Bachelor of Arts
Steven R. Thompson, Associate Professor and Chair
The biology department offers a liberal arts education with a major in biology, giving the student 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 biological 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. 128) 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, 303-27300 or 303-27400, 303-30100, 303-30200, 303-32700, 303-45400 or 303-47300, 303-41100-303-41200 |
|
|
One course in organismic biology |
|
|
Two additional courses in any of the four core areas below |
|
|
Total, biology |
35-37 |
Chemistry
|
304-12100, 304-12200, 304-12400, 304-22100, 304-22200, 304-22500 |
17 |
Physics
|
315-11700, 315-11800, 315-12000 or 315-10100, 315-10200 |
8-9 |
Mathematics
|
313-11100, 313-11200; or 313-11100, 313-24400; or 313-11100, 312-17100; or 313-10800, 313-24400; or 313-10800, 312-17100 (see math department policies on placement examinations) |
8 |
|
Total, required biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics |
68- 71 |
|
Total |
33-36 |
|
In any area to complete the 120 credits necessary for graduation |
13-19 |
Total, B.A. in biology |
120 |
302-35300 |
Biochemistry I |
|
302-35400 |
Biochemistry II |
|
303-27800 |
Environmental Health and Medicine |
|
303-37800 |
Environmental Toxicology |
|
303-45200 |
Microbiology |
|
303-45400 |
Cell Biology |
|
303-47300 |
Plant Physiology |
303-32000 |
Plant Growth and Development |
|
303-32700 |
Genetics |
|
303-34500 |
Developmental Biology |
|
303-47800 |
Evolution |
303-20300 |
Invertebrate Zoology |
|
303-20600 |
Primary Human Anatomy |
|
303-20700 |
Parasitology |
|
303-21400 |
Animal Physiology |
|
303-21500 |
General Botany |
|
303-31500 |
Neurobiology |
|
303-32000 |
Plant Growth and Development |
|
303-47800 |
Evolution |
303-27300 |
Plant Ecology |
|
303-27400 |
Animal Ecology |
|
303-27500 |
Field Biology |
|
303-28400 |
Field Ornithology |
|
303-37800 |
Environmental Toxicology |
|
303-47900 |
Ecology of Aquatic Communities |
|
303-48600 |
Wetlands Ecology |
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 foreign language is recommended since, in many graduate schools, it is a prerequisite for an advanced degree.
Biology
|
303-12100, 303-12200, 303-27300 or 303-27400, 303-30100, 303-30200, 303-32700, 303-45400 or 303-47300, 303-41100-303-41200 |
|
|
One course in organismic biology |
|
|
Two additional courses in any of the four core areas above |
|
|
Total, biology |
35-37 |
Chemistry
|
304-12100, 304-12200, 304-12400, 304-22100, 304-22200, 304-22500 |
17 |
Physics
|
315-10100, 315-10200; or 315-11700, 315-11800, 315-12000 |
8-9 |
Mathematics
|
313-11100, 313-11200; or 313-11100, 313-24400; or 313-11100, 312-17100; or 313-10800, 313-24400; or 313-10800, 312-17100 (see mathematics department policies on placement examinations.) |
8 |
|
Total, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics |
68-71 |
(See general statement on teacher education programs, p. 128)
|
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 |
17-20 |
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. 128)
|
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 330-21000 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. 13).
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 in at least three of the four core areas, including one classified as a botany course |
15-16 |
Total |
29-30 |
