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Undergraduate Cancer Biology Program College of Arts and Sciences | Heersink School of Medicine

Contact Us

Braden McFarland

Cancer Biology Co-Director
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
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(205) 934-3599

Sadanandan Velu

Cancer Biology Co-Director
Professor, Department of Chemistry
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(205) 975-2478

Jamie Grimes

Academic Advisor
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(205) 934-6135

This is a suggested plan of study, and many options are available based on the student’s experience, level of study, and plan of graduation. Please contact the program directors and your advisor with any questions regarding courses and scheduling.

Please see the UAB Undergraduate Catalog for all degree requirements.

Total Credit Hours: 120

Suggested Classes by Semester

  • Freshman Year

    Fall Semester:

    • CAS 112: Success in College (1 credit hour)
    • CH 115/116: General Chemistry I and Laboratory (4 credit hours)
    • EH 101: English Composition I (3 credit hours)
    • MA 125: Calculus I (4 credit hours)
    • Core II or IV (3 credit hours)
    • Total Credits = 15

    Spring Semester:

    • CH 117/118: General Chemistry II and Laboratory (4 credit hours)
    • BY 123 and 123L: Introductory Biology I & Laboratory (4 credit hours)
    • EH 102: English Composition II (3 credit hours)
    • PHL 116: Bioethics (3 credit hours, Core II)
    • PSDO 200: Introduction to Research (1 credit hour)
    • Total Credits = 15
  • Sophomore Year

    Fall Semester:

    • BY 124 and 124L: Introductory Biology II & Laboratory (4 credit hours)
    • CH 235/236: Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory (4 credit hours)
    • CNBY 210: Cancer Biology Colloquium (1 credit hour) (note 1)
    • Core II or IV (3 credit hours)
    • Core II or IV (3 credit hours)
    • Total Credits = 15

    Spring Semester:

    • CH 237/238: Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory ( 4 credit hours)
    • BY 210: Genetics (3 credit hours)
    • CNBY 320: Introduction to Cancer Biology (3 credit hours)
    • CNBY 210: Cancer Biology Colloquium (1 credit hour) (note 1)
    • Core II or IV (3 credit hours)
    • Total Credits = 14
  • Junior Year

    Fall Semester:

    • PH 201: College Physics I and Laboratory (4 credit hours)
    • CH 460: Fundamentals of Biochemistry (3 credit hours)
    • BY 330: Cell Biology (3 credit hours)
    • PUH 250: Biostatistics (3 credit hours) or MA 180: Introduction to Statistics (3 credit hours)
    • CNBY 420: Genetic Basis of Cancer (3 credit hours)
    • Total Credits = 16

    Spring Semester:

    • PH 202: College Physics II & Laboratory (4 credit hours)
    • CNBY 410: Proliferation and Carcinogenesis (3 credit hours)
    • CNBY 495: Undergraduate Research in Cancer Biology (3 credit hours)
    • Core II or IV (3 credit hours)
    • General Electives (3 credit hours) (note 2)
    • Total Credits = 16
  • Senior Year

    Fall Semester:

    • CNBY 480: Journal Club in Cancer Biology (1 credit hour) (note 3)
    • CNBY 495: Undergraduate Research in Cancer Biology (3 credit hours)
    • Elective CNBY or CH 400-level class (3 credit hours) (note 4)
    • General Elective (3 credit hours) (note 2)
    • General Elective (3 credit hours) (note 2)
    • Core II or IV (3 credit hours)
    • Total Credits = 16

    Spring Semester:

    • CNBY 480: Journal Club in Cancer Biology (1 credit hour) (note 3)
    • Capstone Course CNBY 499: Senior Undergraduate Research (3 credit hours)
    • Elective CNBY or CH 400-level class (3 credit hours) (note 4)
    • General Electives (3 credit hours) (note 2)
    • Core II or IV (3 credit hours)
    • Total Credits = 13

Notes

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  1. CNBY 210 must be taken twice.
  2. Recommended (but not required) courses for the general electives include BY 115/BY 115L, BY 116/BY 116L, BY 245, BY 327/BY 327L, BY 311, BY 409/BY 409L, BY 416, BY 433, BY 437, BY 440, GGSC 310, GGSC 410, GGSC 420, GGSC 491, and MIC 275.
  3. CNBY 480 must be taken twice.
  4. List of upper-level major elective CH or CNBY 400 courses (students must pick two - all 3 credit hours):
    1. CH 461: Advanced Biochemistry
    2. CH 463 or CH 464: Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory
    3. CH 471: Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery
    4. CH 472: Chemistry of Natural Products
    5. CNBY 430: Tumor Survival and the Microenvironment
    6. CNBY 460: Tumor Pathobiology and Immunology
    7. CNBY 440: Cell Signaling and Cancer
    8. CNBY 470: Cancer Treatment

For Honors College Students

Additional courses as alternatives include:

  • Honors College freshman seminar
  • CH 125/126 and CH 127/128: Honors General Chemistry option
  • CH 245 and CH 247: Honors Organic Chemistry option (no honors labs)
  • BY 211: Honors Genetics

Please contact the program directors and your CNBY advisor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with any questions.

Contact Us

Braden McFarland

Cancer Biology Co-Director
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(205) 934-3599

Sadanandan Velu

Cancer Biology Co-Director
Professor, Department of Chemistry
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(205) 975-2478

Jamie Grimes

Academic Advisor
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(205) 934-6135