Academic Advice FAQs

Yes, there are some courses you must take to graduate with an AB or a BS degree in Biology from Lafayette College.  The list can be found here.

You must take BIOL 111, BIOL 112, BIOL 113, two courses above BIOL 205, and one course at the 300 level. More information can be found here.

All faculty in the Biology department have a course attendance policy, which applies to both, lecture and lab. Faculty members may state this policy slightly differently in their syllabi, but in most cases, there is a maximum number of absences allowed. The attendance policy is particularly strict in lab, and it is unlikely that you will be allowed to miss a lab period without a dean’s absence verification. Furthermore, even with a dean’s absence verification, you might be asked to withdraw from the class if you miss the maximum lecture or lab periods you are allowed to miss, as specified by the faculty member teaching the class.

We strongly encourage you to confirm the maximum number of absences allowed in a specific course with the faculty member teaching the class before registration. If you are not certain you can attend a particular class regularly without exceeding the maximum number of absences allowed, we do not advise you to take that class. This is particularly relevant in courses with lab scheduled for Friday afternoon. If you foresee that your commitments will prevent you from attending lab regularly, do not register for that class.

If you are pursuing a BS degree, you can wait to take MATH 161 after you complete BIOL 113 (preferred).  You can also take MATH 125 or MATH 141 before taking MATH 161. Check your suggested schedule here.

We strongly recommend you take BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 in your first year.  You can postpone taking chemistry until your sophomore year; however, we strongly suggest you complete your chemistry requirement no later than your junior year. Check your suggested schedule here.

BIOL 111 is only offered in fall; BIOL 112 is only offered in spring.  BIOL 113 is offered both semesters.

The Biology department only accepts a grade of 5 on the AP exam.  Should you decide to use your AP credit, then we would recommend you take your FYS course, CHEM 107, MATH 161, and a course that meets the common course of study requirements.

Welcome to college! Your academic advisor is your first and most important mentor—a partner dedicated to helping you successfully transition into college life and lay a solid foundation for your future. Your academic advisor will help you with:

• Mapping your first year: working together with your advisor, you will select the right first-year courses that fulfill general requirements (usually referred to as the “Common Course of Study” or CCS), introduce you to your potential major, and create a manageable course load to ease your adjustment.

• Understanding degree basics: Advisors simplify complex college rules. They’ll help you understand foundational topics like credit hours, GPAs, academic probation, and how to officially track your degree progress.

• Exploring possibilities: Even if you’re undecided, your advisor is here to help you explore different majors and minors through recommended introductory courses and campus connections.

• Connecting you to support: College is a big place! If you are facing academic challenges (like time management or study skills) or personal issues, your advisor is the first person to talk to. We serve as your direct link to tutoring, counseling, career services, and other specialized resources designed to ensure your well-being and success.

Your academic advisor is here to help you to make confident, informed decisions right from day one, setting the trajectory for a successful four years.

Remember: your academic advisor is a crucial mentor and strategic partner throughout your collegiate journey. Even if you already navigated your first year of college successfully, an academic advisor will facilitate your academic success and holistic development by providing expert guidance across several key areas:

• Course planning: They assist you in strategic course selection to ensure you meet degree requirements efficiently, manage your course load effectively, and align your schedule with your long-term goals.

• Degree navigation: Advisors guide you through the processes of major/minor declaration, tracking your progress, and handling general petitions for course substitutions, transfer credit evaluation, and graduation checks.

• Personal and professional growth: Beyond logistics, they foster your personal and professional development by discussing career aspirations, connecting academic paths to real-world opportunities (like internships or research), and helping you cultivate essential skills.

• Resource connection: Advisors serve as a critical bridge to the broader college ecosystem. They are trained to listen and refer you to specialized campus resources when you encounter complex personal or academic challenges requiring expert intervention.

That’s a great question, and it’s true that you’ll receive valuable input from peers, faculty outside our department, and other mentors on campus. However, while those sources offer helpful personal experiences and expanded perspectives on college life, they cannot replace the specialized role of the official academic advisor assigned to you, as Biology major, by the Biology department.

Here is why your assigned advisor in the Biology department is indispensable:

• Official authority and accuracy: Your advisor is prepared to interpret and apply complex academic policies, degree requirements, and most college regulations. Peer advice, while well-intentioned and occasionally helpful, can often be based on outdated, inaccurate, or specific, personal circumstances that do not apply to your situation.

• Specialized program knowledge: your advisor is a faculty member in the Biology department, and as such, they possess in-depth expertise regarding our curriculum, ideal course sequencing, research opportunities, and career paths specific to your field of study. This is knowledge no general peer can offer.

• Holistic and strategic planning: Your advisor has a comprehensive view of your entire four-year plan, and can help you align course selection with long-term professional or graduate school goals. Advisors focus on efficiency and official compliance, ensuring you don’t waste time or credits.

In summary: Think of campus resources and peers as your navigation tools, but your academic advisor is your certified, expert pilot. It is always wise to listen to other opinions, but only your advisor can provide the accurate, official, and personalized academic guidance required to successfully earn your degree.

The Biology department makes every possible effort to advise all Biology majors. Once you declare Biology as your intended major, you will be assigned a faculty member in the Biology department as your academic advisor. In rare cases, due to constraints related to the maximum number of students that can be advised by a faculty member, some first-year students may be advised by another Lafayette faculty member. However, if you are a first-year student being advised by a faculty member outside the Biology department, and have specific questions about academics and/or course scheduling, you can always reach out to the head of the Biology department. If already are a Lafayette student, you can find your academic advisor’s name on your Degree Audit page.

Our curriculum prepares you for a career in any branch of biology and the health sciences.  However, we understand that some graduate or professional schools may have specific requirements.  Therefore, you should contact the Health Professions Advisory Committee for more detailed information.

Your academic advisor in the Biology department will be able to help you.  You should also visit the Gateway Career Center for more information.

All these courses can be found here.

If you are confident in your preparedness, the most likely course schedule for an AB major in Biology can be found here.  For more information, visit our Course Selection Advice web page.

If you are confident in your preparedness, the most likely course schedule for an BS major in Biology can be found here.  For more information, visit our Course Selection Advice web page.

Most students find it suitable to study abroad it in the spring semester of their junior year, when they have completed the introductory biology sequence and co-curricular requirements. However, in some cases, depending on course requirements, interests, personal commitments, or destination, the spring semester may be more favorable.  If you are not conducting honors thesis research, study abroad could also be carried out in your senior year; this, however, must be done in the fall semester, as you must take our Capstone course (BIOL 490) in the spring semester, when it is offered. Finally, winter interim and summer study abroad programs are also available.

You should start as early as possible: plan what courses you would like to take before leaving, what courses you will need (or want) to take upon your return to campus, search for programs, confirm application deadlines, and consider all options and conditions. More realistically, your planning should be done in the fall semester of your sophomore year if you plan to leave in the fall of your junior year. If you plan to apply for study abroad in the spring of your junior year, you should start planning your trip in the spring semester of your sophomore year. Remember: there are firm application deadlines!

You will need to get in touch with your academic advisor first to discuss your interests and potential programs. You should also discuss with the department head whether the courses you plan to take abroad are transferrable to Lafayette and can substitute for specific biology courses. Finally, you must also get in touch with the staff at the Study Abroad program. The program has very specific guidelines and requirements you must meet before you are allowed to apply for study abroad. Visit their website for more comprehensive information.