Welcome Class of 2020!

Here is a link to a document with detailed information about undergraduate biology at Dartmouth.

We also have prepared a series of short videos to help you learn about biology courses and the path to a biology major or minor as well as how to get involved in life sciences research.

Links to Videos

Please note that these videos were prepared at the start of the 2015-2016 academic year, but the material also pertains to the 2017-2018 academic year.

Beginning Your Study in Biology at Dartmouth
Prof. Tom Jack talks about how to decide which biology course to take first, including information about the Biology Advisory/Placement test.

Biology 2 – Human Biology
Prof. Lee Witters talks about his non-majors course Biology 2 that will be offered in the fall.

An Introduction to Biology 11
Description:  Prof. Rob McClung talks about the principles and concepts that are covered in Biology 11. Click here to see the descriptions for Biology 11 offerings for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Biology 11 – Fall offering: Major Events in the History of Life and the Human Genome
Prof. Kevin Peterson gives an overview of the Biology 11 offering that he will teach in the fall of 2016.

Biology 11 – Winter offering:  Emerging Infectious Diseases:  How Microbes Rule the World
Prof. Mary Lou Guerinot gives an overview of the Biology 11 offering that she and Prof. Rob McClung will teach in the winter of 2017.

Biology 11 – Spring offering:  Animal Minds
Prof. Mark Laidre gives an overview of the Biology 11 offering that he and Prof. Tom Jack will teach in the spring of 2017.

The Foundation Courses
Prof. Natasha Grotz talks about the topics covered by the foundation courses, the role of these courses in the major. 

Majoring in Biology at Dartmouth
Description:  Prof. Sharon Bickel gives an overview of the structure of the major, including prerequisites, areas of concentration and introductory, intermediate and upper level courses.

The Biology Foreign Study Program
FSP faculty give a history and overview of the program that give students the opportunity to conduct original ecological research at field stations in Costa Rica and the Caribbean.

Independent Research for Credit
Maximilian Jentzsch ’15 talks about doing research for credit (BIOL 95/96/97).

How Do I Find a Research Lab?
Maximilian Jentzsch ’15 talks about tools for finding a research lab and how he found a lab.

How to choose your first biology class at Dartmouth

For the 2016 fall term, there are several choices: Biology 2, Biology 11, or one of three foundation courses: Biology 12 (Cell Structure and Function), Biology 14 (Physiology) or Biology 16 (Ecology). For many, the decision will be to whether to take Biology 11, or a foundation course.

Here are some considerations regarding these choices.

Biology 11 versus a Foundation Course

  1. Subject matter. Choose a course that is of high intellectual interest to you. Nothing begets academic success like being genuinely interested in the subject matter. Read the course descriptions for BIOL 11; each offering has a different intellectual theme customized by individual faculty to be timely and engaging. BIOL 11 generally spans a broader spectrum of the science of biology than individual foundation courses. The content of the foundation courses is designed to cover core knowledge within the topic area that every biologist should possess.
  2. Work load. Both BIOL 11 and the foundation courses have rigorous fast-moving lectures associated with technical readings and problem solving. The foundation courses also have a laboratory component, which substantially increases the contact hours and makes the foundation courses considerably more demanding than BIOL 11.
  3. Probability of scholastic success. BIOL 11, by virtue of not having a laboratory component, permits students to spend more hours per week gaining a mastery of the lectures and associated materials.

Overview of the Biology Placement/Advisory Test

To help you decide which Biology course is an appropriate starting point, we offer the Biology Placement/Advisory Test.

The Biology Placement/Advisory Test is a 60 minute test that contains 30 multiple-choice questions that cover central concepts in molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, and evolutionary biology. The test must be completed within one hour in a single sitting.  You will be given only one opportunity to take the Biology Placement/Advisory Test; once you complete the test, you will not have a second opportunity to take it. 

We recommend that all students that are considering taking Biology at Dartmouth complete this test. As the name suggests, the result of the Biology Placement/Advisory Test is advisory, not binding.  Since there is no formal placement associated with the Biology Placement/Advisory Test, the score does not appear on your placement record in Banner Student.  If you are interested in studying Biology at Dartmouth, we strongly suggest that you take the Biology Placement/Advisory Test to help you decide which Biology course is most appropriate for you to begin study of Biology at Dartmouth.

For the members of the Class of 2020 the Biology Placement/Advisory Test will be available this fall in Canvas starting August 1st.