Choosing your subjects and registering for practical classes: What subjects can I study?
In the second year, Part IB, of the Natural Sciences Tripos you read THREE subjects from those listed below. There are some timetabling restrictions and you cannot take more than one subject from any one group. The subjects are grouped together as follows:
| Group | Subjects | Lecture times |
|---|---|---|
| A | Earth Sciences B; Physics B | M. W. F. 9 |
| B | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Earth Sciences A | M. W. F. 10 |
| C | Animal Biology; Mathematics; Pharmacology | M. W. F. 11 |
| D | Ecology; Biology of Disease; Physics A | M. W. F. 12 |
| E | Chemistry B; Physiology | Tu. Th. S. 9 |
| F | Materials Science; Cell and Developmental Biology | Tu. Th. S. 10 |
| G | Experimental Psychology; Plant and Microbial Sciences | Tu. Th. S. 11 |
| H | Chemistry A; Neurobiology | Tu. Th. S. 12 |
| I | History and Philosophy of Science | M. W. F. 5 |
Due to timetable clashes it is inadvisable to take Physics B with Animal Biology or Pharmacology. If you wish to take either of these combinations you must speak to your Director of Studies who will need to make an application to the Natural Sciences Tripos Management Committee on your behalf.
TIMETABLE OF TEACHING 2017-2018
Practicals
Staggered start times may be possible where there are clashes with lectures. You will be informed of the start time when you register.
| Animal Biology | W. 12-5 or Th. 12-5. Four hours, fortnightly. |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Four hours starting at 12 on M. or 11 on Tu. or W. or Th.or F. This does not include a 1 hour lunch break to be taken at the discretion of the Senior demonstrator: finishing times are 5 on M. and 4 on Tu. W. Th. and F. |
| Biology of Disease | W. and F. 2-4. |
| Cell and Developmental Biology | Tu. or F. 11-5. Four hours of practical within these times. Staggered starts to avoid problems of clashes with other IB subjects. Students will be allocated to a particular day to balance class sizes for each day. |
| Chemistry A |
M. Tu. W. Th. F. 1.45-5. |
| Chemistry B |
M. Tu. W. Th. F. 1.45-6. |
| Ecology |
There are no practicals: instead students undertake a research project |
| Experimental Psychology |
Two, two-hour sessions per week, one chosen from Tu. 9-11 or W. 10-12 or 2-4, and the other from Th. 2-4 or F. 10-12 or 2-4. |
| Earth Sciences A |
Three 1.5 hour practicals. Choose one from each set: Set 1: F. 11-1, F. 2-4; Set 2: M. 11-1, M. 2-4, Tu. 10-1 Set 3: W. 11-1, W. 2-4, Th. 10-1 |
| Earth Sciences B | Three 1.5 hour practicals. Choose one from each set: Set 1:M. 11-1; Tu 10-12; Set 2: W: 11-1, Th: 10-12; Set 3: F 11-1, S 10-12. |
| Materials Science |
One regular practical per week, either M. 9-11.30, or Tu. 2-4.30 or W. 9-11.30 or W. 2-4.30 |
| Mathematics | See Maths Timetable |
| Neurobiology | Tu. or Th. 2-5. |
| Pharmacology | Tu. 2-5 or W. 2-5. |
| Physics A | M. 2-5.45, Tu. 10-5.45, Th. 10-5.45, F. 2-5.45. Students will be allocated periods within these times. |
| Physics B | M. 2-5.45, Tu. 10-5.45, Th. 10-5.45, F. 2-5.45. Students will be allocated periods within these times. |
| Physiology | Tu. or Th. 2-4(5). |
| Plant & Microbial Sciences | M. or Tu. 12-5. Four hours. |
Practical registrations
Students must register (for 2017) for each subject at the following times and places:
| Chemistry A | 9-1 or 2-4, Tuesday 3 October, Department of Chemistry introductory talk: 10:45, Wednesday 5 October, Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture Theatre |
| Chemistry B | 9-1 or 2-4, Tuesday 3 October, Department of Chemistry introductory talk: 10:00, Wednesday 5 October, Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture Theatre |
| Earth Sciences A and B | 9.30-12.30 or 2.30-4.30, Wednesday 4 October, Department of Earth Sciences, IB ESA Lab. Please let the Department know if you have a clash with other practicals. |
| Materials Science | Register online by 10 am on Monday 2 October at intranet.msm.cam.ac.uk/teaching/camonly/tims/registration.php |
|
Physics A and Physics B |
2.00, Wednesday 4 October, Pippard Lecture Theatre, Cavendish Laboratory. Introductory talk will follow. |
| Physics B but not Physics A or Physics A but not Physics B |
1.30, Wednesday 4 October, Pippard Lecture Theatre, Cavendish Laboratory. Introductory talk will follow. |
|
All biological subjects (except Ecology) |
11.00 - 12.15, Wednesday 4 October, Senate House Ecology: Please register online by Wednesday 4 October http://www.biology.cam.ac.uk/undergrads/nst/courses/ecology/signup |
This year a new version of the timetable calendar has been developed and you will be able to go to www.timetable.cam.ac.uk, select your subjects and ‘Add’ the lectures and practicals. Once you have registered for a practical session, in order to add your practical sessions you can select the subject, click on ‘Practicals’ in the ‘Module’ box to expand the list, and then ‘Add’ those practical sessions which apply.
Location of Lectures
The location of the FIRST lecture in the Michaelmas Term for each of the courses is listed below:
| Animal Biology | Main Lecture Theatre, Department of Zoology |
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Lecture Theatre, Sanger Building, Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road |
| Cell and Developmental Biology | Biffen Lecture Theatre, Department of Genetics |
| Chemistry A | Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry |
| Chemistry B | Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry |
| Ecology | Part II Lecture Theatre, Department of Zoology |
| Experimental Psychology | Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building |
| Earth Sciences A | Tilley Lecture Room, Department of Earth Sciences |
| Earth Sciences B | Tilley Lecture Room, Department of Earth Sciences |
| History and Philosophy of Science | Mill Lane Lecture Rooms |
| Materials Science | Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry |
| Mathematics | Babbage Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site |
| Neurobiology | Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Department of PDN |
| Pathology | Lecture Theatre 1, Department of Chemistry |
| Pharmacology | Lecture Theatre, Department of Pharmacology |
| Physics A | Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site |
| Physics B | Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site |
| Physiology | Lecture Theatre 1, Department of Physiology |
| Plant and Microbial Sciences | Large Lecture Theatre, Department of Plant Sciences |
Further information on each subject is available in the programme specification, on the course website, and in the subject summary.