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Biology
Bachelor of Arts
Marc Servetnick, Associate 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 above) 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 an 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. After receiving a recommendation from the honors committee, the faculty of the biology department votes 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
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303-12100, 303-12200, 303-27100, 303-22700, 303-30100, 303-30200, 303-35400, 303-41100, 303-41200
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26
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Three elective courses in biology (one must be at level 3 or level 4)
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10-12
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Total
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36-38
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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; and 303-40200. Biochemistry I and II (302-35300 and 302-35400) and Special Topics: Biochemistry (302-48100) may count as biology electives.
Chemistry
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304-12100 or 304-12300, 304-12200 or 304-12600, 304-12400, 304-22100, 304-22200, 304-22500
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17
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Mathematics
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313-11100 or 313-10800 or 313-24400
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4
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Total, required biology, chemistry, and math
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57-59
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Outside biology, chemistry, and mathematics
Electives
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In any area to complete the 120 credits necessary for graduation
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25-30
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Total, B.A. in biology
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120
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Advanced Placement
Advanced placement (AP) credit in biology is accepted under the following policy:
- 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.
- 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.
Requirements for Biology B.A. with Teaching Option
Biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics requirements are as follows:
Biology
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303-12100, 303-12200, 303-22400 or 303-47800, 303-27100, 303-30100, 303-30200, 303-22700, 303-35400, 303-41100-303-41200
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29
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One elective course in biology
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3-4
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Total, biology
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32-33
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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 be used as biology electives, but no other courses in biochemistry may count.
Chemistry
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304-12100 or 304-12300, 304-12200 or 304-12600, 304-12400
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9
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Physics or chemistry
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315-10100, 315-10200; or 315-11700, 315-11800, 315-12000; or 304-22100, 304-22200, 304-22500
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8-9
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Mathematics
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313-10800 or 313-11100 or 313-11200 or 313-24400
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4
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Total, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics
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53-55
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Core education requirements
327-21910
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Elements of Tutoring
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3
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312-20100
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Technology for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher
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2
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327-10100
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Literacy Education for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher
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2
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620-23900
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Educating Children with Special Needs
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2
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620-22900
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Second Language Acquisition: Its Nature and Meaning for Educators
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2
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330-21010
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Educational Psychology
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3
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795-34000
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Social Foundations of Education
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3
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327-30810
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Pedagogy and Practice across the Disciplines
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3
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327-31010
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Pedagogy and Practice for the Science Teacher
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3
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327-41210
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Seminar on the Practical Issues of Teaching
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3
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327-49810
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Professional Semester in Education
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12
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795-11000
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Child Abuse Identification and Prevention
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0
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795-11100
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Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Identification and Prevention
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0
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Total core education requirements
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38
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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 numbered 377-10600 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
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Outside biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to complete humanities and sciences general education requirements
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26-29
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Total, B.A. in biology with teaching option
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120
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Requirements for the Major in Biology - B.S.
303-12100
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Principles of Biology
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4
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303-12200
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Principles of Biology
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4
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303-22700
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Genetics
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4
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303-27100
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General Ecology
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4
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303-30100
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Literature in Biology
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2
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303-30200
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Research in Biology
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3
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303-35400
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Cell Biology
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4
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303-41100
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Biology Seminar
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.5
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303-41200
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Biology Seminar
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.5
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Total
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26
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Biology electives
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Courses that do not count as biology electives include any courses listed as required; any level-1 course; 303-20000, 303-20500; 303-21000, 303-40000; 303-40100; 303-40200. Biochemistry I and II (302-35300 and 302-35400) and Special Topics: Biochemistry (302-48100) may count as biology electives.
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Two of the three biology electives must have a lab or discussion component (a fourth hour).
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One of the three biology electives must be at level 3 or above.
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Total
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11-12
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Required courses offered by other departments
Chemistry
304-12100
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Principles of Chemistry
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4
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304-12200
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Principles of Chemistry
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3
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304-12400
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Experimental Chemistry I
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2
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304-22100
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Organic Chemistry
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3
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304-22200
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Organic Chemistry
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3
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304-22500
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Experimental Chemistry II
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2
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Total
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17
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Physics
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Option 1
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315-10100 and 315-10200
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8
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Option 2
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315-11700, 315-11800, and 315-12000
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9
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Mathematics
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313-10800 or 313-11000
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4
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313-11200 or 313-24400
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4
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Total
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16-17
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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
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Chemistry 304-11100, 304-11200; or 304-11700, 304-11800
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6
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Introductory biology 303-12100, 303-12200, or 303-11900, 303-12000
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8
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Level-2 or higher courses in biology (excluding 303-20500)
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15-16
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Total
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29-30
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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 "Short-Term Study Abroad Programs, National Affiliated Programs in Marine Biology."
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