Contact  Undergraduate Programs Secretary Deborah Herholtz, Department of Biology, 114 Life Sciences Complex, 315-443-9139.

 Faculty R. Craig Albertson, David M. Althoff, John M. Belote, Samuel H.P. Chan, Michael S. Cosgrove, Robert P. Doyle, Marvin Druger, Scott E. Erdman, Thomas P. Fondy, Douglas A. Frank, Jason D. Fridley, Anthony Garza, F. Reed Hainsworth, H. Ernest Hemphill, Marilyn S. Kerr, Eleanor Maine, Melissa Pepling, Ramesh Raina, Surabhi Raina, Mark Ritchie, John M. Russell, Kari A. Segraves, William Thomas Starmer, Melody Troeger Sweet, Joseph T. Tupper, J. Albert L. Uy, Roy Welch, Jason R. Wiles, Larry L. Wolf

Students majoring in biology establish a general background in the discipline through a series of first-year/sophomore-level core courses that preview physiology, genetics, organismic, cell, and population biology. This introductory program is followed by advanced courses that allow the student to focus on a subdiscipline of biology, and with additional credits in various elective courses.
    The major in biology leads to either the B.A. or the B.S. degree. The B.S. degree is intended for students interested in graduate study in biological science or the health professions (medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine). In addition to biology requirements, students pursuing the B.S. degree in biology take general and organic chemistry, and mathematics through calculus. Students are also encouraged to gain practical experience and academic credit through the University Honors Program, the Community Internship Program, or departmental research.
    Students may also receive a B.S. in biology with emphasis on environmental sciences.
    The B.A. degree is intended for students who wish to pursue technical or science-related careers that do not require a graduate or professional degree, or careers outside of biology in which a background in science may be useful, such as science writing, business, or law. Although the biology course requirements for the B.A. and the B.S. degrees are similar, the B.A. requires fewer courses in chemistry and mathematics.
    In conjunction with the Department of Science Teaching, the Department of Biology offers courses appropriate for teaching biology in secondary school. Students interested in teaching certification add the necessary courses in education, science, and practice teaching. For more information, see “Education/Arts and Sciences (dual program)” in this section of the catalog.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
B.S. Degree Requirements (55 to 57 credits)

Departmental Requirements (36 credits) Students in the B.S. program complete the first-year/sophomore core curriculum (14 credits) plus an additional 22 credits of 300- to 500-level courses that include two 400-level 3-credit laboratories and an additional laboratory experience (1-3 credits). The remaining credits are electives that must include a course with significant communication experience. Students are encouraged to specialize in one of two concentration areas, either cell/molecular biology or ecology/evolution.

Core Curriculum
BIO 121,123  General Biology I and II
and either
BIO 326,327  Genetics and Cell Biology I and II
or
BIO 345,346  Population Biology, Physiological Ecology

Non-Departmental Requirements (19-21 credits)
The B.S. degree requires, in addition to completion of the Biology Department requirements, (1) two semesters of general or inorganic chemistry with laboratory; (2) one semester of organic chemistry with laboratory; (3) and one of the following two-course sequences in mathematics: two semesters of calculus (MAT 285/286 or MAT 295/296) or one semester of calculus (MAT 295) and a 300- to 500-level statistics course.
    Students intending to enroll in an advanced program in the health professions (e.g., medical school) or a graduate program in biology will also need to take an additional semester in organic chemistry and two semesters of physics.

B.A. Degree Requirements (48 credits)
Students in the B.A. degree program complete the first-year/sophomore core curriculum (BIO 121,123,326,327,345,346) and one 3-credit, 400-level laboratory plus 9 credits of additional upper-division courses in biology. Students also take two semesters of general (inorganic) chemistry with laboratories (8 credits), and either: (1) MAT 194; MAT 285; or (2) MAT 221 and either MAT 284 or MAT 285; or (3) one semester of organic chemistry with lab (5 credits).

environmental sciences with b.s. in biology
(65 to 67 credits)

Students complete the first-year/sophomore core curriculum in biology (BIO 121,123,345, 346), 7 credits of introductory earth science courses, the senior capstone seminar, plus 21 credits of upper-division courses, at least 12 of which are in biology; the remainder can be from geography, earth science, and civil engineering. In addition, 20 to 22 credits in cognate sciences and mathematics courses are required.