2024-2025 Student Catalog 
    
    Nov 02, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Catalog

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Biology, A.S. (Tracks in: Biology; Health Sciences; Biochemistry/Cell, Molecular Biology; Ecology/Conservation/Environmental Biology; Organismal Biology/Physiology)



Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

Degree/Certificate:   Associate in Science
HEGIS Code:           5604
SUNY Code:            13750
Major Code:             BIOL

The Career

A degree in Biology (AS plus BA or BS) can prepare individuals for a wide range of career opportunities.  These opportunities include, but are not limited to, employment by government agencies, research institutions, and industry in the areas of research and development.  Other opportunities are found in the area of organismal biology at zoos, aquaria, fish hatcheries, wildlife preserves, conservation agencies, inspection agencies, and environmental organizations.  Graduates may eventually work in biomedical services at clinics, hospitals, public health departments, pharmaceutical companies or independent laboratories.  Bioinformatics is a growing area with employment at medical device and equipment laboratories and federal lab and regulatory agencies.  Degrees in Biology can also lead to careers in health care but also in communications (technical writing, editing, illustrating, and photography), law (lobbying, regulatory affairs, science policy, patent law, environmental law), and business (technical sales, management, consulting, marketing.)

The SUNY Niagara Approach

The Biology, Associate of Science, program at SUNY Niagara prepares students to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a baccalaureate degree in Biology or a Biology-related discipline.  The minimum degree requirements for the A.S. parallel the courses required in the first two years of such typical baccalaureate programs.  Included are introductory biology courses, intermediate biology courses, and cognate courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics.  To provide seamless transfer to SUNY four-year colleges and universities, five tracks are offered:  Health Sciences; Biochemistry/Cell, Molecular Biology; Ecology/Conservation/Environmental Biology; Organismal Biology/Physiology; and Biology (BA).  To further ensure seamless transfer, thirty credit hours of General Education including Basic Communication and Mathematics are included in the minimum requirements for the degree.

Admission

Students are admitted in the fall, spring and summer semesters.  Because of the sequencing of courses, completion of the program beginning in the spring or summer semesters may be extended beyond two calendar years of full-time study.

The Biology, Associate in Science degree curriculum is offered as a full-time or part-time program.

To be admitted to the Biology, A.S. program, students must complete satisfactorily all academic foundation requirements. To be accepted into the program applicants must earn the minimum required score on placement assessments, pass the academic foundations course listed below, or be granted an exemption from taking college placement tests described in this catalog under “College Placement Testing Requirements for Matriculated Students”.

    If below the required score in:

    Will need to pass:

 

Reading

 

AAC 042 or ENG 099 or ENG 088

 

Mathematics

 

MAT 023

Note:  These academic foundations courses do not count toward the degree.

Program Goals and Objectives

The Program Educational Goals and Objectives are to provide:

  1. A course of study which enables graduates to transfer seamlessly into four-year baccalaureate programs in Biology or a Biology-related discipline
  2. A core of mathematics and science courses suitable for continued coursework at the four-year level and in support of continued education or professional endeavors upon attainment of the baccalaureate degree
  3. Individualized advisement which will assist each student when developing their educational and career goals including transfer to an upper-division institution

Program Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students will:

  1. Demonstrate mastery of the core biological concepts which serve as the foundation for upper-division coursework in Biology.  These concepts include evolution by natural selection, genetics (molecular, Mendelian, and population), biodiversity, cell structure and function, and bioenergetics
  2. Demonstrate the use of critical thinking and problem solving skills as they relate to the scientific method
  3. Apply the fundamental concepts of inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry to the structure and function of living organisms
  4. Demonstrate mastery of mathematics necessary for upper-division coursework in Biology

Program Requirements (BIOL)


  1. A total of at least 62-credit hours with a minimum curriculum grade-point average of 2.0.  Academic Foundations courses do not count toward the degree.

  2. Biology:  A minimum of 8-credit hours to include:
    BIO 109 - General Biology I 
    BIO 109L - General Biology I Lab
    BIO 110 - General Biology II 
    BIO 110L - General Biology II Lab 

  3. Chemistry:  A minimum of 15 credit hours to include:
    CHE 120 - General Chemistry I /CHE 111L - General Chemistry I Lab 
    CHE 121 - General Chemistry II/ CHE 113L - General Chemistry II Lab 
    CHE 234 - Organic Chemistry I /CHE 235L - Organic Chemistry I Lab 

  4. Mathematics:  A minimum of 4 credit hours to include: 
    MAT 116 - Pre-calculus Mathematics 

  5. Communication (Written):  A minimum of 6 credit hours to include:
    ENG 101 - Writing I 
    ENG 102 - Writing II & Introduction to Literature OR
    ENG 103 - Writing for STEM OR
    HED/PED elective (3 cr.)

