Biology, BA

All programs

Bachelor of Arts in Biology · 55 credits

Catalog page

Typical path

+ First Year Seminar

+ SBC

+ First Year Seminar

+ Course for minor

+ SBC

+ Course for minor

+ BIO 300 Elective

+ Course for minor

+ SBC

+ Elective

+ BIO 300 Elective

+ Upper-division course for minor

+ SBC ×2

+ BIO 300 Elective

+ Upper-division course for minor

+ SBC

+ Upper-division elective ×2

+ Upper-division course for minor

+ SBC

+ Upper-division elective ×2

+ Elective

All options

Hide courses not offered in

Advanced Courses in Biology

Pick 3 courses · 48 courses to choose from

100s

None

200s

None

300s

400s

None

Chemistry Sequence Lecture Options

One of

All of
- CHE 129General Chemistry IA4 cr
- CHE 130Problem Solving in General Chemistry1 cr
- CHE 132General Chemistry II4 cr
or
All of
- CHE 131General Chemistry IB4 cr
- CHE 132General Chemistry II4 cr
or
CHE 152Molecular Science I4 cr

Catalog text

CHE 129 - General Chemistry IA; CHE 130 - Problem Solving in General Chemistry; CHE 132 - General Chemistry II OR CHE 131 - General Chemistry IB; CHE 132 - General Chemistry II OR CHE 152 - Molecular Science I

Chemistry Sequence Laboratory Options

One of

All of
- CHE 133General Chemistry Laboratory I1 cr
- CHE 134General Chemistry Laboratory II1 cr
or
CHE 154Molecular Science Laboratory I2 cr

Catalog text

CHE 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory I; CHE 134 - General Chemistry Laboratory II OR CHE 154 - Molecular Science Laboratory I

Organic Chemistry Lecture Options

One of

All of
- CHE 321Organic Chemistry I4 cr
- CHE 322Organic Chemistry IIA4 cr
or
All of
- CHE 321Organic Chemistry I4 cr
- CHE 326
or
All of
- CHE 331Molecular Science II4 cr
- CHE 332Molecular Science III4 cr

Catalog text

CHE 321 - Organic Chemistry I; CHE 322 - Organic Chemistry IIA OR CHE 321 - Organic Chemistry I; CHE 326 - Organic Chemistry IIB OR CHE 331 - Molecular Science II; CHE 332 - Molecular Science III

Organic Chemistry Laboratory Options

CHE 327Organic Chemistry Laboratory2 cr
or
CHE 383Introductory Synthetic and Spectroscopic Laboratory Techniques2 cr

Catalog text

CHE 327 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory OR CHE 383 - Introductory Synthetic and Spectroscopic Laboratory Techniques

Calculus Course Options

MAT 125Calculus A3 cr
or
MAT 131Calculus I4 cr
or
MAT 141
or
MAT 171
or
AMS 151Applied Calculus I3 cr

Catalog text

MAT 125 - Calculus A OR MAT 130 - Trigonometry and Logarithms, MAT 125 - Calculus A OR MAT 131 - Calculus I OR MAT 141 - Analysis I OR MAT 171 - Accelerated Single Variable Calculus OR AMS 151 - Applied Calculus I OR Level 6, 7, 8, or 9 on the Mathematics Placement Examination.

Physics Sequence Options

One of

All of
- PHY 121Physics for the Life Sciences I4 cr
- PHY 122Physics for the Life Sciences II4 cr
or
All of
- PHY 125Classical Physics A3 cr
- PHY 126Classical Physics B3 cr
- PHY 127Classical Physics C3 cr
- PHY 133Classical Physics Laboratory I1 cr
- PHY 134Classical Physics Laboratory II1 cr
- - AMS 161Applied Calculus II3 cr
  - or
    MAT 126Calculus B3 cr
  - or
    MAT 132Calculus II4 cr
  - or
    MAT 142
or
All of
- PHY 131Classical Physics I3 cr
- PHY 132Classical Physics II3 cr
- PHY 133Classical Physics Laboratory I1 cr
- PHY 134Classical Physics Laboratory II1 cr
- - AMS 161Applied Calculus II3 cr
  - or
    MAT 126Calculus B3 cr
  - or
    MAT 132Calculus II4 cr
  - or
    MAT 142
or
All of
- PHY 141Classical Physics I: Honors3 cr
- PHY 142Classical Physics II: Honors3 cr
- - AMS 161Applied Calculus II3 cr
  - or
    MAT 126Calculus B3 cr
  - or
    MAT 132Calculus II4 cr
  - or
    MAT 142

