Note to current students: If you declared your major in Biology prior to Fall 2010, your graduation requirements will be based on the legacy curricula, available here.
Major in:» Organismal/Environmental Biology (BS degree track)
» Cell/Molecular Biology (BS degree track)
» Forms
The New Paltz Department of Biology offers three major options that focus on the undergraduate student. The BA degree often connotes a broad Liberal Arts background. Students opting for the BA often are oriented toward careers in which a broad Biology background is useful (e.g., Law, Public Policy, Environmental Advocacy and Medicine). The BS often connotes more depth in the field and is appropriate for students considering graduate school and/or research careers, requiring specialization within a sub-discipline of biology and more rigorous cognate science requirements.
Biology (BA degree track) - 57 credits, plus an approved minor or second major (pdf)
Pre-major requirements......................................16 credits
BIO201 General Biology I (4)**
BIO202 General Biology II (4)**
CHE201 General Chemistry I (3)
CHE211 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE202 General Chemistry II (3)
CHE212 General Chemistry II Lab (1)
Also required: Minimum MPL of 4; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
** General Biology I and II must be taken in sequence and are prerequisites for all biology courses at the 300-level and above.
Required biology course........................................4 credits
BIO320 Genetics (4)
Major electives....................................................18 credits (minimum)
These must be Biology courses at the 300-level or above, including at least three lab courses. A maximum of 4 credits from independent projects, including Research, Fieldwork or Independent Study, can be counted towards the major.
Participation in Lecture Series (6 hours)
Additional chemistry requirements.........................4 credits
CHE318 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHE306 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
Math requirements.................................................7 credits
MAT241 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MAT251 Calculus I (4)
Physics requirements (Fundamental OR General)....8 credits
Fundamental Physics:
PHY221 Fundamental Physics I (3)
PHY231 Fundamental Physics I Lab (1)
PHY222 Fundamental Physics II (3)
PHY232 Fundamental Physics II Lab (1) OR
General Physics (requires Calculus I and II):
PHY201 General Physics I (3)
PHY211 General Physics I Lab (1)
PHY202 General Physics II (3)
PHY212 General Physics II Lab (1)
Additional breadth requirement (approved minor)....~18-22 credits
Additional considerations for admission to medical, dental and veterinary schools: The requirements for these professional schools are constantly evolving and vary from institution to institution, but generally require two semesters of Organic Chemistry with labs, and often require a full year of Physics and Calculus and in some cases, Biochemistry. Please contact the Pre-Health Advisor in Academic Advising for more details.
Organismal/Environmental Biology (BS degree track) - ~72 credits (pdf)
Pre-major requirements......................................16 credits
BIO201 General Biology I (4)**
BIO202 General Biology II (4)**
CHE201 General Chemistry I (3)
CHE211 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE202 General Chemistry II (3)
CHE212 General Chemistry II Lab (1)
Also required: Minimum MPL of 4; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
** General Biology I and II must be taken in sequence and are prerequisites for all biology courses at the 300-level and above.
Required track courses........................................11 credits
BIO320 Genetics (4)
BIO340 Ecology (4)
BIO412 Evolutionary Theory (3) OR
BIO418 Animal Behavior (3)
Track elective (choose 1).....................................4-5 credits
BIO305 Plant Morphology (4) OR
BIO307 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (5) OR
BIO417 Animal Physiology (4) OR
BIO425 Plant Physiology (4)
Major electives..................................................14 credits (minimum)
These must be Biology courses at the 300-level or above, including one lab course. A maximum of 4 credits from independent projects, including Research, Fieldwork or Independent Study, can be counted towards the major.
Participation in Lecture Series (6 hours)
Additional chemistry requirements.........................8 credits
CHE318 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHE306 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE319 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHE309 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
Math requirements.............................................11 credits
MAT241 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MAT251 Calculus I (4)
MAT252 Calculus II (4)
Physics requirements...........................................8 credits
PHY201 General Physics I (3)
PHY211 General Physics I Lab (1)
PHY202 General Physics II (3)
PHY212 General Physics II Lab (1)
Cell/Molecular Biology (BS degree track) - ~72 credits (pdf)
Pre-major requirements......................................16 credits
BIO201 General Biology I (4)**
BIO202 General Biology II (4)**
CHE201 General Chemistry I (3)
CHE211 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE202 General Chemistry II (3)
CHE212 General Chemistry II Lab (1)
Also required: Minimum MPL of 4; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
** General Biology I and II must be taken in sequence and are prerequisites for all biology courses at the 300-level and above.
Required track courses.......................................15 credits
BIO320 Genetics (4)
BIO308 Basic Molecular Biology (4)
BIO309 Basic Cell Biology (4)
BIO412 Evolutionary Theory (3)
Track elective (choose 1).....................................4 credits
BIO311 Developmental Plant Anatomy (4) OR
BIO313 Developmental Biology (4) OR
BIO350 Microbiology (4)
Major electives....................................................10 credits (minimum)
These must be Biology courses at the 300-level or above, including one lab course. A maximum of 4 credits from independent projects, including Research, Fieldwork or Independent Study, can be counted towards the major.
Participation in Lecture Series (6 hours)
Additional chemistry requirements.........................8 credits
CHE318 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHE306 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE319 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHE309 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
Math requirements..............................................11 credits
MAT241 Introduction to Statistics (3)
MAT251 Calculus I (4)
MAT252 Calculus II (4)
Physics requirements............................................8 credits
PHY201 General Physics I (3)
PHY211 General Physics I Lab (1)
PHY202 General Physics II (3)
PHY212 General Physics II Lab (1)
Lecture Series Requirement
Students majoring in Biology are required to attend six Biology-related seminars during the course of their education. Full details are available here.
Independent Study
Up to four credits of independent study can be used to fulfill upper-division major electives. Students interested in independent study should review the research profiles of faculty in Biology, and discuss opportunities with faculty as early as possible in their academic careers.
Programs in Education
The Biology Department also supports the undergraduate degree programs in Secondary Education and Elementary Education.
Health Professions
For more information about preparation for careers in health-related fields (Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Physician's Assistants, Physical Therapy, etc.) at SUNY New Paltz, see the Pre-Health Careers Advising Webpage. Depending on your major, you may need to take additional courses (beyond your minimum major requirements) that professional schools wish to see completed by applicants.
Minor in Biology (pdf)
Students may minor in Biology by completing General Biology I and II (BIO201 & BIO202) and ten additional Biology course credits, chosen in consultation with their advisor.
Forms
BS: concentration in Cell/Molecular Biology (pink worksheet)
BS: concentration in Organismal/Environmental Biology (blue worksheet)
BA in Biology (yellow worksheet)
Pre-Major Requirements Worksheet
Adolescence Education (Biology Requirements only)
