Sample Curriculum

Sample Molecular Genetics 4-Year Plan

The Molecular Genetics program is designed for students to complete within four years of Ohio State coursework. Below is a sample 4-year plan for a student starting at OSU in Autumn 2022 who receives an L on the Math Placement Test (allowing them to take calculus), but not starting with any existing college credit (such as AP, IB, or College Credit Plus). 

Please note that this is just an example. A four-year plan can wildly vary based on a student's interest in a second major or minor, post-graduation plans (such as going to medical school), existing credit, summer plans, etc. Students should regularly work with their assigned academic advisors to create a schedule projection that is best for them.

Example 1 (MolGen 4606 in Autumn of Year 2)

Year 1: Autumn

  • ARTSSCI 1100.07 (College Survey) - 1 credit
  • MATH 1151 or 1156 (Calculus 1) - 5 credits
  • CHEM 1210 (Gen Chem 1) - 5 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA - 3 credits
  • GENED 1201 (GE Launch Seminar)B - 1 credit
  • Semester Total: 15 credits

Year 1: Spring

  • CHEM 1220 (Gen Chem 2) - 5 credits
  • BIO 1113.01 (Energy Transfer) - 4 credits
  • GE (First Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 16 credits
  • Year 1 Total: 31 credits

Year 2: Autumn

  • CHEM 2510 (Organic Chem Lecture 1) - 4 credits
  • CHEM 2540 (Organic Chem Lab 1) - 2 credits
  • BIO 1114.01 (Form & Function) - 4 credits
  • MOLGEN 4606 (Molecular Genetics) - 4 credits
  • GE (Second Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
  • Semester Total: 18 credits

Year 2: Spring

  • CHEM 2520 (Organic Chem Lecture 2) - 4 credits
  • CHEM 2550 (Organic Chem Lab 2) - 2 credits
  • BIOCHEM 4511 (Introduction to Biological Chemistry) or MOLGEN 5601 (Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics Lab)C - 4 credits
  • GE (Third Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
  • GE or Free Elective - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 17 credits
  • Year 2 Total: 35 credits

Year 3: Autumn

  • BIOCHEM 4511 (Introduction to Biological Chemistry) or MOLGEN 5602 (Eukaryotic Cell and Developmental Biology Lab)C - 4 credits
  • MOLGEN 5607 (Cell Biology) - 3 credits
  • PHYSICS 1200 or 1250 (Physics 1) - 5 credits
  • GE - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 15 credits

Year 3: Spring

  • MOLGEN 5608 (Genes and Development) - 3 credits
  • MolGen Major ElectiveA - 2-3 credits
  • PHYSICS 1201 or 1251 (Physics 2) - 5 credits
  • GE - 3 credits
  • GE - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 16-17 credits
  • Year 3 Total: 31-32 credits

Year 4: Autumn

  • MOLGEN 5645 (Quantitative, Population, and Evolutionary Genetics) - 2 credits
  • MolGen Major ElectiveA - 2-3 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA - 3 credits
  • GE or Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
  • Free Elective (as needed) - 2-3 credits
  • Semester Total: 12-14 credits

Year 4: Spring

  • MolGen Major ElectiveA - 2-3 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA - 3 credits
  • Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
  • Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
  • Free Elective (as needed) - 2-3 credits
  • GENED 4001 (GE Reflection Seminar)B - 1 credit
  • Semester Total: 14-16 credits
  • Year 4 Total: 26-30 credits
  • Degree Total: 121+ credits

A - MolGen major elective courses vary from 1-5 credits. Some MolGen electives (e.g. 2220H, 2690, 3300, 3436) can be taken prior to taking MolGen 4606 with appropriate prerequisites. MolGen major coursework including electives must total at least 30 credits.

B - GENED 1201 & 4001 are only required for students following the GEN (new General Education) curriculum starting Autumn 2022

C - Either MOLGEN 5601 or 5602 is required

Example 2 (MolGen 4606 in Spring of Year 2)

Year 1: Autumn

  • ARTSSCI 1100.07 (College Survey) - 1 credit
  • MATH 1151 or 1156 (Calculus 1) - 5 credits
  • CHEM 1210 (Gen Chem 1) - 5 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA - 3 credits
  • GENED 1201 (GE Launch Seminar)B - 1 credit
  • Semester Total: 15 credits

Year 1: Spring

  • CHEM 1220 (Gen Chem 2) - 5 credits
  • BIO 1113.01 (Energy Transfer) - 4 credits
  • GE (First Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 16 credits
  • Year 1 Total: 31 credits

Year 2: Autumn

  • CHEM 2510 (Organic Chem Lecture 1) - 4 credits
  • CHEM 2540 (Organic Chem Lab 1) - 2 credits
  • BIO 1114.01 (Form & Function) - 4 credits
  • GE (Second Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 17 credits

Year 2: Spring

  • CHEM 2520 (Organic Chem Lecture 2) - 4 credits
  • CHEM 2550 (Organic Chem Lab 2) - 2 credits
  • MOLGEN 4606 (Molecular Genetics) - 4 credits
  • GE (Third Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
  • GE - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 17 credits
  • Year 2 Total: 34 credits

Year 3: Autumn

  • BIOCHEM 4511 (Introduction to Biological Chemistry) or MOLGEN 5602 (Eukaryotic Cell and Developmental Biology Lab)C - 4 credits
  • MOLGEN 5607 (Cell Biology) - 3 credits
  • PHYSICS 1200 or 1250 (Physics 1) - 5 credits
  • GE - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 15 credits

Year 3: Spring

  • BIOCHEM 4511 (Introduction to Biological Chemistry) or MOLGEN 5601 (Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics Lab)C - 4 credits
  • MOLGEN 5608 (Genes and Development) - 3 credits
  • MolGen Major ElectiveA - 2-3 credits
  • PHYSICS 1201 or 1251 (Physics 2) - 5 credits
  • GE - 3 credits
  • Semester Total: 17-18 credits
  • Year 3 Total: 32-34 credits

Year 4: Autumn

  • MOLGEN 5645 (Quantitative, Population, and Evolutionary Genetics) - 2 credits
  • MolGen Major ElectiveA - 2-3 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA- 3 credits
  • GE or Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
  • Free Elective (as needed) - 2-3 credits
  • Semester Total: 12-14 credits

Year 4: Spring

  • MolGen Major ElectiveA - 2-3 credits
  • GE or MolGen Major ElectiveA - 3 credits
  • GE or Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
  • Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
  • Free Elective (as needed) - 2-3 credits
  • GENED 4001 (GE Reflection Seminar)B - 1 credit
  • Semester Total: 14-16 credits
  • Year 4 Total: 26-30 credits
  • Degree Total: 121+ credits

A - MolGen major elective courses vary from 1-5 credits. Some MolGen electives (e.g. 2220H, 2690, 3300, 3436) can be taken prior to taking MolGen 4606 with appropriate prerequisites. MolGen major coursework including electives must total at least 30 credits.

B - GENED 1201 & 4001 are only required for students following the GEN (new General Education) curriculum starting Autumn 2022

C - Either MOLGEN 5601 or 5602 is required