Catalog text

PHY 121 - Physics for the Life Sciences I; PHY 122 - Physics for the Life Sciences II OR PHY 125, PHY 126, PHY 127, PHY 133, PHY 134 OR PHY 131, PHY 132, PHY 133, PHY 134 OR PHY 141 - Classical Physics I: Honors, PHY 142 - Classical Physics II: Honors

Statistics Course Options

BIO 211Statistics and Data Analysis: A Conceptual Approach4 cr
or
AMS 110Probability and Statistics in the Life Sciences3 cr
or
AMS 310Survey of Probability and Statistics3 cr
or
EBH 230Computer-based Biostatistics4 cr

Substitution · Students who transfer in AMS 102 from another institution with a grade of A or higher

Note: Students who transfer in AMS 102 from another institution with a grade of 'A' or higher will receive credit for the statistics course.

Catalog text

BIO 211 - Statistics and Data Analysis: A Conceptual Approach OR AMS 110 - Probability and Statistics in the Life Sciences OR AMS 310 - Survey of Probability and Statistics OR EBH 230 - Computer-based Biostatistics. Note: Students who transfer in AMS 102 from another institution with a grade of 'A' or higher will receive credit for the statistics course.

Core Courses in Biology

BIO 201Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems3 cr
BIO 202Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology3 cr
BIO 203Fundamentals of Biology: Cellular and Organ Physiology3 cr
BIO 204Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I2 cr
- BIO 205Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences IIA2 cr
- or
  BIO 207Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences IIB2 cr

Catalog text

BIO 201 - Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems; BIO 202 - Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology; BIO 203 - Fundamentals of Biology: Cellular and Organ Physiology; BIO 204 - Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I; BIO 205 - Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences IIA OR BIO 204; BIO 207 - Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences IIB

Advanced Courses in Biology

Choose 3 courses

BIO courses numbered 300–399

Or:

EBH 302Human Genetics3 cr

At least 1 from BIO 320, BIO 321, BIO 354, EBH 302.

At most 1 course from BIO 320, BIO 321.

Catalog text

At least one of the following 3 credit upper division BIO courses: BIO 320 - General Genetics; BIO 321 - Ecological Genetics; BIO 354 - Evolution; EBH 302 - Human Genetics Two additional upper division BIO courses. Research, readings, teaching practica and internship courses cannot be used to satisfy upper-division BIO course requirements. Students cannot take both BIO 320 and BIO 321 for biology major credit. Only one of these courses may be taken for biology major credit.

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

BIO 459Write Effectively in Biology0 cr

Catalog text

In order to satisfy the Upper-Division Writing requirement for the major in Biology, students must co-register for the 0-credit BIO 459 course with an approved advanced course as listed below. Courses that routinely offer assignments that can satisfy the BIO 459 WRTD learning outcomes: BIO 312, BIO 320, BIO 321, BIO 327, BIO 335, BIO 336, BIO 344, BIO 352, BIO 353, BIO 354, BIO 364, BIO 365, BIO 366, BIO 367, BIO 385, BIO 386, EBH 302

Sample schedule

Year 1 · Fall15 cr

First Year Seminar 1011
WRT 101Introductory Writing Workshop3
CHE 131General Chemistry IB4
CHE 133General Chemistry Laboratory I1
MAT 125Calculus A3
SBC3

