Biology, B.A.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students will have the knowledge base and intellectual (conceptual) framework to use reasoning and problem-solving skills to; (1) read critically, (2) evaluate support for competing hypotheses, and (3) critique experimental design.
2. Students will have the laboratory and inquiry skills and technical ability to formulate hypotheses, design and run experiments using instruments to test their hypotheses, and analyze and interpret the results. They will be able to build on earlier work to design further experiments.
3. Students will be able to communicate biological ideas from literature or their own laboratory investigations to audiences of biologists and non-biologists in a variety of formats including written reports, poster and oral presentations.
4. Students will recognize the importance of scientific integrity and ethical research and applications of biology to science policy. They will be able to work independently and in teams for life-long learning.
5. Students will be able to demonstrate a broad and diverse background in biology and related sciences and a strong foundation for graduate and professional programs of study or employment.
6. Students will recognize evolution as the central tenet of biology, which explains the unity and diversity of life and interrelatedness of levels of biological organization.

General Education Requirements (30-40 Credits)

Prerequisite coursework may be required to satisfy certain General Education courses and will count as elective credit.

Total Credits Required to Complete Major: 59-61

Biology Other Requirements:

Minimum Competence Requirement 

To graduate with a biology major, students must attain a grade of C- or better in these courses: BIOL 117, BIOL 118, BIOL 119, BIOL 120, BIOL 203, BIOL 222, and the required 200-level biology lab. Note that some BIOL courses require a grade of C- in prerequisite courses. Students who wish to repeat a course assume responsibility for knowing what, if any, repeat restrictions apply to any particular course. Restrictions are noted in individual course descriptions in the Undergraduate Bulletin. We remind students they must also achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average at Geneseo, at least a 2.00 cumulative average in all courses in their major department applied toward completion of the major, and a 1.67 average or better in required related courses.  

Department Writing Requirement

Students must demonstrate writing skills to the satisfaction of the Biology department. These skills will be evaluated in laboratory reports and in written assignments in 200- and 300-level biology courses.

Sample Course Map

For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022: please select the bulletin year in which you entered the college (matriculated) at the top right of this page.

Curriculum Map  

• First Year 
  • Fall - 15 Credit Hours
    • BIOL 117 - General Biology - Cells, Genetics, Evolution  Credit(s): 3
    • CHEM 116 - Chemistry I  Credit(s): 3 
    • MATH 112 - Precalculus  Credit(s): 4 or MATH 221 - Calculus I  Credit(s): 4
    • BIOL 118 - General Biology Laboratory I  Credit(s): 1 
    • WRTG 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle)  Credit(s): 4
  • Spring - 12 Credit Hours
    • BIOL 119 - General Biology - Diversity, Physiology, Ecology   Credit(s): 3
    • CHEM 118 - Chemistry II  Credit(s): 3
    • CHEM 119 - Introductory Chemistry Lab  Credit(s): 1
    • BIOL 120 - General Biology Laboratory II  Credit(s): 1
    • World Language 101 - Credit(s): 4
• Second Year 
  • Fall - 15-16 Credit Hours
    • CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry I  Credit(s): 3
    • BIOL 203 - Principles of Ecology  Credit(s): 3
    • CHEM 129 - Introduction to Laboratory Research in Chemistry  Credit(s): 1 or CHEM 209 - Intermediate Chemistry Laboratory  Credit(s): 2
    • Global Society: WCV - Credit(s): 4
    • World Language 102 - Credit(s): 4
  • Spring - 13 Credit Hours
    • BIOL 222 - Genetics  Credit(s): 3 
    • BIOL 204 - Ecology Laboratory  Credit(s): 1
    • MATH 262 - Applied Statistics  Credit(s): 3 or BIOL 350 - Foundations of Biostatistics  Credit(s): 3
    • Global Society: DPP - Credit(s): 3
    • Global Society: CGC - Credit(s): 3
• Third Year 
  • Fall - 16 Credit Hours
    • Science Elective Credit(s): 4
    • Biology Elective - Credit(s): 3 
    • Global Society: SST - Credit(s): 3 
    • Global Society: CAI - Credit(s): 3 
    • Electives - Credit(s): 3
  • Spring - 16 Credit Hours
    • Science Elective - Credit(s): 4
    • Biology Elective - Credit(s): 3 
    • Biology Elective - Credit(s): 3 
    • Electives - Credit(s): 6 
• Fourth Year 
  • Fall - 15 Credit Hours
    • Biology Electives - Credit(s): 6
    • Integrative & Applied Learning - Credit(s): 3
    • Electives - Credit(s): 6
  • Spring - 15 Credit Hours
    • Biology Electives - Credit(s): 3 
    • Electives - Credit(s): 12 

KEY - Participation in a Global Society (PGS)

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