Program Requirements
Students should be aware that graduate and professional programs may have specific 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.
One-half of all biology credits taken to meet degree requirements must be completed at Fisher.
B.A. in Biology
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.
Requirements
Biology Core – 22 credits
- BIOL 120C – P4 General Biology (3)
BIOL 127L – General Biology Lab (1) - BIOL 128C – SQ General Zoology (3)
BIOL 128L – General Zoology Lab (1) - BIOL 213 – Plant Biology (3)
BIOL 213L – Plant Biology Lab (1) - BIOL 214 – Microbiology (3)
BIOL 214L – Microbiology Lab (1) - BIOL 311 – Cell Biology (3)
BIOL 311L – Techniques In Cell Biology (2) - BIOL 349 – Career Seminar (1)
Chemistry Requirements – 13 credits
- CHEM 103C – P4 General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 103L – General Chemistry Lab I (1) - CHEM 104C – General Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 104L – General Chemistry Lab II (1) - CHEM 201 – SQ Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 201L – Organic Chemistry Lab I (2)
Biology Electives – 9 credits
At least nine additional biology credits (excluding BIOL 490, 496, 498, 499, and SSCH 498) six of which must be at the 300 level or above.
Mathematics Requirements – 3–4 credits
One course chosen from: Calculus I (MATH 120C), Calculus II (MATH 122C), Mathematical Modeling and Quantitative Analysis (MATH 130C), Mathematical Modeling (MATH 170), Statistics (ECON 221 or STAT 160), or a programming course (CSCI 150 or CSCI 161).
Total: 47–48 credits
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. in Biology
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 research mentor.
Requirements
Biology Core – 22 credits
- BIOL 120C – P4 General Biology (3)
BIOL 127L – General Biology Lab (1) - BIOL 128C – SQ General Zoology (3)
BIOL 128L – General Zoology Lab (1) - BIOL 213 – Plant Biology (3)
BIOL 213L – Plant Biology Lab (1) - BIOL 214 – Microbiology (3)
BIOL 214L – Microbiology Lab (1) - BIOL 311 – Cell Biology (3)
BIOL 311L – Techniques In Cell Biology (2) - BIOL 349 – Career Seminar (1)
Chemistry Requirements – 18 credits
- CHEM 103C – P4 General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 103L – General Chemistry Lab I (1) - CHEM 104C – General Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 104L – General Chemistry Lab II (1) - CHEM 201 – SQ Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 201L – Organic Chemistry Lab I (2) - CHEM 202 – Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 202L – Organic Chemistry Lab II (2)
Physics Requirements – 8 credits
- PHYS 121C – P4 Introductory Physics I (4)
- PHYS 122C – P4 Introductory Physics II (4)
Biology Electives – 15–20 credits
Five 3- or 4-credit biology courses at the 300-level or higher, excluding BIOL 490, 496 and 499.
Note: Either BIOL 498 or SSCH 498 (but not both), if taken for at least three credits in the same semester supervised by a biology research mentor, may be used as one of the five biology electives. Students can earn up to five total credits from either SSCH 498 or BIOL 498 or a combination of the two.
Mathematics Requirements – 6–8 credits
- Choose ONE:
- Math 120C – P4 Calculus I (4)
- MATH 170 – P4 Mathematical Modeling (3)
- AND the other course listed above or one of: Statistics (ECON 221 or STAT 160), Calculus II (MATH 122C), or a programming course (CSCI 150 or 161)
Total: 69–76 credits
Inclusive Adolescence Education Dual Major/Concentration in Biology
Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive adolescence education (biology) may dual-major in inclusive adolescence education and biology (B.A. program requirements as listed above, excluding BIOL 349) or they may opt to complete a biology concentration. Either choice results in the Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to meeting all of the inclusive adolescence education requirements (40-43 credits: see Inclusive Adolescence Education for details), the Biology Department in consultation with the Education Department, has outlined the following courses for the biology concentration which meet the New York state requirement for certification in biology.
- BIOL 120C – P4 General Biology (3)
- BIOL 127L – General Biology :ab (1)
- BIOL 128C – SQ General Zoology (3)
- BIOL 128L – General Zoology Lab (1)
- BIOL 213 – Plant Biology (3)
- BIOL 213L – Plant Biology Lab (1)
- BIOL 214 – Microbiology (3)
- BIOL 214L – Microbiology Lab (1)
- BIOL 311 – Cell Biology (3)
- BIOL 311L – Cell Biology Lab (2)
- Biology electives – with at least 6 credit hours at the 300 level or above (9)
Total: 30 credits
Inclusive Childhood Education Dual Major/Concentration in Biology
Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive childhood education must declare either a second major or a concentration in a liberal arts field. Either choice results in a Bachelor of Science degree. Inclusive childhood education major who wish to pursue a dual major with biology take all of the major requirements as listed above (B.A. or B.S. requirements) in addition to meeting all of the inclusive childhood education requirements (49-52 credits: see Inclusive Childhood Education for details). If an inclusive childhood education major wishes to complete a concentration in biology, the Biology Department in consultation with the Education Department, has outlined the following courses which meet the New York state requirement for a liberal arts concentration in this field:
- BIOL 120C – P4 General Biology (3)
- BIOL 127L – General Biology :ab (1)
- BIOL 128C – SQ General Zoology (3)
- BIOL 128L – General Zoology Lab (1)
- BIOL 213 – Plant Biology (3)
- BIOL 213L – Plant Biology Lab (1)
- BIOL 214 – Microbiology (3)
- BIOL 214L – Microbiology Lab (1)
- BIOL 311 – Cell Biology (3)
- BIOL 311L – Cell Biology Lab (2)
- Biology electives – with at least 6 credit hours at the 300 level or above (9)
Total: 30 credits