The curriculum in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is based on an initial set of prerequisites/corequisites (corequisites are required courses which also count as one of the eight departmental classes needed for graduation). Because biology is the most derived of the natural sciences, the prerequisites/corequisites are more numerous than those for most departments. After the University added three new course requirements, we trimmed two courses from the prerequisite/corequisite list. (Students also considering Molecular Biology should be aware that their list of prerequisites/corequisites has not changed; thus students not already satisfying premedical requirements may not be able to switch from EEB to MolBio after sophomore year.)

As prerequisites, EEB now requires:

1. Mastery of calculus to the level of MAT 102 or 103, or advanced placement (AP of 4 on the AB or BC test);
2. Two terms of introductory chemistry (or equivalent, or an AP score of 5);
3. The first term of introductory physics (or the equivalent, or an AP score of 4 or 5; note that medical schools require two terms; physics can be delayed to the junior or senior year if necessary);
4. Two terms of introductory biology (an AP score of 5 can substitute for the EEB 210 or 211, but not the second introductory course chosen from among EEB 222, EEB/MOL 214, and EEB/MOL 215).

The first term of organic chemistry is a corequisite. (Medical schools require a second term of organic chemistry; we accept the second term as a departmental.) An approved computer science, math, statistics, or physics course may be substituted for the first term of organic chemistry. Some majors take a preapproved organic chemistry course elsewhere in the summer; like medical schools, we accept such courses as satisfying the prerequisite.