  6. Communication (Oral):  A minimum of 3 credit hours

  7. Computer Elective:  A minimum 1 credit to include:
    CIS 115 - Introduction to Spreadsheets

  8. Track Requirements/Electives:  Choose from one of the following tracks.

Biology Track
BIO 213 - Human Anatomy & Physiology/BIO 213L - Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab OR
BIO 221 - Microbiology/BIO 221L - Microbiology Lab OR
BIO 255 - Population Genetics/BIO 255 L - Population Genetics Lab

CHE 236 - Organic Chemistry II/CHE 237L - Organic Chemistry II Lab OR
PHY 131 - General Physics I/PHY 131L - General Physics I Lab and 1 elective credit OR
PHY 171 - Calculus-Based Physics and Mechanics/PHY 171L - Calculus-Based Physics and Mechanics Lab and 1 elective credit

MAT 120 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
MAT 164 - Introduction to Statistics 

SUNY General Education electives:  9 credits to be selected from three of the following areas.  Arts (ARTS), US History & Civic Engagement (USCV), World History & Global Awareness (GLBL), World Language (WLNG), Social Science (SOCS) or Humanities (HUMN).  Note:  One course chosen must also meet a Diversity requirement. 
 

Health Sciences Track
BIO 213 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I/BIO213L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab AND
BIO 214 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II/BIO 214L - Human Anatomy & Physiology II OR
BIO 221 - Microbiology/BIO 221L - Microbiology Lab OR
BIO 255 - Population Genetics/BIO 255 L - Population Genetics Lab

CHE 236 - Organic Chemistry II/CHE 237L Organic Chemistry II Lab

MAT 164 - Introduction to Statistics

SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology

SUNY General Education electives:  6 credits to be selected from two of the following areas.  Arts (ARTS), US History & Civic Engagement (USCV), World History & Global Awareness (GLBL), World Language (WLNG), or Humanities (HUMN).

Biochemistry/Cell, Molecular Biology Track
BIO 213 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I/BIO213L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab OR
BIO 221 - Microbiology/BIO 221L - Microbiology Lab OR
BIO 250 - Cell Biology/BIO 250L - Cell Biology Lab OR
BIO 255 - Population Genetics/BIO 255 L - Population Genetics Lab

CHE 236 - Organic Chemistry II/CHE 237L - Organic Chemistry II Lab 

MAT 120 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 
MAT 121 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 

SUNY General Education electives:  9 credits to be selected from three of the following areas.  Arts (ARTS), US History & Civic Engagement (USCV), World History & Global Awareness (GLBL), World Language (WLNG), Social Science (SOCS) or Humanities (HUMN).  Note:  One course chosen must also meet a Diversity requirement.

Ecology/Conservation/Environmental Biology Track
BIO 130 - Ecology Lecture/BIO 130L - Ecology Lab AND
BIO 136 - Contemporary Environmental Issues AND
BIO 201 - Botany/BIO 201L - Botany Lab OR
BIO 205 - Zoology/BIO 205L - Zoology Lab OR
BIO 255 - Population Genetics/BIO 255L Population Genetics Lab
      
MAT 120 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 
MAT 164 - Introduction to Statistics
 
SUNY General Education electives:  9 credits to be selected from three of the following areas.  Arts (ARTS), US History & Civic Engagement (USCV), World History & Global Awareness (GLBL), World Language (WLNG), Humanities (HUMN) or Social Science (SOCS). Note:  One course chosen must also meet a Diversity requirement.

Organismal Biology/Physiology Track
BIO 130 - Ecology Lecture/BIO 130L - Ecology Lab OR
BIO 201 - Botany/BIO 201L - Botany Lab OR
BIO 205 - Zoology/BIO 205L - Zoology Lab OR
BIO 255 - Population Genetics/BIO 255L Population Genetics Lab

CHE 236 - Organic Chemistry II/CHE 237 L - Organic Chemistry II Lab

MAT 120 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 
MAT 164 - Introduction to Statistics 
 
SUNY General Education electives:  9 credits to be selected from three of the following areas.  Arts (ARTS), US History & Civic Engagement (USCV), World History & Global Awareness (GLBL), World Language (WLNG), Humanities (HUMN) or Social Science (SOCS). Note:  One course chosen must also meet a Diversity requirement. S)

Typical Program


Biology (BA) track


Total Credit Hours - 16

Total Credit Hours - 16

Third Semester–Biology (BA)


Total Credit Hours - 15

Fourth Semester–Biology (BA)


Total Credit Hours - 15/16

Health Sciences Track


Total Credit Hours - 16

Total Credit Hours -16

Third Semester–Health Sciences


Total Credit Hours -16

Total Credit Hours -15/16

Biochemistry/Cell, Molecular Biology Track


Total Credit Hours - 16

Total Credit Hours -16

Third Semester–Biochemistry/Cell, Molecular


Total Credit Hours - 16

Fourth Semester–Biochemistry/Cell, Molecular


Total Credit Hours - 15/16

Ecology/Conservation/Environmental Track


Total Credit Hours - 16

Total Credit Hours - 16

Third Semester–Ecology/Conservation/Environmental


Total Credit Hours - 16

Fourth Semester–Ecology/Conservation/Environmental


Total Credit Hours - 16

Organismal Biology/Physiology Track


Total Credit Hours - 16

Total Credit Hours - 16

Third Semester–Organismal Biology/Physiology


Total Credit Hours - 15

Fourth Semester–Organismal Biology/Physiology


Total Credit Hours - 15

Scholarship Opportunities


There are several scholarships available to SUNY Niagara students. Scholarship deadline dates vary each semester.  For more information, please visit the scholarship webpage at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/scholarships. The SUNY Niagara Foundation/Scholarship Office is located within the Foundation Office, A-265 or by phone (716) 614-5910.