Description:

Biology is an area of explosive scientific, intellectual, and technological advances.

Attention is focusing on the origin and evolution of living organisms (even their possible existence on other planets), the molecular mechanics of heredity, the processes of disease and immunity, the ecological balance among life forms, the effect of synthetic chemicals on molecular functions of the cell, the biological basis of behavior, and the extraordinary technologies for the creation of useful new characteristics in microorganisms, plants, and animals.

The biology program at Purchase College embodies the excitement of the dramatic advances in this rapidly expanding field. Students actively participate in the life sciences, studying and pursuing research with faculty who are active in their fields.

The biology program at Purchase College may be pursued from a variety of perspectives, and our majors are well prepared for graduate school, medical school, teaching, and careers with high-tech industries. Biology majors should be aware that, of all the natural sciences, biology is the least able to stand alone as a discipline; mathematics, physics, and especially chemistry are important for a meaningful appreciation of life processes. In consultation with a faculty advisor, the student will expand upon this base by choosing advanced subjects related to particular objectives. Advanced courses are offered in seven concentrations.

Biology courses are also challenging, rewarding, and immediately relevant studies for students in other disciplines. Students who major in other subjects and have a strong secondary interest in biology may consider a biology minor.

Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts (BA) | Bachelor of Science (BS)

  BA Academic Requirements

There are two categories of requirements for all biology majors: biology courses and basic science support courses. General Biology I and II, Cell Biology, and the five upper-level electives in the “biology courses” category must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Students must attain at least a 2.0 (C) GPA in courses used to satisfy the requirements for the major, including the “biology courses” category (excluding the senior project) and the “basic science support courses” category. Students majoring in biology may choose a concentration, but one is not required. NOTE: AP Biology cannot satisfy the requirement for General Biology I and/or II. 

In addition to meeting General Education requirements and other degree requirements , all BA majors in biology must complete the following courses:

  Biology Courses

  • BIO 1550/General Biology I
  • BIO 1551/General Biology I Lab
  • BIO 1560/General Biology II
  • BIO 1561/General Biology II Lab
  • BIO 1880/Biology Freshman Seminar
  • BIO 2890/Biology Program Seminar
  • BIO 3530/Cell Biology (successful completion of BIO 3530 is a prerequisite for all upper-level biology electives, except BIO 3850)
  • Five upper-level biology electives, as follows; these must include at least one at the 4000 level and at least four lab studies, taken either in conjunction with lecture courses or as separately registered lab courses:
    • One of the following courses in biological mechanisms:
      BIO 3160/Genetics
      BIO 3170/Developmental Biology
      BIO 3250/Animal Physiology
      BIO 4620/Molecular Biology
    • One of the following courses in biodiversity and ecology:
      BIO 3360/Microbiology
      BIO 3430/Vertebrate Zoology
      BIO 3440/Invertebrate Zoology
      BIO3850/Coral Reef Biology and Ecology
      BIO4720/Evolution
      BIO4721/Evolution Lab
      ENV 3080/Wildlife Ecology
      ENV 3120/General Ecology
      ENV 3165/Ornithology
      ENV 3250 and 3251/Ecology of Urban Environments and Lab
      ENV 3805/Conservation Biology
    • Three additional upper-level biology electives
  • BIO 3890/Biology Junior Seminar
  • SPJ 4990/Senior Project I
  • SPJ 4991/Senior Project II
    If a student elects to conduct a senior project in an area other than the life sciences, two additional biology courses are required.

  Basic Science Support Courses

  • CHE 1550 and 1551/General Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHE 1560 and 1561/General Chemistry II and Lab
  • CHE 3310 and 3311/Organic Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHE 3320 and 3321/Organic Chemistry II and Lab
    • One of the following courses:
            ENV 3025/Biostatistics or
            MAT 1600/Introductory Statistics or
            PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics or
            PSY 3635/Honors Seminar in Statistics and Research Design
            MAT 1500/Calculus I
            MAT 1510/Calculus II
            MAT 1520/Computer Science I
            MAT 3680/Informatics in Biology and Medicine

  Additional notes for biology majors:

  1. Many students will want to study additional mathematics. Graduate schools generally require Calculus I; professional schools may require either Calculus I or Statistics.
  2. A year of physics is highly recommended (PHY 1510–1511/Introductory Physics I with lab and PHY 1520–1521/Introductory Physics II with lab). Professional and graduate schools generally require physics.
  3. Some professional and graduate schools may not accept high school AP courses as substitutes for college introductory science courses (e.g., General Biology, General Chemistry, Introductory Physics).

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  BS Academic Requirements

There are two categories of requirements for all biology majors: biology courses and basic science support courses. General Biology I and II, Cell Biology, and the seven upper-level electives in the “biology courses” category must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Students must attain at least a 2.0 (C) GPA in courses used to satisfy the requirements for the major, including the “biology courses” category (excluding the senior project) and the “basic science support courses” category. Students majoring in biology may choose a concentration, but one is not required.

