Location
United States of America (USA)
Study Format
On Campus
Course language
English
Study Fields
Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology
Duration
4 Years
Academic pace
Full Time
Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Tuition Fee
Request info
Biology is the study of organisms, including the molecular and cellular basis of life, development of the individual and its genetic basis, maintenance of the individual, and interaction of organisms with their biotic and physical environment.
Undergraduate Biology offers both Bachelor of Sciences (BS) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree programs in Biology. Both degree programs build on a strong foundation in chemistry, mathematics, and physics that provides the concepts and methodologies needed to understand biological complexity at multiple levels. Students explore the Fundamentals of Biology through three foundational courses that provide a thorough introduction to organisms, ecosystems, cellular and molecular biology, and physiology. These courses are complemented by an innovative two-semester, inquiry-based biology laboratory curriculum designed to develop skills in the collection and analysis of data from biological experiments, including explorations into the primary scientific literature and capstone student-designed experiments on human physiology. For the BS degree, this core foundation is followed by advanced course and laboratory work that includes an in-depth program of study in an area of Specialization along with complementary studies that ensure breadth of exposure to other areas of biology. These Specializations include Developmental Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Environmental Biology, Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics, and Bioengineering. The BIO BA program involves fewer advanced courses in biology but instead requires completion of a non-overlapping minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. The BA provides an option for students interested in careers that build on foundational knowledge in the biosciences who also have strong interests in areas such as the fine arts, humanities or social sciences. The BS program is most appropriate for students interested in graduate studies in the biological sciences or technical positions in industry, including biotechnology, government agencies, and research institutes. Both programs provide excellent preparation for professional careers in the health sciences.
Students in the Biology BA or BS programs 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 certain course combination in the Human Evolutionary Biology electives as specified in the requirements for the EBH major.
Information related to the BIO major and minor is available from the Undergraduate Biology Office and website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/biology. The office processes completed forms and petitions concerning the Biology major and minor and all requests for evaluations of transferred biology courses. The Undergraduate Biology office also coordinates advising, BIO course administration and registration and processes graduation clearances for BIO major and minor requirements.
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, including biotechnology, government agencies, and research institutes.
Undergraduate Biology offers both Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree programs in Biology, along with a minor in Biology.
Students in the Biology BA or BS programs 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 certain course combination in the Human Evolutionary Biology electives as specified in the requirements for the EBH major.
Completion of the B.A. major in Biology requires a minimum of 55 credits for the major, along with a required minor (18-24 credits). All foundational courses in related fields must be taken for a letter grade; courses taken under the Pass/No Credit option will not count towards completion of the major. All core and advanced courses in biology must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C or higher. At least one semester of the two-semester sequences of required courses in a general chemistry lecture, organic chemistry lecture, and physics lecture/lab must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher.
A. Foundational Courses in Related Fields
CHE 129/CHE 130, CHE 132 General Chemistry IA, II or CHE 131, CHE 132 General Chemistry IB, II or CHE 152 Molecular Science I CHE 133, CHE 134 General Chemistry Laboratory I, II, or CHE 154 Molecular Science Lab I CHE 321, CHE 322 Organic Chemistry I, IIA or CHE 321, CHE 326 Organic Chemistry I, IIB or CHE 331, 332 Molecular Science II and III CHE 327 Organic Chemistry Laboratory or CHE 383 Introductory Synthetic and Spectroscopic Laboratory Techniques MAT 125 Calculus A (or MAT 130/MAT 125) or MAT 131 Calculus I or MAT 141 Analysis I or MAT 171 Accelerated Single Variable Calculus, or AMS 151 or level 7, 8, or 9 on the Mathematics Placement Examination. If students do not place into MAT 125 or higher on the basis of the math placement examination, MAT 123 (or MAT 119/MAT 123) is a required course for the major. PHY 121, PHY 122 Physics for Life Sciences I, II with labs or PHY 125, PHY 126, PHY 127, PHY 133, PHY 134 Classical Physics A, B, C and labs or PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134 Classical Physics I, II and labs or PHY 141, PHY 142 Classical Physics I, II: Honors. If students select one of the Classical Physics options (PHY 125/PHY 126/PHY 127/PHY 133/PHY 134 or PHY 131/PHY 132/PHY 133/PHY 134 or PHY 141/PHY 142/PHY 133/PHY 134), then a mathematics course at the level of Calculus B (AMS 161, MAT 126, MAT 132, MAT 142, or MAT 171) or higher is required for the major. BIO 211 Statistics and Data Analysis or AMS 110 Probability and Statistics in Life Sciences or AMS 310 Survey of Probability and Statistics or EBH 230 Computer-based Biostatistics
B. Core Courses in Biology
BIO 201 Fundamental 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 and BIO 205 Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I and IIA or BIO 204 and BIO 207 Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences IIB
C. Advanced Courses in Biology
At least one of the following 3 credit upper-division BIO courses:
BIO 320 General Genetics BIO 321 Ecological Genetics and Genomics BIO 354 Evolution EBH 302 Human Genetics
D. Advanced Biology Electives
Two additional upper-division BIO courses. Research, readings, teaching practica and internship courses cannot be used to satisfy upper-division BIO course requirements.
