Biological Sciences (BS): Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Concentration
To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!
There are five different avenues to earning a B.S. in Biological Sciences at NC State. Students studying for a degree in Biological Sciences can opt for a general curriculum (BLS) or can choose to focus in a particular area by selecting one of four areas of concentration: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCD), Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology (IPN), Human Biology (HB), or Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (EEC).
The MCD curriculum offers students in-depth studies of the molecular and cellular basis of life and the development of multicellular organisms. Many students in the MCD concentration focus on lab-based courses in biology, genetics and biotechnology (BIT), in preparation for graduate studies or work in industry.
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exploring the Life Sciences | |||
| LSC 103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences | 1 | |
| Writing | |||
| Advanced Writing Requirement Elective | 3 | ||
| Biological Sciences | |||
| LSC 101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 | |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 | |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 | |
| BIO 414 | Cell Biology 1 | 3 | |
| or BIO 416 | Cancer Cell Biology | ||
| BIO 361 | Developmental Biology 1 | 3 | |
| or GN 434 | Genes and Development | ||
| BIT 410 | Manipulation of Recombinant DNA 1 | 4 | |
| BCH 451 | Principles of Biochemistry | 4 | |
| GN 311 | Principles of Genetics 1 | 4 | |
| GN 312 | Elementary Genetics Laboratory 1 | 1 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | ||
| Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (A): Nervous, Skeletal, Muscular, & Digestive Systems | |||
| Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (B): Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Renal Systems | |||
| Animal Anatomy and Physiology | |||
| Physical & Mathematical Sciences | |||
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 1 | 3 | |
| or MA 141 | Calculus I | ||
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 1 | 3 | |
| or MA 241 | Calculus II | ||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 | |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 | |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 | 3 | |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 | |
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I 1 | 3 | |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 | 1 | |
| CH 223 | Organic Chemistry II 1 | 3 | |
| CH 224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 | 1 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | ||
| College Physics I | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | |||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | ||
| College Physics II | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | |||
| Major Electives | |||
| MCDB Electives 1 | 9 | ||
| Additional Science & Math Electives | 8 | ||
| Learning Experience Elective | 3 | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2 | 9 | ||
| These electives cannot be remedial nor can they be taken at an elementary level after you have taken comparable coursework at a more advanced level. ST 311 is recommended as a Free Elective. Students interested in graduate school or professional school should check the courses required for admission to the programs to which they plan to apply. | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.
Advanced Writing Requirement Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO 267 | Research in the Life Sciences I: Research Skills | 3 | |
| COM 211 | Argumentation and Advocacy | 3 | |
| ENG 214 | Introduction to Editing | 3 | |
| ENG 232 | Literature and Medicine | 3 | |
| ENG 287 | Explorations in Creative Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 288 | Fiction Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 289 | Poetry Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 292 | Writing About Film | 3 | |
| ENG 316 | Introduction to News and Article Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 323 | Writing in Rhetorical Traditions | 3 | |
| ENG 331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 | |
| ENG 332 | Communication for Business and Management | 3 | |
| ENG 333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 | |
| ENG 381 | Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop | 3 | |
| ENG 388 | Intermediate Fiction Writing Workshop | 3 | |
| ENG 389 | Intermediate Poetry Writing Workshop | 3 | |
| ENG 416 | Advanced News and Article Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 417 | Editorial and Opinion Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 422 | Writing Theory and the Writing Process | 3 | |
| ENG 425 | Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 426 | Analyzing Style | 3 |
MCDB Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCH 452 | Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 | |
| BCH 453 | Biochemistry of Gene Expression | 3 | |
| BCH 455 | Proteins and Molecular Mechanisms | 3 | |
| BCH 553 | Biochemistry of Gene Expression | 3 | |
| BCH 555 | Proteins and Molecular Mechanisms | 3 | |
| BEC 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BEC 563 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BIO 269 | Research in the Life Sciences II: Guided Research | 3 | |
| BIO 370 | Developmental Anatomy of the Vertebrates | 3 | |
| BIO 375 | Developmental Anatomy Laboratory | 2 | |
| BIO 405 | Functional Histology | 3 | |
| BIO 482 | Capstone Course in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology | 3 | |
| BIT 462 | 2 | ||
| BIT 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BIT 464 | Protein Purification | 2 | |
| BIT 465 | Real-time PCR Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 467 | PCR and DNA Fingerprinting | 2 | |
| BIT 468 | 2 | ||
| BIT 471 | RNA Interference and Model Organisms | 2 | |
| BIT 473 | Protein Interactions | 2 | |
| BIT 474 | Plant Genetic Engineering | 2 | |
| BIT 476 | Applied Bioinformatics | 2 | |
| BIT 477 | Metagenomics | 2 | |
| BIT 478 | 2 | ||
| BIT 481 | Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation | 2 | |
| BIT 562 | 2 | ||
| BIT 563 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BIT 564 | Protein Purification | 2 | |
| BIT 565 | Real-time PCR Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 567 | PCR and DNA Fingerprinting | 2 | |
| BIT 568 | 2 | ||
