In 2000 the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Department of Biology began teaching year-long survey lecture and lab courses to majors and nonmajors alike. Last year, the lecture courses became required for biology majors (unless they choose to place out of these courses with biology advanced placement [AP] exam scores of 4 or 5). Prior to 2000, most biology majors took their first biology course, Biochemistry, the spring semester of their sophomore year, although some freshman seminars and a topical course called Physiology were options. This article looks at the following questions: (1) Why were survey courses added to the curriculum?; (2) Just what are these survey courses?; and (3) Do we know whether these courses enhance the major or improve the education of nonmajors in the life sciences?