Bachelor of Arts
Vicki Cameron, Professor and Chair
The biology department offers a liberal arts education with a major in biology, giving a strong foundation for continued study at the graduate level. This curriculum also provides preparation for entering the health professions (dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathy, podiatry, and veterinary medicine) and paramedical fields. Other career opportunities exist in laboratories, pharmaceutical and chemical companies, governmental and environmental agencies, and other organizations that require personnel with a biology background.
The curriculum also allows for preparation and certification in secondary teaching in biology with either a major or a minor in biology.
This joint program with an optometry college (see p. 167) is available to biology majors and enables students to enter optometry college after three years of undergraduate study. Ithaca College requirements for graduation, as well as most of the biology requirements, must be fulfilled during the first 90 credits of this program. After acceptance by the optometry college, and upon successful completion of the first year of optometry college, the bachelor's degree in biology is awarded by Ithaca College. This program must be carefully planned with the student's adviser.
Students with a minimum GPA in all biology courses of 3.50 and an overall GPA of 3.30 may apply for honors after they have completed 303-30200 Research in Biology, but not later than the first two weeks of the senior year. Application must be made to the department curriculum committee for admission to honors. The curriculum committee reviews the qualifications of applicants, certifies that faculty sponsorship has been obtained, and then makes its recommendation to the department. The faculty of the biology department votes on acceptance or rejection of the curriculum committee's recommendation.
When a student is accepted for honors, an honors committee is formed, consisting of the project director (normally the faculty sponsor) and two other members of the biology department faculty. The student must design the honors project in consultation with a faculty sponsor. The honors committee monitors the progress of the honors project and the academic performance of the student.
The student must write a paper and make an oral presentation by the end of the second semester of the project. The faculty of the biology department votes, as recommended by the honors committee, on the granting of honors in biology.
A more detailed statement of deadlines and requirements for honors is available from faculty advisers.
The biology department offers several courses of interest to the nonmajor. These courses have numbers between 303-10000 and 303-12000.
Biology
|
303-12100, 303-12200, 303-27100, 303-30100, 303-30200, 303-32700, 303-45400, 303-41100-303-41200 |
25 |
|
Three elective courses in biology. |
10-12 |
Total |
35-37 |
Courses that do not count as biology electives include any courses listed as required; any courses at the 100 level; 303-20500; 303-21000; 303-40000; 303-40100; 303-40200. Biochemistry I and II (302-35300 and 302-35400) may count as biology electives, but no other courses in biochemistry may count.
Chemistry
|
304-12100, 304-12200, 304-12400, 304-22100, 304-22200, 304-22500 |
17 |
Mathematics
313-11100 or 313-10800 or 313-24400 |
4 | |
|
Total, required biology, chemistry, and math |
56-58 |
|
Total |
33-36 |
|
In any area to complete the 120 credits necessary for graduation |
26-31 |
Total, B.A. in biology |
120 |
Advanced placement (AP) credit in biology is accepted under the following policy:
1. A student with an AP test score of 5 may receive course-specific credit (e.g., 303-11900, 303-12000, or 303-12100, 303-12200) provided there is evidence in the AP course of a laboratory component and a passing score on an exam administered by the department. If a student receives course-specific AP credit, he or she cannot also receive credit for taking the course.
2. A student with an AP test score of 3 or 4 will receive elective credit without particular designation. Students with AP test scores below 3 will not receive credit.
A language other than English is recommended since it is a prerequisite for an advanced degree in many graduate schools.
The program requirements below are for students who will graduate and apply for New York teaching certification before February 2, 2004
Biology
303-12100, 303-12200, 303-27100, 303-30100, 303-30200, 303-32700, 303-45400, 303-41100, 303-41200 |
25 | |
Two elective courses in biology |
6-8 | |
31-33 |
Courses that do not count as electives include any courses listed as required; any courses at the 100 level; 303-20500; 303-21000; 303-40000; 303-40100; 303-40200. Biochemistry I and II (302-35300 and 302-35400) may count as biology electives, but no other courses in biochemistry may count.
