major plans can be adjusted to include study abroad. It's wisest to begin planning for study abroad at least by the time you register for sophomore-year courses. Depending on your study-abroad program, you may be able to take one or more major courses abroad (usually advanced electives).

Junior year usually works best, to avoid interfering with the core-course sequence. The tables below show one possible option, with study abroad fall semester, for each of the Biology and Biochemistry major programs. Generally, the order of courses could be reversed for spring semester abroad. Talk to a faculty member or your academic advisor for more information.

Option 1: Biology BS - Biological Science track
See more detail on this major on the Biology BS page.
YearFallSpring
1 BIOL 195
CHEM 121
MATH 151
GenEd seminar
BIOL 210
BIOL 290 (0 cr)
CHEM 122
MATH 152
GenEd seminar
2 BIOL 220
CHEM 251
PHYS 131
BIOL 390 (2 cr)
GenEd or elective
BIOL 230
BIOL 240 (2 cr)
CHEM 252
PHYS 132
GenEd or elective
3 Study
abroad
300-level BIOL
CHEM 310
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
4 300-level BIOL
300-level BIOL
   or BIOL 400 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
300-level BIOL
   or BIOL 400 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
Option 2: Biology BS - Biomedical Science track
See more detail on this major on the Biology BS page.
YearFallSpring
1 BIOL 195
CHEM 121
MATH 151
GenEd seminar
BIOL 210
BIOL 290 (0 cr)
CHEM 122
GenEd seminar
GenEd or elective
2 BIOL 220
CHEM 251
PHYS 131
BIOL 390 (2 cr)
GenEd or elective
BIOL 230
BIOL 240 (2 cr)
CHEM 252
PHYS 132
GenEd or elective
3 Study
abroad
BCHM 365
300-level BIOL
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
4 300-level BIOL
   or BIOL 400 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
BIOL 201
PHIL 213, SOAN 215,
   or KINE 230 or 300
GenEd or elective
300-level BIOL
   or BIOL 400 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
BIOL 202
BIOL 490 (1 cr)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
Option 3: Biology BA - Biology Professions track
See more detail on this major on the Biology BA page.
YearFallSpring
1 BIOL 195
CHEM 121
GenEd quantitative
GenEd seminar
BIOL 210
CHEM 122
BIOL 290 (0 cr)
GenEd seminar
GenEd or 2nd major
2 BIOL 220
BIOL 390 (2 cr)
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
BIOL 230
BIOL 240 (2 cr)
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
3 Study
abroad
300-level BIOL
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
4 300-level BIOL
   or BIOL 400 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
300-level BIOL
   or BIOL 400 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
GenEd or 2nd major
Option 4: Biology BA - Health Professions track
See more detail on this major on the Biology BA page.
YearFallSpring
1 BIOL 195
CHEM 121
GenEd quantitative
GenEd seminar
BIOL 210
CHEM 122
GenEd seminar
BIOL 290 (0 cr)
GenEd or elective
2 BIOL 220
CHEM 251 or PHYS 131
BIOL 201
BIOL 390 (2 cr)
GenEd or elective
BIOL 230
BIOL 240 (2 cr)
CHEM 252 or PHYS 132
BIOL 202
GenEd or elective
3 Study
abroad
300-level BIOL
BIOL 290 (0 cr)
PHIL 213 or SOAR 215
   or KINE 230 or 300
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
4 300-level BIOL
   or BIOL 400 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
300-level BIOL
   or BIOL 400 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr, Fall or Spring)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
Option 5: Biochemistry BA or BS1
See more detail about these majors on the Biochemistry page.
YearFallSpring
1 BIOL 195
CHEM 121
MATH 151
GenEd seminar
BIOL 210
BIOL 290 (0 cr)
CHEM 122
GenEd seminar
GenEd or elective
2 CHEM 251
PHYS 131
BIOL 390 (2 cr)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
BIOL 230
CHEM 252
PHYS 132
GenEd or elective
3 Study
abroad
BCHM 365
PHYS 132
CHEM 310
GenEd or elective
4 BIOL 360
CHEM 341 or 342
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective
BCHM 400 (2 cr)
BCHM 465 (2 cr)
BIOL 490 (1 cr)
GenEd or elective
GenEd or elective

Notes:

1The BS in Biochemistry requires three advanced electives in biology and/or chemistry in addition to the courses listed here.