Biology Major Frequently Asked Questions
Review our Degree Map (https://www.ucdenver.edu/student/advising/degree-maps/four-year#CLAS ) to see a generic four year plan. Meet with a Biology Advisor to make a plan just for you.
Biology electives should be selected to accommodate your individual interests and professional goals. Meet with a Biology Advisor for help selecting.
The Biology Major may prove challenging for some students. We recommend students enroll in no more than two science courses in any semester. Courses with labs require more time, plan for that in your schedule. We do not recommend taking Organic Chemistry and Human Anatomy, at the same time. Consider following our suggested Degree Map (https://www.ucdenver.edu/student/advising/degree-maps/four-year#CLAS)
Speak with the course instructor. Faculty may be able to assist you in isolating your academic struggle and offer suggestions on ways to improve your performance in the course. There may be tutoring, supplemental instruction, workshops, or other resources available through the Learning Resource Center--take advantage of these university services.
Are you using study time effectively? You should plan 5-7 hours of study per week, for each 3 credit course. You may want to visit the library or purchase a college study skills book.
Our required biology classes (like General Biology) are offered both online and on-campus. We try to offer these online at least once a year. Some biology electives are offered online sporadically.
We offer the required biology courses (i.e., Gen Bio) every semester including summer. There are a variety of upper division biology electives to choose from. Not all upper division biology electives are offered every semester. The Catalog description for each course provides information on which semesters each class is offered. A search of BIOL courses in the Schedule Planner in UCDAcess lists the biology courses offered in a given semester.
Biology courses are designed to build on prior knowledge. Courses may have prerequisites that must be completed before taking a course. You will be blocked from registering if you have not completed the prerequisites. Prerequisites are determined by the instructors and ensure the background needed to succeed in the course. If you have completed the prerequisites at another institution not listed in the CU Denver system but the system is not recognizing it, contact the Biology transfer evaluation advisor.
Get to know your professors. Faculty may assist you with gaining research experience, offer advice & mentoring, and build on academic relationships for future requests for letters of recommendation.
CU Denver's Health Professions Advisors are available to discuss undergraduate and non-degree seeking curriculum, specific health program admissions requirements, and to guide your overall direction toward a future in the health professions.
To make sure your course plan is on track, plan regular appointments to see your Biology Advisor. Before your appointment, review your Degree Audit in UCDAccess and bring questions.
You can find it in several places. It is in the UC Denver Catalog in the Course Description. It is in the Schedule Planner if you click on the course for more information. Here is a graphic of the prerequisites
Departmental honors are awarded to students based on their grade point average in classes taken at CU Denver. The following minimum grade point averages must be met for all biology courses in the major AND all additional courses taken at CU Denver: cum laude >3.500; magna cum laude >3.700; summa cum laude > 3.900.
For students at Colorado Community Colleges, the science/math courses which will apply to the Biology Major are: BIO111&112, CHE111&112, , MAT121, 122, 201.
You can research your institution and courses with Transferology (https://www.transferologylab.com/index.htm). Once you have been admitted to CU Denver, you may process a Degree Audit via the UCD Portal to verify how your transfer courses have applied to your degree (go to UCD Access → Student tab → Degree Audit).