| BIT 571 | RNA Interference and Model Organisms | 2 | |
| BIT 573 | Protein Interactions | 2 | |
| BIT 574 | Plant Genetic Engineering | 2 | |
| BIT 577 | Metagenomics | 2 | |
| BIT 578 | 2 | ||
| CHE 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| CHE 563 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| GN 427 | Introductory Bioinformatics | 3 | |
| GN 441 | Human and Biomedical Genetics | 3 | |
| GN 451 | Genome Science | 3 | |
| GN 456 | Epigenetics, Development, and Disease | 3 | |
| GN 541 | Human and Biomedical Genetics | 3 | |
| MB 351 | General Microbiology | 3 | |
| MB 352 | General Microbiology Laboratory | 1 | |
| MB 354 | Inquiry-Guided Microbiology Lab | 1 | |
| MB 411 | Medical Microbiology | 3 | |
| MB 412 | Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 1 | |
| MB 414 | Microbial Metabolic Regulation | 3 | |
| MB 420 | Fundamentals of Microbial Cell Biotransformations | 2 | |
| MB 435 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 | |
| MB 441 | Immunology | 3 | |
| MB 455 | Microbial Biotechnology | 3 | |
| MB 461 | Molecular Virology | 3 | |
| MB 520 | Fundamentals of Microbial Cell Biotransformations | 2 | |
| MB 535 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 | |
| PB 421 | Plant Physiology | 3 | |
| PB 480 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | 3 | |
| PB 481 | Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation | 2 | |
| PB 580 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | 3 | |
| PO 466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| PO 566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 |
Additional Science and Math Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEC/GN 450 | Conservation Genetics | 3 | |
| BEC/BIT 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BIO 230 | The Science of Studying Dinosaurs | 3 | |
| BIO 240 | Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (A): Nervous, Skeletal, Muscular, & Digestive Systems | 4 | |
| BIO 245 | Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (B): Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Renal Systems | 4 | |
| BIO 310 | Quantitative Approaches to Biological Problems | 3 | |
| BIO 416 | Cancer Cell Biology | 3 | |
| BIO 418 | Cell Biology Research Lab | 2 | |
| BIO 432 | Evolutionary Medicine | 3 | |
| BIT 477 | Metagenomics | 2 | |
| GN 428 | Introduction to Machine Learning in Biology | 3 | |
| GN 453 | Personal Genomics | 3 | |
| MA 331 | Differential Equations for the Life Sciences | 3 | |
| MB 470 | Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases | 3 | |
| PB 205 | Our Green World | 3 | |
| ZO 334 | Captive Animal Biology Field Laboratory | 2 | |
| ZO 486 | Capstone Course in Zoology | 3 |
Learning Experience Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning experience in an appropriate area (research, teaching, or other professional experience), with prior approval by faculty adviser, prospective supervisor, and departmental undergraduate coordinator. Contact and arrangements with prospective supervisors is the responsibility of the student. Talk to your advisor about this requirement. | |||
| BIO 269 | Research in the Life Sciences II: Guided Research | 3 | |
| BIO 499 | Honors Project Part 2 | 3 | |
| BSC 492 | Professional Experience | 1-3 | |
| BSC 493 | Research Experience | 1-3 | |
| BSC 498 | Biological Sciences Honors Project Part 2 | 3 | |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| LSC 101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 1 | 3 |
| LSC 103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences | 1 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I 1 | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ZO 250 | Animal Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| CH 223 | Organic Chemistry II 1 | 3 |
| CH 224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 | 1 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GN 311 | Principles of Genetics 1 | 4 |
| GN 312 | Elementary Genetics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Learning Experience Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PY 211 | College Physics I 1 | 4 |
| BIO 361 or GN 434 | Developmental Biology 1 or Genes and Development | 3 |
| BCH 351 or BCH 451 | General Biochemistry 1 or Principles of Biochemistry | 4 |
| Advanced Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PY 212 | College Physics II 1 | 4 |
| Cell Biology Requirment | 3 | |
| BIT 410 | Manipulation of Recombinant DNA 1 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MCD Elective | 3 | |
| MCD Elective | 3 | |
| Science and Math Elective | 4 | |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MCD Elective | 3 | |
| Science and Math Elective | 4 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Career Opportunities
Many students majoring in the Department of Biological Sciences take advantage of scholarship and honors programs available at NC State, including the University Honors Program and the University Scholars Program. In addition, we offer a discipline-based Undergraduate Honors Program in Biological Sciences (DBS Honors Program). The DBS Honors Program requires students to design a challenging program of advanced study, including eight credits of honors coursework in biology and at least two semesters of research or teaching scholarship. Participants write an honors thesis and are required to present their scholarly work at a local, regional, or national meeting. Invitations to join the DBS Honors Program are sent in the first three weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters. Students in any major in the Department of Biological Sciences who have earned an overall GPA of 3.60 after completing 30-65 credit hours at NC State will receive an invitation to join the DBS Honors Program; transfer students in any of our majors who have earned an overall GPA of 3.60 in 15 credit hours at NC State also will receive an invitation.
Students who graduate from the Department of Biological Sciences are well prepared for employment in various government agencies and private industries. Graduates may continue their education with studies leading to advanced degrees in many areas of the biological sciences, including cell biology, ecology, microbiology, genetics, zoology, neurobiology, and biomedical disciplines. Many choose to seek advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, public health, and other health-related fields. Students who plan to seek certification for pre-college teaching may want to pursue a second major in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Education.