NOTE: Biology 101-101L is the prerequisite for most advanced work in biology. However, entering Freshmen may earn placement credit for Biology 101-101L by either: (1) scoring 3 or higher on the Biology Advanced Placement examination or (2) taking and passing the Department of Biology placement test offered several times during the year.

Please follow this link for a list of undergraduate courses sorted by the old course numbers (prior to fall 2006).

053 [006D] First Year Seminar. Biotechnology: Genetically Modified Foods to the Sequence of the Human Genome (3). Introduction, in a first year seminar, to recent advances in genetics and cell biology, and discussion and debate concerning how these advances are changing medicine, agriculture, and other aspects of our lives.

055 [006D] First Year Seminar. The Roots and Flowering of Civilization: A Seminar on Plants and People (3). The focus of this first year seminar will be on the transition from hunter-gatherer, the interchange of crops, medicinal and psychoactive plants, and organic vs. industrial farming methods.

057 [006D] First Year Seminar. Detecting the Future: Human Diseases and Genetic Tests (3). A first year seminar focusing on the future of human diseases and genetic tests.

101 [011] Principles of Biology (3). Open to all undergraduates. Prerequisite to most higher courses in biology. An introduction to the fundamental principles of biology, including cell structure, chemistry and function, genetics, evolution, adaptation, and ecology. (See note above concerning Advanced Placement examination.) Three lecture hours a week.

101L [011L] Introductory Biology Laboratory (1). Prerequisite or corequisite, BIOL 101. An examination of the fundamental concepts in biology with emphasis on scientific inquiry. Biological systems will be analyzed through experimentation, dissection, and observation. Three laboratory hours a week.

111 [001] Biology Inquiry (1). No prerequisite. A seminar course that focuses on how biologists ask questions and resolve controversy. Students read and discuss excerpts from the original literature. Designed for freshmen but open to all interested students.

113 [010] Issues in Modern Biology (3). For students not majoring in biology. Students who have taken any other course in the Biology Department may not register for this course. Recent advances in the understanding of major principles in biology. Emphasis to include the relevance and application of such advances to humans, society, and the environment. Three lecture hours a week.

128 [008] Biology of Human Disease (PATH 128) (3). No prerequisites. Open to all undergraduates. Presents an overview of basic human molecular and cellular biology in the setting of common human diseases. The course will emphasize how an understanding of disease mechanisms provides the knowledge base for informed use of modern health care. Does not count as a course in the major.

159 [009] Prehistoric Life (GEOL 159) (3). Fossils and the origin and evolution of life, including micro- and macroevolution, mass extinctions, the evolution of dinosaurs and humans, and scientific perspectives on multicultural creationism. (Optional lab.) Cannot be used as a major requirement in biology. Does not count as a course in the major.

159L [009L] Prehistoric Life Laboratory (GEOL 159L) (1). Normal laboratory is one credit hour; two credit hour laboratory includes internship (3-5 hours, once a week) at the N.C. Museum of Natural History as part of APPLES program.

201 [054] Ecology and Population Biology (4). Prerequisites, grade of C or better in BIOL 101 and CHEM 101 or CHEM 102. Principles governing the ecology and evolution of populations, communities, and ecosystems, including speciation, population genetics, population regulation, and community and ecosystem structure and dynamics. Three lecture and one recitation-demonstration-conference hour a week.

202 [050] Molecular Biology and Genetics (4). Prerequisites, grade of C or better in BIOL 101 and CHEM 101 or CHEM 102. Structure and function of nucleic acids, principles of inheritance, gene expression, and genetic engineering. Three lecture hours and one recitation-demonstration-conference hour a week.

205 [052] Cellular and Developmental Biology (4). Prerequisite, BIOL 202. Fundamentals of cell structure and activity in relation to special functions, metabolism, reproduction, embryogenesis, and with an introduction to the experimental analysis of cell physiology and development. Three lectures and one recitation-demonstration-conference hour a week.

211 [060] Introduction to Research in Biology (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 201or 202. A seminar based on current investigations at UNC-Chapel Hill. Students will examine sources of scientific information, explore the logic of scientific investigation, and develop proposals for their own work. Not open to seniors. Students with BIOL 211 credit may receive a maximum of 3 hours of graded credit in BIOL 395.

