Metadata
Title
Biology Major and Minor Requirements
Category
undergraduate
UUID
72a4677988b34de9b3ed96b6cd794d49
Source URL
https://biology.mit.edu/undergraduate/major-minor-requirements/
Parent URL
https://biology.mit.edu/
Crawl Time
2026-03-09T04:14:21+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Biology Major and Minor Requirements

Source: https://biology.mit.edu/undergraduate/major-minor-requirements/ Parent: https://biology.mit.edu/

At MIT, we refer to “majors” as “courses” and each course has an assigned number. Biology courses include 7, 5-7, and 6-7. We also offer a Biology Minor.

The flexibility of Course 7 allows for many possibilities to complete course requirements and explore subjects in other departments. Your advisor and your peers can be a great resource when considering your own course roadmap.

Course 7

Designed to prepare students for a research career in the biological sciences.\ Course Catalog Bulletin

Course 5-7

Designed for students interested in the intersection of chemistry and biology, encompassing both biochemistry and chemical biology.\ Course Catalog Bulletin

Course 6-7

Designed for students interested in the emerging field of computational biology.\ Course Catalog Bulletin

Biology Minor

Provides a depth of understanding and expertise in Biology as a complement to your chosen major.\ Course Catalog Bulletin

You can declare a minor after your first year. To apply, contact Joshua Stone in the Biology Education Office (68-120).

Minor forms

Communications requirement

All Biology majors must complete two Communication Intensive in the Major (CI-M) courses, generally by their junior or senior year. CI-M courses teach the specific forms of written, oral, and/or visual communication appropriate to Biology’s professional and academic culture. Learn more about the CI-M requirement.

Advising

All students in the Biology department are assigned a faculty advisor. You are required to meet with your advisor at least twice a semester during mid-term and registration periods and may schedule additional meetings as needed.

Your advisor can assist with:

To aid in advisor selection, complete the Advisor Preference Survey.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to do a double major with Biology?

Absolutely! Course 7 is designed with a lot of flexibility to allow you to double major. Biological Engineering and Chemical Engineering share many requirements with Biology, which makes a double degree/major with these courses quite feasible. There are many other possibilities ranging from science to art and architecture.  For more information, please reach out to us at undergradbio@mit.edu.

How do Biology and Biological Engineering differ?

The Biology curriculum builds a broad understanding of biological principles, focusing on current approaches and issues. In Biological Engineering and related subjects, emphasis is placed on aspects of biological processes relevant to engineering.

Is Biology a good fit if I’m interested in premed?

Yes! The Biology Department is committed to educating premeds in aspects of Biology relevant to the molecular basis of disease. Your training will include formulating and testing hypotheses, a skill at the heart of diagnosis. We suggest that all premeds major, double degree/major, or minor in Biology.