Student Handbook

Choosing a Minor

To help you choose a minor subject, the Graduate School publishes a list of major and minor subjects and concentrations for all graduate fields at Cornell. This list can be obtained from the Graduate School in Caldwell Hall or from the Field Assistant. Note that if a faculty member in BMCB is also a member of a field that you choose as a minor, you may choose that faculty member to represent the minor if you wish.

Most minors that are chosen by BMCB graduates require about three courses, which students generally can finish by the end of the second year or middle of the third year. Fields often have guidelines, rather than strict requirements, for the number of courses needed to satisfy a minor. It is up to a faculty member who represents the minor to decide, in consultation with the student, how many courses and which courses are to be taken. You should discuss with potential committee members which courses they would want you to take, given your background and interests. Below are some notes on typical course loads for minors in the listed Fields.

  1. Development (Field of Genetics and Development) - requires two courses in Development (see below) that do not fulfill other course requirements and are beyond BioGD 385. Note that BioGD 385 should be taken in addition to these two courses if a student lacks the appropriate background. Participation in a weekly Developmental Biology Journal Club is strongly encouraged (see Journal Clubs).
  2. Genetics (Field of Genetics and Development) - has no formal requirements; individual course requirements may be specified by your committee members (usually 2 or 3 advanced courses at the 400 level or above and BioGD 281, if necessary).
  3. Microbiology (Field of Microbiology) - the requirements for a minor in Microbiology are ultimately up to the discretion of your minor advisor. Generally students are expected to complete at least two of the five one-credit modules in Microbiology (BioMI 690). The Modules in Microbiology include Microbial Structure and Function, Microbial Genetics, Microbial Pathogenesis, Microbial Physiology and Diversity, and Environmental Microbiology.
  4. Plant Molecular Biology (Field of Plant Biology) - completion of three 1-credit sections of BioPL 653 and 652 (including BioPL 653, Section 01, Concepts and Techniques in Plant Molecular Biology) with a grade of B- or better, as well as satisfactory completion of two other courses to be selected by the minor advisor in either a plant-related area or in genetics, biochemistry, or cell biology. Satisfactory participation in the Plant Molecular Biology Journal Club for two semesters is also required (BioPL 742, Current Topics in Plant Molecular Biology).
  5. Plant Cell Biology (Field of Plant Biology) - satisfactory completion of Plant Cell Biology (BioPl 444) or Survey of Cell Biology (BioBM 432), and the following three 1-credit sections of BioPl 652: Section 5/Molecular Biology of Plant Organelles, Section 6/Proteomics in Plant Biology; and Section 7/Plant Cell Walls: Structure to Proteome) or alternative courses as approved by the minor advisor.
  6. Evolutionary Biology (Field of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) - no specific requirements. Discuss expected background with your prospective minor committee member.
  7. Genomics (Minor field) requires BioGD 400, BioGD 401, and two one credit modules in the minor curriculum, or other qualifying courses, as approved by the Special Committee.
  8. Biometry (Field of Biometry) - discuss course work with your prospective minor committee member.
  9. Computational Biology (Field of Computational Biology)-discuss course work with your prospective minor committee member.
  10. Biophysics (Field of Biophysics). Typical requirements are Chem 681 (Physical Chemistry III) and at least two other courses selected from upper level math, chemistry, or physics. Some courses that have been suggested in the past include A&EP 321/322 (math), Chem 686 (Physical Chemistry of Proteins), Chem 789 (X-Ray Crystallography), BioBM 738 (Macromolecular Crystallography), Chem 793 (Quantum Mechanics I), and Chem 780 (Chemical Kinetics). If you are planning a minor in biophysics, get started on your coursework early!
  11. Physical Chemistry (Field of Chemistry). Similar to listing above for Biophysics.
    Other minors that recent BMCB students have chosen include Virology (Field of Comparative Biomedical Sciences) and Organic Chemistry (Field of Chemistry and Chemical Biology). Still other Fields with minors sometimes suitable for BMCB students are Computer Science, Immunology, Applied Physics, Pharmacology.
  12. Virology (Field of Comparative Biomedical Sciences).

Other minors that recent BMCB students have chosen include Organic Chemistry (Field of Chemistry and Chemical Biology), Computer Science, Immunology, Applied Physics, Pharmacology.