This section will help you plan your courses in Chemistry or Biology (including a major if you so desire) and will help you be successful in your learning. Please consider this advice seriously.
Investigations Handbook
Investigations handbook (PDF). Your instructors will refer to parts of this handbook in both introductory and advanced courses in biology and chemistry. Grinnell College's Investigations is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. Contact staff in the Science Division Office with questions: 641-269-3172.
Curriculum
Listed below are sample schedules for students majoring in biology, chemistry, and biological chemistry. If you are looking for course descriptions, visit the College Catalog.
Biology
1st year Fall - Bio 150 or Chm 129; Math 131 (123)
1st year Spring - Bio 150 or Chm 129; **Math 133 (124)
2nd year Fall - Bio 251; Chm 221++
2nd year Spring - Bio 252; **Chm 222 or **Math 209
3rd and 4th years - 5 electives* (can include summer research or classes). A maximum of four credits of advanced work in a related field may be applied toward the major. The following courses are on the approved list: ANT-221 or ANT-325; PSY-336; NRS-250.
Chemistry
1st year Fall - Chm 129; Math 131 (123)
1st year Spring - Chm 210 (formerly Chm 130); Math 133 (124)
2nd year Fall - Chm 221++; Phy 131; (Math 133)
2nd year Spring - Chm 222; Phy132 3rd year Fall - Chm 363
3rd year Spring - Elective
4th year Fall - Elective
4th year Spring - Elective
Biological Chemistry
1st year Fall - Bio 150 or Chm 129; Math 131 (or 123)
1st year Spring - Bio 150 or Chm 129; Math 133 (124) 2nd year Fall - Bio 251; Chm 221++
2nd year Spring - BCM 262; Chm 222
3rd year Fall - Phys 131
3rd year Spring - Phys 132
4th year Fall - Chm 363 4th year Spring - Elective*
*Note that one advanced elective must be taken in the junior or senior year.
**These courses are not required, but are suggested.
++Note that students with Chemistry AP/IB credit must take Chm 130 as a prerequisite to Chm 221.