E. Minor within the College of Arts and Sciences
Completion of a Minor within the College of Arts and Sciences with no more than a 3 credit overlap with the major requirements for the BIO B.A. The list of approved minors for the Biology BA can be found on Undergraduate Biology’s website here.
F. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
The advanced writing component of the major in Biology requires registration in the 0-credit BIO 459 and approval of either a term paper or a laboratory report written for an advanced course in biological sciences at Stony Brook (including Readings and Research courses) or a paper or report written for an advanced course taken as part of the student's minor that addresses a topic pertinent to the biological sciences.
Students who wish to use material from a participating course should obtain the necessary form and present it to the course director prior to submission of the material. The course director will sign the form and the graded material. The completed form, as well as the graded material, must be submitted to the Undergraduate Biology Office. The Writing Center will evaluate the submission and contact the student directly if remedial efforts are needed. Students are urged to submit appropriate materials in their junior year, or by the end of their next-to-last term, in order to allow for evaluation and possible revision. Later submissions are considered but may delay graduation. If the material is initially found to be unsatisfactory, the student will be instructed by the Writing Program before resubmitting a revised paper or material from another course.
Students should consult with the department advisor to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education. Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate. The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD.
Application of Transfer Credits to the Biology BA Requirements
Core biology courses taken elsewhere apply to major requirements only if listed as equivalent to a Stony Brook course in the official Stony Brook Transfer Course Database maintained by Academic and Transfer Advising Services. Transfer students may satisfy the requirements for courses in related fields with transferred courses if the courses are approved as being equivalent. Upper-division or upper-division equivalent courses taken elsewhere and transferred to Stony Brook can satisfy the requirement for BIO 320, BIO 321, BIO 354 or EBH 302 for the Biology BA; however, students must still take three advanced courses (300-level BIO courses) here at Stony Brook.
Completion of the B.S. major in Biology requires a minimum of 70 credits, including foundational courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics. All of these foundational courses in related fields must be taken for a letter grade; courses taken under the Pass/No Credit option will not count towards completion of the major. At least one semester of the two-semester sequences of required courses in calculus, general chemistry lecture, organic chemistry lecture, and physics lecture/lab must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. Completion of the BIO major requires completion of the core curriculum and a minimum of 20 credits of advanced courses in biology. A list of advanced courses in biology from other Departments that are accepted for Biology major credit is provided below. All core and advanced courses in biology must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C or higher with the exception of 400 level Reading and Research courses that are graded on an S/U basis. Biology majors must meet the major requirements as published in the official undergraduate Bulletin for the semester in which the student declares the major or minor. Requests for a waiver of major or minor requirements may be granted at the discretion of faculty.