Chemistry
|
304-12100, 304-12200, 304-12400 |
9 |
Physics
|
315-10100, 315-10200; or 315-11700, 315-11800, 315-12000 |
8-9 |
Mathematics
|
313-11100 or 313-24400; or 313-10800 (See p. 230 for math placement policies) |
4 |
|
Total, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics |
52-55 |
(See general statement on teacher education programs, p. 168)
|
Education 327-21900, 327-30800, 327-31000, 327-41200, 327-49800; 395-11000, 395-11100, 395-34000 |
26 |
|
Psychology --- a general psychology course (one of the following: 330-10300 through 330-12100, or either 330-20300 or 330-20400) plus educational psychology 330-21000 |
6 |
|
Total, education and related courses |
32 |
|
Outside biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics to complete humanities and sciences general education requirements |
33-36 |
Total, B.A. in biology 7-12 |
120 |
Students who complete the bachelor of arts major in chemistry or physics must complete the following for certification in biology.
|
Introductory biology |
8 |
|
Level 2 or higher courses in biology. A total of four courses must be taken in at least three of the four core areas, including one classified as having a botanical emphasis |
15-16 |
(See general statement on teacher education programs, p. 168)
|
Education 327-21900, 327-30800, 327-31000, 327-41200, 327-49800; 395-11000, 395-11100, 395-34000 |
26 |
|
Psychology --- a general psychology course (one of the following: 330-10300 through 303-12100, or either 330-20300 or 330-20400) plus 330-21010 Educational Psychology |
6 |
In addition to certification in biology, after completing the requirements listed above, students may also receive certification in either chemistry or physics, providing they meet the certification requirements of the discipline. These requirements are listed under the teaching option in chemistry or physics for other science majors.
A student may also receive certification in general science upon completion of the requirements listed above for biology certification, and completion of a semester of geology (may be taken at Cornell --- see p. 15).
The program requirements below are for students who will graduate and apply for New York State teaching certification on or after February 2, 2004. Entering first-year students in fall 2000 and thereafter will complete the following program.
Biology
|
303-12100, 303-12200, 303-27100 303-30100, 303-30200, 303-32700, 303-41100- 303-41200, 303-45400 |
25 |
|
Two elective courses in biology |
6-8 |
|
Total, biology |
31-33 |
Courses that do not count as electives include any courses listed as required; any courses at the 100 level; 303-20500; 303-21000; 303-40000; 303-40100; 303-40200. Biochemistry I and II (302-35300 and 302-35400) may count as biology electives, but no other courses in biochemistry may count.
Chemistry
|
304-12100, 304-12200, 304-12400 |
9 |
Physics
|
315-10100, 315-10200; or 315-11700, 315-11800, 315-12000 |
8-9 |
Mathematics
|
313-11100 or 313-11200 or 313-24400 |
4 |
|
Total, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics |
52-55 |
327-21910 |
Elements of Tutoring |
3 |
312-20100 |
Technology for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher |
2 |
327-10100 |
Literacy Educ for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher |
2 |
620-23900 |
Educating Children with Special Needs |
2 |
620-22900 |
Second Language Acquisition: Its Nature and Meaning for Educators |
2 |
330-21010 |
Educational Psychology |
3 |
395-34000 |
Social Foundations of Education |
3 |
327-30810 |
Pedagogy and Practice across the Disciplines |
3 |
327-31010 |
Pedagogy and Practice for the Science Teacher |
3 |
327-41210 |
Seminar on the Practical Issues of Teaching |
3 |
327-49810 |
Professional Semester in Education |
12 |
Total core education requirements |
38 |
· All teaching option students must successfully complete a year of college-level study in a language other than English. Students may test out of this requirement by taking the language placement test and placing at the 200 level.
· All teaching option students must successfully complete a writing course at the 106 level or above.
· All teaching option students must successfully complete the second year review and maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA in their subject. If a student receives an unsuccessful review, or a review with stipulations, the student must participate in and successfully pass a second review the following year. Unsuccessful reviews and reviews with stipulations will be accompanied by a written statement outlining what must be done before the second review is completed.
· Students must earn a grade of B or better in 327-30810 and 327-31010 to qualify for student teaching. A grade of B- does not qualify.
· Professional Semester in Education and the Seminar on the Practical Issues of Teaching constitute a full course load during the student teaching semester. No additional courses may be taken.
· All candidates for provisional or initial certification must successfully complete all three sections of the New York State Teacher Certification Exam: the liberal arts and sciences test, the assessment of teaching skills-written, and the content area exam.
· The student's department chair and the coordinator of teacher education must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.
|
Outside biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to complete humanities and sciences general education requirements |
27-30 |
Total, B.A. in biology 7-12 |
120 |
The biology minor program provides an option for nonmajors who wish to take a substantial number of biology courses and receive recognition for their studies.
Chemistry 304-11100, 304-11200 |
6 | |
|
Introductory biology 303-12100, 303-12200, or 303-11900, 303-12000 |
8 |
|
Level 2 or higher courses in biology. A total of four courses must be taken from the list of electives |
15-16 |
Total |
29-30 |
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