In addition to meeting general degree requirements, all BS majors in biology must complete the following courses:

  Biology Courses:

  • BIO 1550/General Biology I
  • BIO 1551/General Biology I Lab
  • BIO 1560/General Biology II
  • BIO 1561/General Biology II Lab
  • BIO 1880/Biology Freshman Seminar
  • BIO 2890/Biology Program Seminar
  • BIO 3530/Cell Biology (successful completion of BIO 3530 is a prerequisite for all upper-level biology electives, except BIO 3850)
  • Seven upper-level biology electives, as follows; these must include at least two at the 4000 level and at least four lab courses, taken either in conjunction with lecture courses or as separately registered lab courses:
    • BIO 4620/Molecular Biology or
      CHE 4610/Biochemistry
    • One of the following courses in biological mechanisms:
      BIO 3160/Genetics
      BIO 3170/Developmental Biology
      BIO 3250/Animal Physiology
      BIO 4620/Molecular Biology
    • One of the following courses in biodiversity and ecology:
      BIO 3360/Microbiology
      BIO 3430/Vertebrate Zoology
      BIO 3440/Invertebrate Zoology
      BIO 3850/Coral Reef Biology and Ecology
      BIO4720/Evolution
      BIO4721/Evolution Lab
      ENV 3080 / Wildlife Ecology
      ENV 3120/General Ecology
      ENV 3165/Ornithology
      ENV 3250 and 3251/Ecology of Urban Environments and Lab
      ENV 3805/Conservation Biology
    • Four additional upper-level biology electives
  • BIO 3890/Biology Junior Seminar
  • SPJ 4990/Senior Project I*
  • SPJ 4991/Senior Project II*
    *The senior project must be an original research project.

  Basic Science Support Courses

  • CHE 1550 and 1551/General Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHE 1560 and 1561/General Chemistry II and Lab
  • CHE 3310 and 3311/Organic Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHE 3320 and 3321/Organic Chemistry II and Lab

Two of the following courses:
      * ENV 3025/Biostatistics or
      * MAT 1600/Introductory Statistics or
      * PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics or
      * PSY 3635/Honors Seminar in Statistics and Research Design
      MAT 1500/Calculus I
      MAT 1510/Calculus II
      MAT 1520/Computer Science I
      MAT 3680/Informatics in Biology and Medicine

* Only one statistics course can count towards major requirements.

Additional notes for biology majors:

  1. Many students will want to study additional mathematics. Graduate schools generally require Calculus I; professional schools may require either Calculus I or Statistics.
  2. A year of physics is highly recommended (PHY 1510–1511/Introductory Physics I with lab and PHY 1520–1521/Introductory Physics II with lab). Professional and graduate schools generally require physics.
  3. Some professional and graduate schools may not accept high school AP courses as substitutes for college introductory science courses (e.g., General Biology, General Chemistry, Introductory Physics).

 

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Minor requirements:

The purpose of the biology minor is to encourage students who are majoring in other disciplines to follow their interest in biology by completing a coherent program of study.

Interested students must submit a completed Application for a Program of Minor Study to the Department Chair of Biology. Upon admission to the biology minor, a student is assigned a minor advisor who will assist in designing an appropriate program.

Academic Requirements for the Minor in Biology

A total of 20 credits in biology, including two of the following courses:

  • BIO 1510/Human Anatomy and Physiology I: Anatomy and Physiology
  • BIO 1520/Human Anatomy and Physiology II: Physiology and Nutrition
  • BIO 1550/General Biology I
  • BIO 1560/General Biology II
  • A biology-related section of FRS 1200/Science in the Modern World

Additional courses needed to complete 20 credits are to be selected in consultation with the biology minor advisor:

  • Courses may be chosen from any available biology courses for which the prerequisites are met.
  • At least two courses must be at the 2000 level or above. Advanced courses for students not taking the General Biology sequence include the following (with permission of instructor):
    BIO 3160/Genetics
    BIO 3250/Animal Physiology
    BIO 3430/Vertebrate Zoology
    BIO 3440/Invertebrate Zoology
    BUI 3530/Cell Biology
    BIO 4720/Evolution
    BIO 4770/Scanning Electron Microscopy and Digital Imaging
    ENV 3805/Conservation Biology
    ENV 3820/Animal Behavior
    ENV 4460/Marine Ecology
    PSY 3660/Physiological Psychology

Note: Lab credit that accompanies the approved lecture courses listed above can also count towards the 20 credit minimum needed for the minor.

Chemistry Minor for Biology Majors

Many biology majors at Purchase qualify for a minor in chemistry. Biology majors who complete Biochemistry for the BS have already taken enough chemistry and need only submit the Application for a Program of Minor Study. Other biology students must take only one course beyond Organic Chemistry (e.g., CHE 3150, 3510, or 4610).


Faculty

  • Associate Professor of Biology
    • BA, Rutgers University
    • PhD, Johns Hopkins University
  • Associate Professor of Biology
    • BS, PhD, University of Guelph (Canada)
  • Professor of Biology
    • BS, Brooklyn College, City University of New York
    • MS, PhD, Cornell University
  • Associate Professor of Biology
    • BS, Purchase College, SUNY
    • PhD, Stony Brook University, SUNY
  • Lecturer of Biology
    • BA, Manhattanville College
    • PhD, Graduate Center, CUNY


  • Assistant Professor of Biology
    • BS, California State University
    • PhD, University of New Mexico
  • Assistant Professor of Biology
    • BS, Ohio State University
    • MA, City College of New York, City University of New York
    • PhD, Graduate Center, City University of New York
  • Associate Professor of Biology
    • BS, Southeastern Massachusetts University
    • MA, PhD, University of California, Davis
    • 2021 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

Contributing Faculty

  • Distinguished Service Professor of Chemistry
    • BS, MS, University of Scranton
    • PhD, Pennsylvania State University
    • Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

Courses