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2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Biology, B.A.
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The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology is recommended for students preparing for secondary certification, dual majors, physician assistant or nursing programs or those planning to pursue graduate work outside of life sciences (e.g., law, M.B.A., psychology, public policy, or some areas of environmental studies). Graduates from our Bachelor of Arts program also pursue professional degrees in medicine, dentistry or optometry.
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Total credits required to complete major: 64-65
Basic Requirements (33 Credits)
Electives in Biology at the 200-level or above including the following:
- At least two additional Biology laboratory courses at the 200-level or above, including one at the 300-level.
- At least four credits of electives in Biology at the 300 level or above. (This will include the 300-level laboratory credit.)
- A maximum of four credits from the following: BIOL 297 , BIOL 299, BIOL 395 , BIOL 396 , BIOL 397 , BIOL 398 , BIOL 399 .
Related Requirements (31-32 Credits)
Minimum Competence Requirement
To graduate with a biology major, students must attain a grade of C- or better in all required biology courses, excluding electives. A grade of C- must be achieved in any course before it can be used as a prerequisite for another course. A student may only repeat a required biology course or related requirement once for major credit and the course must be taken at the next offering of the class. If a student does not earn at least a “C-” on the second taking of the class, she, he, or they will not be able to complete the major.
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.
Spring (14-15 Credit Hours)
Spring (16 Credit Hours)
- BIOL elective Credit(s): 3
- BIOL elective Credit(s): 4
- F/ Credit(s): 3
- U/ Credit(s): 3
- Elective Credit(s): 3
Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- BIOL elective Credit(s): 3
- F/ Credit(s): 3
- Electives Credit(s): 9
Spring (15-16 Credit Hours)
- BIOL elective Credit(s): 2
- S/ Credit(s): 3
- Electives Credit(s): 10-11
Total Credit Hours: 120
Program notes: CHEM 119 and BIOL 116 are both 2-credit labs; generally students take one in the fall and one in the spring, in either order. Students typically take their mathematics courses in their freshman year, but this is not required. Several biology electives have BIOL 300 as a prerequisite, and BIOL 300 has BIOL 222 as a prerequisite. Consequently, putting off either of these courses beyond the above recommendations is not a good idea. Several 200-level biology laboratory courses are available to sophomores; taking a lab in the second year is recommended but not required. An alternative accelerated chemistry lecture sequence (CHEM 203 , CHEM 204 , CHEM 223 , CHEM 224 ) completes general and organic chemistry in 3 semesters (CHEM 204 and CHEM 223 are each half-semester courses) and might be appropriate for students with strong chemistry backgrounds.
Electives in Biology: Sixteen credits must include (1) BIOL 204 or BIOL 216 , or BIOL 223 (2) at least one biology laboratory course at the 300 level (3) one additional biology laboratory course at the 200 level or above and (4) at least four hours of biology at the 300 level or above.
Note: Where no prerequisites apply, some variation in the order or semester in which courses are taken is possible. Students should consult their academic advisors for additional information.
Pre-Professional
Requirements for various biologically related professional programs (e.g. medical, veterinary, dental, optometry, etc.) vary. Students are urged to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements of the schools of their choice.
Students planning to apply to professional schools need not major in biology or the sciences. Minimal requirements of most professional schools include one year of biology, one year each of general chemistry and organic chemistry, one year of general physics, and two courses in English.
Students planning to attend veterinary school should complete BIOL 116 , BIOL 117 , BIOL 119 , BIOL 230 , BIOL 222 (BIOL 223 is optional); general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry; 6 credits in English and speech (English composition is required). Courses in nutrition and statistics are recommended. BIOL 242 , BIOL 300 , and BIOL 354 are also desirable.
