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) six of which must be at the 300 level or above.

Note: Although a 100 level course in biology may be used to fulfill one of the courses in this requirement, no courses from the foundational areas of Core 2020 may apply. These areas include Learning Community, Research-Based Writing, and Data Analytics. 

Mathematics Requirements – 3 credits

  • Choose ONE:
    • ECON 221 – SQ Statistics I (3)
    • STAT 160 – P4 Introduction to Data Science (3)

Total: 47 credits

In addition, B.A. students in biology must complete the College requirements for a B.A. degree which include earning at least 90 credit hours of liberal arts, completing a minor in another discipline, and meeting the foreign language proficiency requirement. See Bachelor's Degree requirements for more details.


B.A. in Biology with Inclusive Adolescence Education

Disclosure: This degree program is intended for students that are/will be part of the Noyce Inspire scholarship. Other students can enroll in this degree, however, only those that have applied and were selected by the Noyce Scholarship Committee will receive the scholarship. Visit the Noyce website for more details.

The B.A. in biology with inclusive adolescence education degree program is a dual certification program comprised of both the biology major and the inclusive adolescence education major with certification concentration in adolescence education – biology (7-12) and students with disabilities - generalist (7-12) certification. This program prepares teacher candidates to be highly capable and ethically responsible teachers who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to teach and reach all students effectively in adolescence education (grades 7-12).

Students in the B.A. in biology with inclusive education degree program must successfully complete the B.A. biology requirements as listed above (excluding BIOL 349) as well as all of the inclusive adolescence education requirements (40 credits: see Inclusive Adolescence Education for details). A minor is not required for this B.A. degree as the program results in a double major. Students must earn grades of "C" or higher in all courses in the content area.


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.

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 141 - General Physics Workshop I (4)*
  • PHYS 142 - General Physics Workshop 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: BIOL 498, 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 BIOL 498.

Mathematics Requirements – 3 credits

  • Choose ONE:
    • ECON 221 - SQ Statistics I (3)
    • STAT 160 – P4 Introduction to Data Science (3)

Total: 66–71 credits

*PHYS 121C or 131C if previously taken, may automatically substitute for PHYS 141; likewise, PHYS 122C or 132C if previously taken, may automatically substitute for PHYS 142.


B.S. 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. or B.S. 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. Students must earn grades of "C" or higher in all courses in the content area.

  • 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


B.S. 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 majors 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. Students must earn grades of "C" or higher in all courses in the content area.

  • 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