Biology

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.

Biology-Optometry 3-1 Program

This joint program with an optometry college (see p. 260) 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.

Requirements for Honors in Biology

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.

Courses for Nonmajors

The biology department offers several courses of interest to the nonmajor. These courses have numbers between 303-10000 and 303-12000.

Requirements for the Major in Biology --- B.A.

Biology, chemistry, and mathematics made up as follows

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 level-1 courses; 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 or 304-12300, 304-12200 or 304-12600, 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

Outside biology, chemistry, and mathematics

Total

33-36

Electives

	In any area to complete the 120 credits necessary for graduation	26-31
	Total, B.A. in biology	120

Advanced Placement

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.

Requirements for Biology 7-12, B.A.

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.

Any transfer student entering the college in the 2002-2003 academic year, who intends to graduate and apply for New York State teaching certification on or before February 2, 2004 will meet the requirements for the Biology Teacher Certification 7-12 B.A. found in the 2001-2002 Ithaca College Undergraduate Catalog, page 113.

Biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, made up as follows:

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 level-1 courses; 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 or 304-12300, 304-12200 or 304-12600, 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

Core Education Requirements Credits

327-21910	Elements of Tutoring	3
312-20100	Technology for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher	2
327-10100	Literacy Education 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

Additional Requirements

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 level 2.

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 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.

Electives

	Outside biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to complete humanities and sciences general education requirements	27-30
	Total, B.A. in biology 7-12	120

Minor in Biology

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.

Requirements for the Minor

	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

Off-Campus Study in Marine Biology

Students can participate in our cooperative programs with the Duke University Marine Lab (North Carolina and Bermuda) or the Sea Education Association of Wood's Hole (with a variety of cruise tracks). For more information on these programs, see "International Programs, National Affiliated Programs in Marine Biology" (p. 658).