Program Requirements
B.A. Biology Requirements
| Biology core | (40) | |
| BIOL 120C BIOL 127L |
P4 General Biology: Genes, Cells, Evolution General Biology Lab |
3 1 |
| BIOL 128C | SQ General Zoology | 4 |
| BIOL 213 | Plant Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 214 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 311 BIOL 311L |
Cell Biology Techniques In Cell Biology |
3 2 |
| BIOL 349 | Junior Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 103C CHEM 103L |
P4 General Chemistry I General Chemistry Lab I |
3 1 |
| CHEM 104C CHEM 104L |
General Chemistry II General Chemistry Lab II |
3 1 |
| CHEM 201 CHEM 201L |
SQ Organic Chemistry I Organic Chemistry Lab I |
3 2 |
| CHEM 202 CHEM 202L |
Organic Chemistry II Organic Chemistry Lab II |
3 2 |
| Biology electives | (9–12) | |
| Three 3- or 4-credit Biology courses at the 300-level or higher, excluding BIOL 490, 496, 498 and SSCH 498 | ||
| One course chosen from | (3–4) | |
| Calculus I (MATH 120C), Calculus II (MATH 122C), Mathematical Modeling (MATH 170), Statistics (MATH 260 or ECON 221 or PSYC 201), or a Programming course (CSCI 152, CSCI 161) | ||
| Total | (52–56) | |
In addition, as per the College Core requirements, B.A. students in Biology must take two foreign language courses in sequence in the same language.
B.S. Biology Requirements
| Biology core requirements | (40) | |
| BIOL 120C BIOL 127L |
P4 General Biology: Genes, Cells, Evolution General Biology Lab |
3 1 |
| BIOL 128C | SQ General Zoology | 4 |
| BIOL 213 | Plant Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 214 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 311 BIOL 311L |
Cell Biology Techniques In Cell Biology |
3 2 |
| BIOL 349 | Junior Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 103C CHEM 103L |
P4 General Chemistry I General Chemistry Lab I |
3 1 |
| CHEM 104C CHEM 104L |
General Chemistry II General Chemistry Lab II |
3 1 |
| CHEM 201 CHEM 201L |
SQ Organic Chemistry I Organic Chemistry Lab I |
3 2 |
| CHEM 202 CHEM 202L |
Organic Chemistry II Organic Chemistry Lab II |
3 2 |
| Physics requirement | (8) | |
| PHYS 121C | P4 Introductory Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 122C | P4 Introductory Physics II | 4 |
| Biology electives | (15–20) | |
| Five 3- or 4-credit Biology courses at the 300-level or higher, excluding BIOL 490, 496. Note: BIOL 498, if taken for 3 credits, or SSCH 498, if taken for 3 credits, and supervised by a Biology faculty member, may be used as one of the five 3-credit Biology electives. |
||
| Mathematics requirement | (6–8) | |
| Choose one | Math 120C P4 Calculus I –OR– | |
| MATH 170 P4 Mathematical Modeling | ||
| AND the other course listed above or one of: Statistics (MATH 260 or ECON 221 or PSYC 201), Calculus II (MATH 122C), or a Programming course (CSCI 152, 161) | ||
| Total | (69–76) | |
Tailoring a Course of Study in Biology
Biology is a broad field of study. The range of Biology elective courses offered permits students to tailor their academic program to meet their individual needs and interests. Additionally, students should be aware that graduate and professional programs may have specific science, math, computer science, statistics, or humanities requirements for admission. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisors, the Chair of the department, or with the Health Professions Advisor for guidance regarding the selection of Biology electives and other courses.
One-half of all Biology credits taken to meet degree requirements must be completed at St. John Fisher College.
For students majoring in Biology, all courses designated as Biology courses (BIOL) that may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.
Note: SSCH 498 may be used in the calculation of the B.S. Biology major's GPA if the course is worth three credits and is supervised by a Biology faculty member.
Students Seeking Adolescence Teaching Certification in Biology
Students seeking Adolescence Teaching Certification in Biology dual major in Inclusive Adolescence Education and Biology (B.A. program requirements) earning a Bachelor of Science degree.
In addition to the content area requirements in Biology, students pursuing Adolescence Teaching Certification must also complete:
- Inclusive Adolescence Education Major (47)
The major includes Education courses, field experiences, student teaching, and courses for Certification in Students with Disabilities (7–12), and Middle School Extension in the content area (5–6). See Inclusive Adolescence Education for details.
Note: As early as possible, students should consult with an Education advisor to set up a program leading to certification.
Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Goal #1 Biology majors will achieve basic proficiency in Biology through exposure to areas of fundamental importance to the field.
- Develop a basic understanding of the diversity of life evolved over time by the processes of mutation, selection, and genetic design.
- Identify, characterize and classify each of the major groups of living organisms
- Demonstrate an understanding of evolutionary mechanisms
- Understand how the basic units of structure define the function of all living things
- Identify and describe the relationship between structure and function at all biological levels
- Develop a basic understanding of the mechanisms underlying how growth and behavior of organisms are activated through the expression of genetic information in context.
- Describe the flow of genetic information
- Describe the development of animals and plants
- Develop a basic understanding of how living systems are interconnected and interacting.
- Describe how organisms and the environment influence each other.
Goal #2 Biology majors will achieve basic proficiency with scientific competencies.
- Use laboratory equipment and techniques appropriate to the field of study.
- Demonstrate correct usage of laboratory equipment
- Demonstrate competency in performing biochemical techniques
- Demonstrate competency in manipulating organisms and models
- Understand the rationale behind the choice of laboratory methods
- Demonstrate basic information literacy skills
- Identify a suitable research topic and determine the nature and extent of information needed.
- Acquire previously published information effectively, efficiently, and ethically
- Critically evaluate information and sources and decide if there as a need to modify query and/or seek additional sources
- Use information effectively to address and acknowledge sources with proper citations
- Demonstrate basic quantitative literacy skills
- Be able to use appropriate computational skills for questions in biology
- Use, evaluate and convert units
- Interpret and evaluate quantitative representations (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables and words describing quantitative information)
- Plan and execute experimental design, data collection and data processing
- Understand probability and interpret statistical methods to the analysis of quantitative biological data
- Communicate quantitative results and interpretations
- Understand and use mathematical models in the evaluation of biological phenomena
- Communicate effectively and accurately
- Effectively communicate scientific information
- Effectively communicate their credentials
- Apply the scientific method to solve problems, make predictions an evaluate information
Goal #3 Biology majors will understand the relationship between science and society
- Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between science and society