Description
The Biology major is designed for students with an interest in aspects of the life sciences, to provide excellent preparation for postgraduate education and careers in biomedicine, health and secondary education, as well as other fields that require an understanding and practice of scientific reasoning and methods.
Students build a scientific foundation for understanding how biological systems function through courses taken during the freshman and sophomore years. In the junior and senior years, students may concentrate in areas such as: pre-professional health, biotechnology, secondary education, or an individualized program. Research opportunities with departmental faculty as well as internships and cooperative programs with public and private organizations afford students the opportunity to apply their skills outside the classroom. Due to the complex biological issues that face modern society, the department also encourages non-majors to take selected courses in the biological sciences.
The Biology major also offers a track for students in becoming biology teachers, Bachelor of Science in Biology - Biology Teacher Track. The track in the Biology major is designed to get students who are aspiring to become future biology teachers in grades 5-12 into the classroom sooner. This unique program also includes a dual certification in Students with Disabilities Generalist grade 7-12 and General Science Extension. With fewer credit hours needed in the upper biology classes, a student can complete the major and certification requirements, including student teaching in four years. A student can complete the major and certification requirements, including student teaching in four years.
What can I do with a biology major?
Admission to the Program
Any undergraduate student can declare the biology major or a track within the major.
General Education Requirements (36 credits)
Major Departmental Requirements (37 credits)
- BIO 201 Biology I* 4 cr
- BIO 202 Biology II* 4 cr
- BIO 310 Biological Chemistry 3 cr
- BIO 311 Biological Chemistry Lab 1 cr
- BIO 315 Cell Biology 3 cr
- BIO 302 Genetics 4 cr
- BIO 498 Seminar 1 cr
- 300- and 400-level upper-division electives (17 credits)
At most, two electives (8 credits) may be taken at the 300-level and counted toward the major. They may be chosen from these courses:
- BIO 303 Ecology 4 cr
- BIO 321 Anatomy and Physiology I 4 cr
- BIO 322 Anatomy and Physiology II 4 cr
- BIO 323 Microbiology 4 cr
At minimum, two 400-level laboratory courses (6-8 credits) must be taken. The following list reflects course offerings at the date of publication. Other courses may satisfy this requirement by advisement.
- BIO 404 Developmental Biology 4 cr
- BIO 413 How Plants Work 3 cr
- BIO 417 Recombinant DNA Lab 3 cr
- BIO 422 Animal Physiology and Histology 4 cr
- BIO 423 General Microbiology 3 cr
- BIO 424 Experimental Research 1-4 cr
- BIO 456 Systems Physiology 3 cr
- BIO 480 Genomes and Proteomes in Biomedicine 3 cr
- BIO 483 Bioinformatics 3 cr
Students may choose to take all of their biology electives at the 400-level.
Cognate or Additional Requirements (27-28 credits)
- CHM 205 College Chemistry I* 4 cr
- CHM 206 College Chemistry II 4 cr
- CHM 305 Organic Chemistry I 4 cr
- One of the following courses:
- CHM 306 Organic Chemistry II 4 cr
- CHM 313 Quantitative Chemical Analysis 4 cr
Math Requirement (3-4 credits)
One of the following courses:
- MTH 201 Calculus I
- MTH 243 Elementary Statistics
- ENV 437 Biostatistics
Physics Requirements (8 credits)
One of the following two-course sequences is required:
- Option 1
- PHS 205 Introduction to Physics I (with lab)
- PHS 210 Introduction to Physics II
- Option 2
- PHS 235 Physics I
- PHS 240 Physics II
Prerequisites (0-6 credits)
- MTH 111 College Algebra
- MTH 122 Pre-Calculus or placement by the math placement coordinator
Electives (14-20 credits)
Total Credits (120 credits)
Additional Degree Requirements
- A minimum grade of "C" in BIO 201 and BIO 202 is required before Biology majors students are allowed to take further biology courses in the major
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in all required major courses (Major Departmental Requirements).
- Completion of all college-wide degree requirements
*denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements
Biology Teacher Track Requirements (34 credits)
- BIO 201 Biology I
- BIO 202 Biology II
- BIO 310 Biological Chemistry
- BIO 311 Biological Chemistry Lab
- BIO 315 Cell Biology
- BIO 302 Genetics
- BIO 303 Ecology
- BIO 321 Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIO 322 Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 411 Evolution
Chemistry Requirements (12 credits)
- CHM 205 College Chemistry I
- CHM 206 College Chemistry II
- CHM 305 Organic Chemistry I
Math Requirement (4 credits)
- MTH 201 Calculus I
Physics Requirements (8 credits)
- PHS 205 Introduction to Physics I (with lab)
- PHS 210 Introduction to Physics II
Education Requirements (37 credits)
- PRO 370 Health and Drug Ed.
- PSH 484 Adolescence
- EDI 413 Intro Special Ed.
