Prospective Student Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of Biology degree is available at Duke?
Duke offers several programs in the biological sciences for undergraduates. Most students will pursue the BS degree with a Biology major. This program requires introductory courses in biology, chemistry, math and physics. It also requires at least eight upper-level courses in the biological sciences. Three of those courses will survey 'core' areas in biology such as genetics and molecular biology, evolution and ecology, and structure/function of cells or organisms. The other five courses will be 'electives', allowing for advanced courses in whatever you're most interested in. So, although there we do not have separate majors in specialties like molecular biology or botany or marine biology, it is possible to complete a biology major that 'concentrates' on these or many other areas.
In addition to the Biology major, Duke also has related majors in Psychology (with a neuroscience focus), Biological Anthropology and Anatomy (primatology and human origins), Chemistry (with a biochemistry focus), Environmental Science and Policy, and Biomedical Engineering. And it's certainly possible to use courses from these other programs to count towards a Biology degree.
Can I get advanced placement towards the Biology degree?
Yes! A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Bio exam will place you out of the first semester of introductory biology (BIO 25L). We generally recommend that students use this placement rather than repeat the basic material in BIO 25L. In addition, advanced placement is possible in chemistry and math, depending on your exam scores and by the decision of the respective departments. Students who place out of the first year of chemistry or math will not have to retake those courses for the biology major. However, AP physics will not replace the year of college physics required for the biology major.
Note that although you can only use two AP credits to reduce the number of credits you need to take for graduation (from 34 to 32), any number of AP credits can be used for placement out of introductory courses. So, advanced placement in biology, chemistry and math will reduce the courses needed to complete the biology major, freeing you up to take more advanced courses or courses in other disciplines.
Can I get involved in research?
Yes! Most biology majors will do at least one or two semesters of research as part of their major. You will be participating in state of the art research with world-class scientists in any one of the many of research labs in the University (eg, Biology, Primatology) or Medical Center (eg, Cell Biology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, etc). Most students will start in their junior or senior year, although some begin in their second or even their first year here. Most students will do research as part of their regular course work, registering for " independent study " and receiving grades and academic credit for their research. Many students will have their work published in the scientific literature and use their research as the basis for graduation with honors.
Special research opportunities are also available during summer. These fellowships generally pay a stipend so that students can live on campus or at the Marine Lab while immersed in their research experience.
How many bio majors are there? What are classes like? Who teaches them?
There are typically about 150 biology majors in each graduating class. In addition, there are about an equal number of students in other majors that will be taking introductory and 'pre-med' courses. So, the introductory courses may have as many as 150 students in lecture. The second level courses usually have 25-40 students each and the advanced lab courses and seminars are generally less than 20 students. However, even the larger lecture courses always split up once a week for lab or discussion with 15-20 students per section. While these sections may be led by a graduate teaching assistant, all the lecture and seminar courses are taught by regular faculty.
Can I study abroad and still do a biology major? Can I transfer courses during the summer?
Yes! Many Biology students will do at least one semester of Study Abroad, typically in their junior year. There are several programs that are especially popular with Biology majors. These include a semester and summer programs studying marine biology at the Duke Marine Lab, semester and summer programs studying tropical biology in Costa Rica , a summer course in Australian biogeography, and semester program in savannah ecology in South Africa . In addition, there are many other study abroad programs that allow students the opportunity to take courses in biology as well as other fields. Moreover, the major in Biology is sufficiently flexible to allow students to take semester abroad with out any biology, to study art in Florence, for example.
What do Biology majors do when they graduate?
Following graduation, about 40% of Biology majors will go off to medical school and about 30% will end up in biological graduate programs, though not all directly - many will take a few years to work in labs before starting graduate school. The remainder will do many things, including secondary school teaching, law school, business pursuits, volunteer work with the Peace Corps and the like. Duke Biology grads generally place well. For example, they have a rate of medical school acceptance that is twice the national average. More information on possible career tracks for biology majors.
Duke Biology Box 90338 Durham, NC 27708 Phone: 919-660-7372 Fax: 919-660-7293