213 [031] Evolution and Life (3). Prerequisite, BIOL 101. For students not majoring in biology. An introduction to the scientific study of biological evolution and its applications. The mechanisms that cause evolution and general patterns of evolution during the history of life. Does not count as a course in the major.

251 [044] Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology (3). This course relates the way in which the human body is constructed to the way in which it functions and is controlled. Credit for only one of BIOL 251 and BIOL 252. Only offered through Continuing Studies.

252 [045] Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology (4). Prerequisites, BIOL 101 and 101L. An introductory course emphasizing the relationship between and function of the body's organ systems. The required lab uses computer software to illustrate anatomy and noninvasive experiments to measure activity of major organ systems. Three lecture and three laboratory hours each week.

253 [084] (ENST 404) Mountain Diversity. (4). Introduction to the rich diversity of plants, animals, and fungi of the Southern Appalachians, focusing on their ecology, systematics, evolution, and conservation.

262 [064] Global Ecology: An International Perspective on Ecological and Environmental Problems (ENST 262) (3). Prerequisite, BIOL 201. Ecological basis of global environmental problems and their solutions. Topics include: human population growth; food and water shortages; biodiversity loss, deforestation; desertification; emerging diseases and climate change. These are elements in an interconnected ecological system at a global scale.

271 [041] Plant Biology (4). Prerequisites, BIOL 101, BIOL 101L. Designed for students with an interest in natural sciences. An introduction to the principles of botany including structure, function, reproduction, heredity, environmental relationships, evolution, and classification of plants. Three lectures and three laboratory hours a week.

272 [43] Local Flora (4). Prerequisites, BIOL 101, BIOL 101L. Open to all undergraduates. Recognition and identification of vascular plants with emphasis on the use of keys and other identification devices. Two lecture and four laboratory hours a week.

273 [47] Horticulture (4). Prerequisite, BIOL 101. The cultivation, propagation, and breeding of plants, with emphasis on ornamentals. Control of environmental factors for optimal plant growth. Laboratory exercises include plant culture, propagation, pruning, and identification of common ornamentals. Two lecture, one recitation, and three laboratory hours a week.

274 [051] Plant Diversity (4). Prerequisites, BIOL 101, BIOL 101L. A survey of the major groups of plants emphasizing interrelationships, comparative morphology, and other topics of biological importance. Culturing techniques and some field work are included. Two lecture and four laboratory hours a week.

275 [080] Biology of Insects (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 101, BIOL 101L. Study of insects with emphasis on physiology, ecology, and behavior. Three lecture, discussion, and demonstration hours a week.

275L Biology of Insects Laboratory (1). Prerequisites, BIOL 101 and 101L; corequisite, BIOL 275. Identification of insects and laboratory studies in insect physiology, ecology, and behavior; student projects in insect biology. Three laboratory hours a week and field collections.

276 [063] Structure and Evolution of Vertebrates (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 101, BIOL 101L. A history of the human body with emphasis on evolutionary history of vertebrates and anatomical evolution of organ systems. Three lecture hours a week.

276L [063L] Vertebrate Structure and Evolution Laboratory (1). Prerequisite or corequisite, BIOL 276. Vertebrate comparative anatomy of organ systems and their evolution with emphasis on human anatomy. Three laboratory hours a week.

277 [072] Vertebrate Field Zoology (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 101, 101Lab. Introduction to the diversity, ecology, behavior, and conservation of living vertebrates. Three lecture hours a week.

277L [072L] Vertebrate Field Zoology Laboratory (1). Prerequisites, BIOL 101 and 101L; corequisite, BIOL 277. Study of the diversity of vertebrates in the field. Three laboratory and field hours a week, including two weekend trips.

278 [073] Animal Behavior (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 101, BIOL 101L. Introduction to animal behavior with emphases on the diversity and adaptation of behavior in natural conditions. Three lecture hours a week.

278L [073L] Animal Behavior Laboratory (1). Prerequisite or corequisite, BIOL 278. Techniques of observation and experiments in animal behavior. Three laboratory hours a week.

