Biology
Professors: David S. Adegboye, Ph.D., Murty S. Kambhampati, Ph.D., Lisa Mims-Devezin, Ph.D., Joseph Olubadewo, Ph.D.; Illya Tietzel, Ph.D.; Ibrahim Ekaidi, M.D., Associate Professors: Bashir Atteia, Ph.D.; Christian Clement, Ph.D.; Assistant Professors: John-Clifford Obih, Ph.D.
The Biology Unit is committed to recruiting, training, and educating students to meet the challenges of the 21st century in the biological, environmental, and biomedical sciences. The Unit supports the mission of the University to create and maintain an environment conducive to learning and growth. It continues to implement programs and procedures that will facilitate the retention and nurturing of biology majors during their matriculation at SUNO.
The University awards the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology. The Biology Unit has an open-door policy for entry as Biology major. After completion of the sophomore year, the student must have at least a 2.5 GPA in the science courses and a 2.0 overall GPA. All Biology majors must earn a “C” or better in all Natural Science courses as listed in the Biology curriculum. Continuous repetition of classes and repeated withdrawal (W) from classes are strongly discouraged. It is strongly recommended that the students follow the outlined curriculum in biology in sequence as they matriculate in the Unit by following timely advisement by an assigned advisor.
Requirements
The Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Biology, is awarded when a student satisfies a minimum of 37 credit hours (CH) in Biology courses, including the equivalent laboratory courses, above 124/124L and 125/125L, and the General Education and University Requirements. The hours in Biology include: Biology 100, 204/204L or 205/205L, 217/217L, 302/302L, 324/324L, 494, 495, 496 (Senior Comprehensive - 0 credit hours), sixteen (16) hours of Biology electives, and eight (8) hours of science electives including Calculus II (lecture and lab).
The 4-credit hour science elective requirement can be satisfied through any combination of biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics or forensic science course(s) numbered 200, or above. Each 4-credit hour biology elective must consist of a biology lecture (3 CH) and its accompanying laboratory (1 CH).
A minor in Biology is earned by completing eighteen (18) credit hours above Biology 124/124L and 125/125L.
Biology Curriculum
Freshman Year
Required
Required
Sophomore Year
Required
Required
Junior Year
Required
Required
Foreign Language 101: Students who have taken a foreign language (French, German, Spanish) in High School may test out of the 100 level foreign language courses and take three hours of a 200 level foreign language course.
Senior Year
Required
Required
-
| Biology Elective | 4 |
-
| Biology Elective | 4 |
| PSYC-210N | General Psychology | 3 |
-
| Science Elective | 4 |
| BIOL-495N | Senior Seminar | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Science Elective: A combination of any STEM courses including Forensic Science for a total of four credit hours fulfills the requirement.
Total Credit Hours: 121
All majors are required to pass a comprehensive examination. Students must register for the course IN THE SEMESTER PRIOR TO THE ONE IN WHICH THEY PLAN TO GRADUATE. The course will only be offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.