Year 1 · Spring15 cr

First Year Seminar 1021
WRT 102Intermediate Writing Workshop3
CHE 132General Chemistry II4
CHE 134General Chemistry Laboratory II1
AMS 110 / BIO 211Probability and Statistics in the Life Sciences3
BIO 201Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems3

Year 2 · Fall13 cr

CHE 321Organic Chemistry I4
BIO 202 / BIO 203Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology3
Course for minor3
SBC3

Year 2 · Spring15 cr

CHE 322Organic Chemistry IIA4
CHE 327Organic Chemistry Laboratory2
BIO 202 / BIO 203Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology3
Course for minor3
BIO 300 Elective3

Year 3 · Fall16 cr

BIO 204Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I3
PHY 121Physics for the Life Sciences I4
Course for minor3
SBC3
Elective3

Year 3 · Spring17 cr

BIO 205 / BIO 207Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences IIA2
BIO 300 Elective3
PHY 122Physics for the Life Sciences II3
Upper-division course for minor3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 4 · Fall15 cr

BIO 300 Elective3
Upper-division course for minor3
SBC3
Upper-division elective3
Upper-division elective3

Year 4 · Spring15 cr

Upper-division course for minor3
SBC3
Upper-division elective3
Upper-division elective3
Elective3

Program rules

Letter grades
Courses in “Chemistry Sequence Lecture Options”, “Chemistry Sequence Laboratory Options”, “Organic Chemistry Lecture Options”, “Organic Chemistry Laboratory Options”, “Calculus Course Options”, “Physics Sequence Options”, “Statistics Course Options”, “Core Courses in Biology”, “Advanced Courses in Biology” must be taken for a letter grade.
Minimum grade
C or higher in “Core Courses in Biology”, “Advanced Courses in Biology”, “Organic Chemistry Laboratory Options”.
Minimum grade
D or higher in “Statistics Course Options”.
Credits at Stony Brook
At least 9 credits in “Advanced Courses in Biology” must be taken at Stony Brook.

Stony Brook Curriculum

WRTD satisfied by

BIO 459Write Effectively in Biology0 cr

Catalog text

Registration: The Upper Division Writing Requirement for the Biology major is consistent with the University Graduation Requirements for General Education, and successful completion will satisfy the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) learning outcomes for "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD).

Notes

Advising: Schedule advising appointments online through Navigate. Advisors: Rachel Pilero, Kayla McFadden, Allison Young. Office: Biology Learning Laboratories, Undergraduate Biology Office Suite, Rooms 104-112; phone (631) 632-8530.
Note: The BA is for students who also pursue a non-overlapping minor; the BS (separate program) includes a specialization in place of that minor. Students in the Biology BA or BS may not declare a double major among Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Marine Sciences and Marine Vertebrate Biology. A double major in Biology and Human Evolutionary Biology requires a specific course combination set out in the EBH major requirements.
Grading: Courses taken under the Pass/No Credit option will not count towards completion of the major, except for the Spring 2020 semester.
Note: Honors in Biology or in Biology and Society (not evaluated): cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher in all courses required for the major; an acceptable thesis from at least two semesters of approved research or internship courses (BIO 484, 486, 487, 488, 489, MAR 487, MAR 488, ATM 487, BME 499); an Honors Application submitted to the Undergraduate Biology office by the second week of the last semester; and faculty endorsement and two readers.
Note: Secondary teacher education: see the Education and Teacher Certification entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.
Note: Most students majoring in biology prepare for professional study in the biological or health sciences. Some prepare for secondary school teaching, and others for technical positions in industry.
Note: The BA major requires at least 55 credits, plus the required minor (18-24 credits). Research, readings, teaching practica and internship courses cannot be used for the advanced biology courses. At least one semester of each two-semester sequence in general chemistry lecture, organic chemistry lecture and physics must be passed with a C or higher (flagged for confirmation on those requirements).
Note: Complete a minor (18-24 credits) within the College of Arts and Sciences or the School of Communication and Journalism, with no more than a 3-credit overlap with the BA major requirements. Approved minors are listed on Undergraduate Biology's website.