Articulation Agreement
Early Assurance Program with SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine
SUNY-Geneseo and the SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine offer a cooperative program to qualified students designed to assure an undergraduate student acceptance into dental school at the end of two years of study. This allows the student to complete a four year undergraduate curriculum without further concern about admission to a D.D.S. program. While there is no major course of study required, the applicant must have completed most of the required predental courses for admission to the SUNY at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine and must demonstrate both maturity and a high level of motivation for a career in dentistry. You are invited to contact Kim Harvey at SUNY-Geneseo, (harvey@geneseo.edu) or the Office of Student Admissions at SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine at (716) 828-2836 for more details.
Plant Sciences
Students interested in concentrating in the plant sciences should select courses from the following: BIOL 215 , BIOL 311 , BIOL 361 , and BIOL 380 . Opportunities exist for independent study (BIOL 399 ) and research using the greenhouse, herbarium, and other departmental facilities.
Ecology
Students interested in the field of environmental science or ecology should pursue a BS degree and select courses from the following: BIOL 204 , BIOL 305 , BIOL 306 , BIOL 311 , BIOL 338 , BIOL 340 , BIOL 376 . We also recommend students take a course in statistics, such as BIOL 250 , MATH 262 or PSYC 250 . Students also should consider independent research with faculty using laboratory resources including the greenhouse, animal care facility, and field sites such as Conesus Lake, the Roemer Arboretum, or our 400-acre Research Reserve.
3/3 Program in Physical Therapy with SUNY Upstate Medical University
SUNY-Geneseo and SUNY-Upstate Medical University offer a cooperative program to qualified students where they can receive a B.A. in Biology and a Doctor of Physical Therapy in six years. Upon completion of three years of study at Geneseo and the first year at Upstate, SUNY-Geneseo students will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree from Geneseo. Upon successful completion of three years at Upstate in the entry level DPT program, students will be awarded a DPT degree from SUNY-Upstate. Qualified high school seniors must apply for admission to the program by applying and being accepted by both SUNY-Upstate and SUNY-Geneseo during their senior year of high school. You are invited to contact Kim Harvey at SUNY-Geneseo harvey@geneseo.edu or the Admissions Office at SUNY-Upstate Medial University (315) 464-4570 for further information.
3/4 Program with New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
SUNY-Geneseo and New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYIT-COM) offer an affiliation program to qualified students where they can receive a B.S. in Biology and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree in seven years instead of the usual eight. The student attends SUNY at Geneseo for 3 years and then attends the professional program at NYIT-COM. After the first year at NYIT-COM, the student receives her, his, or their baccalaureate degree in biology from SUNY-Geneseo. The D.O. degree is awarded after completing the four years at NYIT-COM. You are invited to contact Kim Harvey at (harvey@geneseo.edu) or the Director of Admissions at NYIT-COM.at (516) 686-3747.
3/4 Program with SUNY-Optometry
SUNY-Geneseo and SUNY College of Optometry offer an affiliation program to qualified students where they can receive a B.S. in Biology and a Doctor of Optometry degree in seven years instead of the usual eight. The student attends SUNY at Geneseo for 3 years and then attends the professional program at SUNY College of Optometry. After the first year at SUNY College of Optometry, the student receives her, his, or their baccalaureate degree in biology from SUNY-Geneseo. The O.D. degree is awarded after completing the four years at SUNY College of Optometry. You are invited to contact Kim Harvey at SUNY-Geneseo at (harvey@geneseo.edu) or the Office of Student Affairs at SUNY College of Optometry at (212) 780-5100 or (800) 291-3937 for more details.
3/4 Program with SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine
SUNY-Geneseo and the SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine offer an affiliation program to qualified students where they can receive a B.S. in Biology and a Doctor of Dental Science degree in seven years instead of the usual eight. The student attends SUNY-Geneseo for 3 years and then attends the professional program at SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine. After the first year at SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, the student receives her, his, or their baccalaureate degree in biology from SUNY-Geneseo. The D.D.S. degree is awarded after completing the four years at SUNY-Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine. You are invited to contact Kim Harvey at SUNY-Geneseo at (harvey@geneseo.edu) or the Office of Student Admissions at SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine at (716) 828-2836 for more details.
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