A. Foundational Courses in Related Fields
CHE 129/CHE 130, CHE 132 General Chemistry IA, II or CHE 131, CHE 132 General Chemistry IB, II or CHE 152 Molecular Science I CHE 133, CHE 134 General Chemistry Laboratory I, II, or CHE 154 Molecular Science Lab I CHE 321, CHE 322 Organic Chemistry I, IIA or CHE 321, CHE 326 Organic Chemistry I, IIB or CHE 331, 332 Molecular Science II and III CHE 327 Organic Chemistry Laboratory or CHE 383 Introductory Synthetic and Spectroscopic Laboratory Techniques MAT 125 (or MAT 130/MAT 125), MAT 126 Calculus A, B or MAT 131, MAT 132 Calculus I, II or MAT 141, MAT 142 Analysis I, II or MAT 171 Accelerated Single Variable Calculus, or AMS 151, AMS 161 or level 8 or 9 on the Mathematics Placement Examination. PHY 121, PHY 122 Physics for Life Sciences I, II with labs or PHY 125, PHY 126, PHY 127, PHY 133, PHY 134 Classical Physics A, B, C and labs or PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134 Classical Physics I, II and labs or PHY 141, PHY 142 Classical Physics I, II: Honors. BIO 211 Statistics and Data Analysis or AMS 110 Probability and Statistics in Life Sciences or AMS 310 Survey of Probability and Statistics, or EBH 230 Computer-based Biostatistics
B. Core Courses in Biology
BIO 201 Fundamental 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 and BIO 205 Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I and IIA or BIO 204 and BIO 207 Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences IIB
C. Advanced Courses in Biology
The Biology Program offers a large number of advanced courses on a diverse range of topics including both lecture and laboratory courses, as well as a number of 4 credit courses that combine a 3 credit lecture with a 3-hour lab. The Advanced BIO courses are listed below in groupings that correspond to four broad areas of biology. Programs of study in the Biology major are organized into 7 Specializations that promote in-depth explorations of different areas while also ensuring a breadth of exposure to other areas in the biological sciences. The standard program of study includes 5 Advanced BIO lecture courses and 2 advanced BIO laboratory courses for a total of 20 advanced BIO credits. The specific program of advanced courses is dependent on the area of Specialization, and may also include the option to use advanced elective courses from other Departments to count towards the Biology major. The 7 Specializations are: Developmental Genetics; Ecology and Evolution; Environmental Biology; Interdisciplinary Biology; Neuroscience; Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics, and Bioengineering. There is also a special degree program for students who choose to double major in Biology and Clinical Laboratory Sciences. The requirements for each Specialization are provided after the list of Advanced BIO courses. A complete list of Advanced Courses from other Departments that are accepted for the Biology Major credit is provided after the requirements for the different Specializations.
Advanced BIO Courses:
Area I: Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology:
Area II: Neurobiology and Physiology
Area III: Organisms
Area IV: Ecology and Evolution
Advanced Course Requirements for the Specialization in Developmental Genetics
BIO 325 Animal Development BIO 320 General Genetics, or BIO 321 Introduction to Ecological Genetics and Genomics BIO 327 Developmental Genetics Laboratory At least one of the following six courses:
- BIO 310 Cell Biology
- BIO 314 Cancer Biology
- BIO 317 Principles of Cellular Signaling
- BIO 339 Molecular Development of the Nervous System
- BIO 354 Evolution
- EBH 302 Human Genetics (previously cross-listed with BIO 302)
- EBH 380 Genomics (previously cross-listed with BIO 304)
Advanced Course Requirements for the Specialization in Ecology and Evolution
BIO 351 Ecology BIO 354 Evolution One additional advanced BIO lecture course and one advanced BIO laboratory course from either Area III (Organisms), or Area IV (Ecology and Evolution) or from the list of advanced courses offered by other Departments that are accepted for BIO major credit in these two areas.
- Note: 4 credit courses identified as a Lecture with Laboratory may be used to satisfy both requirements.
Advanced Course Requirements for the Specialization in Environmental Biology
BIO 351 Ecology One advanced BIO laboratory course from either Area III (Organisms) or Area IV (Ecology and Evolution) or from the list of advanced laboratory courses offered by other Departments and accepted for BIO major credit in these two areas. Two additional advanced BIO courses from Area IV (Ecology and Evolution) that may include at most one of the advanced courses in Environmental Biology offered by other Departments and accepted for BIO major credit. Two additional advanced BIO lecture courses including at least one course from either Area I (Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology), or Area II (Neurobiology and Physiology) or from the list of advanced courses offered by other Departments and accepted for BIO major credit in these two areas. One advanced BIO laboratory course from either Area I (Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology), or Area II (Neurobiology and Physiology) or from the list of advanced courses offered by other Departments and accepted for BIO major credit in these two areas. Note, the elective advanced laboratory course can be replaced by two semesters of independent research for a total of at least 4 credits in a BIO research course. Additional advanced BIO lecture, laboratory, reading, or independent research courses, as needed, for a minimum of 20 credits of advanced biology coursework.
