Undergraduate Catalog

Biology

Phone: 845-257-3770
Location: Coykendall Science Building Room 106
Web address: www.newpaltz.edu/biology Link opens in a new window

The Biology program at New Paltz offers students excellent preparation for graduate school, medical school, or a career in industry or one of the many allied health fields. Our faculty-mentored research opportunities are unparalleled, and our modern, research-quality instrumentation enables students to pursue every interest from molecular signaling and environmental conservation to neurophysiology and animal behavior.

Within the Biology curriculum, students may choose one of five tracks, one leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree and four leading to a Bachelor of Science degree:

(1) Biology (BA degree track)

(2) Cellular Biology (BS degree track)

(3) Environmental Biology (BS degree track)

(4) Integrative Biology (BS degree track)

(5) Organismal Biology (BS degree track).

We also offer a minor in Biology.

In addition to these programs, the Department of Biology offers the core biology courses typically required to pursue study for a health career. Two accelerated medical programs with other institutions are currently in place: 1) the seven-year, dual-degree BS/Doctor of Optometry program with the SUNY College of Optometry and 2) the seven-year, dual-degree BS/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program with the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Departments of Biology and Chemistry also offer an interdisciplinary major in Biochemistry leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. The curricular requirements are found here.

A grade of C- or better is required to advance from General Biology I (BIO201) to General Biology II (BIO 202) and from General Biology II (BIO202) to Genetics (BIO320). A minimum grade of C- in Genetics (BIO320) is a prerequisite for several upper-division Biology courses. In addition, most 400-level biology courses require a minimum grade of C- in both BIO320 Genetics and BIO322 Evolution.

Biology Program: