Biological Sciences- BA

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a single major for students who intend to prepare for graduate study, medicine, dentistry, secondary school teaching, biotechnology and industry. Students planning to pursue a Biology major are strongly encouraged to declare their major as soon as possible after completing one semester of Principles of Biology.

Declared majors are assigned a permanent faculty adviser who will assist in individual curriculum planning. Students are required to meet with their adviser at least once each semester throughout their undergraduate career to discuss their program and progress.

Biology Concentrations

The major in Biological Sciences has the following concentrations:

CR/NC Policy

Only a letter grade (A, B, C, D, including + or -) will be accepted by the department in the required science and mathematics courses for the biology major.

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research Students who wish to undertake a research project under the supervision of a faculty member must first obtain written permission from that faculty member and then register for BIOL 48000 . Research opportunities for undergraduates at Hunter are available in cell and molecular biology, developmental biology, neuroscience, cancer biology, AIDS, microbiology and a variety of other contemporary areas. Students are also permitted to work at one of the several neighboring research institutions. Synopses of faculty research interests can be obtained in the department office or from the Department of Biological Sciences Website http://Biology.hunter.cuny.edu). In addition, there are summer research opportunities available at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Woods Hole Research Center through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Please note that, to qualify for departmental honors at graduation, there is a research requirement.

Honors Work

In order to qualify for departmental honors, students must have a departmental GPA of at least 3.5 and an overall GPA of at least 3.0. They must also satisfy a research requirement consisting of either, choose one (a) or (b):

(a) at least 2 research credits of

(b) at least one course chosen from among

BIOL 39000 - Laboratory in Cell Structure
BIOL 39100 - Laboratory in Cell Structure – Biological Electron Microscopy -or- BIOL 61000 Workshop in Biotechnology

Additional Information

The research requirement includes a written report resulting from work in any of these courses.

Teacher Education Pathway

Students planning to teach this subject in grades 7-12 should look at the School of Education: Program List for information about their programs that lead to the recommendation for New York State Initial Certification required to be a lead teacher in NYS public schools.

MA Program in Biological Sciences

See Career Planning-Graduate Study .