279 [097] Special Topics in Organismal Biology (2-3). Prerequisite, permission of instructor. An undergraduate course devoted to consideration of pertinent aspects of a selected organismal biological discipline.

279L [097L] Special Topics in Organismal Biology Laboratory (1-2). Prerequisite, permission of instructor. An undergraduate laboratory course covering aspects of a specific organismal biological discipline. Laboratory reports will be required. Research work is not included in this course.

290 [096] Special Topics (1-3). Prerequisite, permission of the staff. An undergraduate seminar course devoted to consideration of pertinent aspects of a selected biological discipline.

290L [096L] Special Topics Laboratory (1-2). Prerequisite, permission of the staff. An undergraduate laboratory course covering aspects of a specific biological discipline. Laboratory reports will be required. Research work is not included in this course.

291 [090] Laboratory Intern in Biology (1). Prerequisites, 3.0 or higher in course in question and all biology work, and permission of instructor. Experience to include laboratory preparations, demonstrations, assistance, and attendance at weekly laboratory preparation meetings for the course. Interns will not be involved in any aspects of grading in the course. May be repeated with credit. Three laboratory hours a week.

292 [091] Laboratory Teaching Assistant in Biology (2). Prerequisites, 3.0 or higher in course in question and all biology work and permission of instructor and department chair. Experience and duties to include attendance at weekly laboratory preparation meetings for the course, laboratory preparations, demonstrations, instruction, and grading in one section of laboratory course. May be repeated for credit. Three laboratory hours a week.

293 Undergraduate Internship in Biology (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 201 or 202 and permission of instructor. For departmental majors in biology. The sponsored, off-campus work must involve at least 135 hours. Does not count as a course in the major.

295 Undergraduate Research in Biology (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 201 or 202 and permission of instructor. For departmental majors in Biology. The work must involve at least 135 hours of research effort in which students learn to ask appropriate questions and place results within suitable frameworks. Does not count as a course in the major.

296 [095] Directed Reading (1-3). Prerequisite, permission of the staff. Extensive and intensive reading of the literature of a specific biological field directly supervised by a member of the biology faculty. Written reports on the readings, or a literature review paper will be required. Cannot be used as a course toward the major.

321 [124] Introduction to Immunology (MCRO 321) (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 202, BIOL 205, and permission of instructor. This course provides a general overview of the evolution, organization, and function of the immune system. Instruction will be inquiry-based with extensive use of informational and instructional technology tools. Three lectures hours a week.

324 [135] Molecular Basis of Disease (3). Prerequisites, BIOL 202 and BIOL 205, or permission of instructor. This course covers the molecular mechanisms of human diseases, including genetic diseases, infectious diseases, immunodeficiencies, nutritional disorders, cancer, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders.

350 [126] Oceanography (ENVR 417, GEOL 403, MASC 401) (3). Prerequisites, major in a natural science or at least two college-level courses in natural sciences. The origin of ocean basins, chemistry and dynamics of seawater, biological communities and processes, the sedimentary record, and history of oceanography. Term paper. Intended for students with college science background; other students should see GEOL 103. Three lecture hours a week.

382 [092] Senior Seminar (1). Prerequisite, faculty recommendation. Offered to seniors for more detailed and comprehensive exposure to unifying principles in biology. Discussions and analyses of selected topics by students. Three seminar hours a week.

395 [098A] Undergraduate Research (1-3). Prerequisites, BIOL 101, BIOL 101L, an overall 3.0 grade point average, and permission of a faculty research director. Directed readings with laboratory study on a selected topic. A final written report is required each term. May be repeated for a total of no more than six credit hours. BIOL 395 credit from three to five hours may be counted as one lecture course in the major; or six hours of BIOL 395, or BIOL 395 and BIOL 691H credit can be counted as a lecture course with a laboratory in the major.

396 [098B] Undergraduate Research (1-3). Prerequisites, BIOL 395, an overall 3.0 grade point average, and permission of a faculty research director. Directed readings with laboratory study on a selected topic. A final written report is required each term. May be repeated. This course is offered for pass/fail credit only.