- EDI 431 Language Skills I
- EDI 432 Language Skills II
- EDI 447 Inclusive Middle
- EDI 467 Teaching Inclusively
- EDI 430 Ed & Society
- EDI 414 Methods Special Ed
- EDI 419 Assessment in SPED
- EDI 475 Practicum with Seminar
Biology Career Areas
These careers are just meant to be guidelines for students in choosing their electives. The degree requirements for each career area are identical. The course work within different career areas is overlapping and is not mutually exclusive, and students may decide to pick courses from various career areas.
Biotechnology/Molecular and Cellular Biology
The strength of Brockport's Biology Department lies in these areas. The department is well-equipped to provide skills needed to pursue a career in biotechnology/molecular and cellular biology. Students have the opportunity to gain a firm knowledge base as well as a variety of laboratory skills in the areas of molecular biology, tissue culture, microbiology, microscopy, cell and developmental biology, physiology, and genetics. A substantial percentage of graduates who have obtained these skills have successfully entered Master's and PhD programs or found jobs in academic, government or industrial laboratories. Students choosing this career area are advised to select all of their upper-division electives from the following group of courses.
- BIO 401 Advanced Cell Biology
- BIO 404 Developmental Biology
- BIO 414 Immunology
- BIO 415 Molecular Biology
- BIO 417 Recombinant DNA Lab
- BIO 420 Mechanisms of Aging
- BIO 423 General Microbiology
- BIO 426 Recombinant DNA
- BIO 433 Bacterial Physiology and Genetics
- BIO 475 Cancer Biology
- BIO 480 Genomes and Proteomes in Biomedicine
- BIO 483 Bioinformatics
Physiology and Development
Some students may be more interested in how the body develops and how the body functions in response to internal and external changes. These interests are encompassed in the areas of physiology and development. Students interested in these areas might select their upper-division electives from the following group of courses.
- BIO 321 Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIO 322 Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 404 Developmental Biology
- BIO 414 Immunology
- BIO 420 Mechanisms of Aging
- BIO 422 Animal Physiology and Histology
- BIO 455 Neurophysiology
- BIO 466 General Endocrinology
- BIO 475 Cancer Biology
- BIO 489 Neurobiology: Memory, Self and the Brain
Certification in Adolescent Education (7-12)
Students who intend to become secondary school biology teachers qualify for New York State Provisional Certification by completing the requirement of Bachelor of Science and the requisite courses toward certification in secondary education as arranged with the Department of Education and Human Development. These certification requirements are extensive and changeable. Therefore, the student should meet with an advisor in both the Department of Biology and in the Department of Education and Human Development. Students in this program need to obtain a broad education in biology in order to satisfy the New York State Living Environment Curriculum. To do this, students should take the following courses among their upper-division biology electives.
- BIO 303 Ecology
- BIO 321 Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIO 322 Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 411 Evolution
Pre-medicine, Pre-dentistry, Pre-veterinary, Health Careers
Each year, students from Brockport apply for admission to professional study in medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, veterinary, optometry, podiatry, and physicians’ assistant programs. Although at Brockport most pre-professional students have majored in the Biology, there is no special major for pre-professional health care, and the requirements for admission can be met through a variety of majors available at the College. The program in Biology is well established and our graduates successfully compete for positions in health professional programs. Upon arrival at Brockport, students should contact the department for further information on these programs.
A Pre-Professional Health Advisory Committee assists students interested in entering medically related professions through formal meetings, counseling and a library of materials; provides application materials for the MCAT, DAT and OAT exams (the admissions tests for medical, dental and optometry schools); and prepares a committee evaluation prior to application based on a formal interview with the applicant as well as test scores and GPA. This committee consists of faculty members from Biology, Chemistry and Physics. For more information contact: biodept@brockport.edu.
Students interested in pursuing health-related professions are advised select their upper-division elective courses from:
- BIO 321 Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIO 322 Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 414 Immunology
- BIO 422 Animal Physiology and Histology
- BIO 423 General Microbiology
- BIO 466 General Endocrinology
- BIO 475 Cancer Biology
Combined Bachelor/PharmD Degree (3+4) Articulation Agreement
The combined degree articulation agreement culminates in both B.S. and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees in conjunction with the University at Buffalo. The first three undergraduate years will be completed at SUNY Brockport in conjunction with our Biology major degree program. Following application and offer of admittance, coursework in the fourth through seventh years will be taken at the University at Buffalo. The fourth year of coursework will be transferred back to Brockport to complete the B.S. degree requirements. For more information, please refer to the Pre-Professional Health Program section.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Define and accurately use biological terminology and nomenclature.
- Evaluate and analyze biological problems using knowledge of cell structure and function.
- Integrate interdisciplinary concepts to assess tissues, organs and systems.
- Evaluate and analyze biological problems using knowledge of genetics and evolution.
- Compare and contrast origins and diversity of life to explain life processes.
- Competently employ common laboratory equipment.
- Analyze and interpret scientific data, using relevant computer skills.
- Use quantitative reasoning to analyze complex biological problems.
- Apply biological knowledge to societal issues.