Advanced Course Requirements for the Specialization in Interdisciplinary Biology
At least one advanced BIO lecture Course in Area I (Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology), and Area II (Neurobiology and Physiology), and Area III (Organisms), and Area IV (Ecology and Evolution) or from the list of advanced courses offered by other Departments and accepted for BIO major credit in these four areas. Two advanced BIO laboratory courses chosen from two of the four different areas of advanced courses or advanced courses from other Departments and accepted for BIO major credit in these four areas. Note, one advanced laboratory course can be replaced by two semesters of independent research for a total of at least 4 credits in a BIO research course. A second advanced BIO lecture course in one of the four areas of advanced biology courses or from the list of advanced courses offered by other Departments and accepted for BIO major credit. Additional advanced BIO lecture, laboratory, reading, or independent research courses, as needed, for a minimum of 20 credits of advanced biology coursework.
Advanced Course Requirements for the Specialization in Neuroscience
BIO 334 Principles of Neurobiology BIO 335 Neurobiology Laboratory Two courses from the following list:
- BIO 317 Principles of Cellular Signaling
- BIO 328 Mammalian Physiology
- BIO 337 Neurotransmission and Neuromodulation: Implications for Brain Function
- BIO 338 From Synapse to Circuit: Self-organization of the Brain
- BIO 339 Molecular Development of the Nervous System
- BCP 401 Principles of Pharmacology
- EBH 316 Evolution of the Human Brain (previously listed as ANP 316)
Advanced Course Requirements for the Specialization in Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics
Unlike other specializations, the Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics Specialization requires completion of foundational courses in mathematics that cover differential equations.
MAT 127 Calculus C, or MAT 132 Calculus II, or MAT 142 Honors Calculus II, or AMS 161 Applied Calculus II AMS 333 Mathematical Biology BIO 332 Computational Modeling of Physiological Systems BIO 312 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology At least one of the following five courses:
- BIO 317 Principles of Cellular Signaling
- BIO 320 General Genetics
- BIO 321 Introduction to Ecological Genetics and Genomics
- CHE 346 Biomolecular Structure and Reactivity
- EBH 380 Genomics (previously cross-listed with BIO 304)
Advanced Courses from other Departments accepted for credit towards the BIO BS
The following is a list of courses offered by other Departments that can be used to satisfy advanced course requirements in the BIO Major. These are arranged into the same broad areas of biology as the BIO courses listed above but also including courses in the area of Environmental Biology that can be used for the Specialization in Environmental Biology.
Area I Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Area II Neurobiology and Physiology
Area III Organisms
Area IV Ecology and Evolution
Environmental Biology (May only be used for the Environmental Biology Specialization)
D. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
The advanced writing component of the major in Biology requires registration in the 0-credit BIO 459 and approval of either a term paper or a laboratory report written for an advanced course in biological sciences at Stony Brook (including Readings and Research courses).
Students who wish to use material from a participating course should obtain the necessary form and present it to the course director prior to submission of the material. The course director will sign the form and the graded material. The completed form, as well as the graded material, must be submitted to the Undergraduate Biology Office. The Writing Center will evaluate the submission and contact the student directly if remedial efforts are needed. Students are urged to submit appropriate materials in their junior year, or by the end of their next-to-last term, in order to allow for evaluation and possible revision. Later submissions are considered but may delay graduation. If the material is initially found to be unsatisfactory, the student will be instructed by the Writing Program before resubmitting a revised paper or material from another biology course.
Students should consult with the department advisor to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education. Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate. The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD.
Application of Transfer Credits to the Biology BS Requirements
Biology courses taken elsewhere apply to major requirements only if listed as equivalent to a Stony Brook course in the official Stony Brook Transfer Course Database maintained by Academic and Transfer Advising Services. Transfer students must take at least 15 credits of required core and advanced biology at Stony Brook in courses for majors at the 200 level or higher. At least 12 of the 15 credits must be in BIO-designator courses. Both of the two advanced laboratory experiences must be taken at Stony Brook. Transfer students may satisfy the requirements for courses in related fields with transferred courses if the courses are approved as being equivalent.
Graduation with Honors in Biology or in Biology and Society requires the following:
A cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher in all courses required for the major. Presentation of an acceptable thesis based on a project involving independent research for credit in an approved Research or Internship Course for at least two semesters written in the form of a paper for a scientific journal. A student interested in becoming a candidate for honors should submit a completed Honors Application to the Undergraduate Biology office as early as possible but no later than the second week of classes in the last semester (form available at: http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/biology/advising/Forms.html). On the application, the student identifies the research project and provides an endorsement from their faculty research sponsor along with recommended names of at least two additional faculty members who have agreed to evaluate the written thesis, including at least one faculty member from a department different from that of the research sponsor. Applications approved by the Biology Program are returned to the student for inclusion with the completed thesis research project. The student must present a copy of the finished thesis along with a completed application form indicating written approval by their research sponsor and the two readers at least one week prior to the date of graduation.
Approved Research and Internship Courses:
Only students with majors other than Biology, Biochemistry, Human Evolutionary Biology, Pharmacology, Marine Sciences or Marine Vertebrate Biology may elect the Biology minor. Completion of the minor requires at least 20 credits in BIO courses designed for the Biology major. All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade and must be passed with a grade of C or higher, including at least 9 credits at the 300 level. All advanced courses for the minor must be in BIO-designator courses taken at Stony Brook. The specific course requirements for the BIO minor are:
At least two of the following courses:
- BIO 201 Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems
- BIO 202 Fundamentals of Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology
- BIO 203 Fundamentals of Biology: Cellular and Organ Physiology
See the Education and Teacher Certification entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.
Stony Brook is a highly selective institution, seeking to enroll those students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity and academic ability to succeed. Applicants are evaluated on an individual basis. There is no automatic cutoff in the admission process, either in grade point average, rank, or test scores. The Admissions Committee seeks to enroll in the strongest and most diverse class possible.
Applications are still being accepted for the fall 2020 semester. At this time, space in our class is very limited and we may only be able to offer qualified students a spot on our Wait List.
Stony Brook University, widely regarded as a SUNY flagship, is home to an exceptionally diverse student body of nearly 27,000 high-achieving students — including more than 17,000 undergraduates — from nearly all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Our energetic campus is ranked among the top 40 public universities by U.S. News & World Report .
We offer more than 200 academic programs, have an award-winning undergraduate research program, and are situated in a great location – only 60 miles east of New York City.
Wondering what makes a Stony Brook education unique? Here, you'll learn by doing. Each year, thousands of our students do research or independent projects alongside a faculty member, study abroad, volunteer in the community, intern in nearby New York City, or participate in another form of experiential learning. You'll apply the skills you learn in the classroom to real life, helping to prepare for your future and create a better world.
Nobel laureates, Guggenheim fellows and MacArthur grant winners teach on our campus. Our faculty are leaders in significant national and worldwide projects, such as uncovering the causes of lobster mortality in Long Island Sound, searching for the origins of man in Kenya’s Turkana Basin and managing the national parks of Madagascar. We’ve made significant contributions to NASA initiatives, such as examining Martian minerals for evidence of life and other phenomena.
Stony Brook University is part of the management team of nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), joining such prestigious schools as Princeton, Stanford and the University of Chicago on the list of major institutions that have a role in running federal research laboratories. In addition, BNL and Stony Brook collaborate with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory — one of the world’s pre-eminent private research institutes.
Stony Brook is one of America’s most dynamic public universities. We are a center of academic excellence and an internationally recognized research institution that offers all students a world-class education.
Stony Brook University offers more than 200 undergraduate programs, more than 100 master’s programs, and more than 50 doctoral programs.
Università degli Studi di Milano
Italy
Biology
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Italian
3 Years
University of Hull
United Kingdom
Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Environmental Science
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
English
3 Years
University of Hull
United Kingdom
Biology
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
English
3 Years
UWE Bristol
United Kingdom
Biology, Environmental Science
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
English
3 Years
Copyright © 2024 Ladybird Srl - Via Leonardo da Vinci 16, 10126, Torino, Italy - VAT 10816460017 - All rights reserved