Department of Biological Sciences

Faculty

Distinguished Professor
Marlene Belfort, Ph.D.
University of California, Irvine

Professors 
Thomas Begley, Ph.D.
University at Albany, SUNY
J. Andrew Berglund, Ph.D.
Brandeis University
Richard P. Cunningham, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University
Melinda Larsen, Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine
Gregory Lnenicka, Ph.D.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville        

Associate Professors        
Haijun Chen, Ph.D.
Max-Planck Jena, Germany
Paolo Forni, Ph.D.
University of Turin, Italy
Cara Pager, Ph.D.
University of Kentucky, Lexington
Pan Li, Ph.D.
University at Buffalo, SUNY
Robert Osuna, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
Morgan Sammons, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt University
Annalisa Scimemi, Ph.D.
International School for Advanced Studies SISSA/ISAS, Trieste, Italy
Hua Shi, Ph.D.
Cornell University
Ing-Nang Wang, Ph.D.
SUNY at Stony Brook

Assistant Professors
Cheryl P. Andam, Ph.D.
University of Connecticut 
Gabriele Fuchs, Ph.D.
Witten/Herdecke University, Germany
ChangHwan Lee, Ph.D.
Dartmouth College
Alex Valm, Ph.D.
Brown University

Lecturers
Elise Gervais, Ph.D.
University at Albany, SUNY
Linda Mayerhofer, Ph.D.
University at Albany, SUNY
Ryan Thurman, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas

Adjuncts (estimated): 20
Teaching Assistants (estimated): 21                                                                        

The objective of the department is to provide the undergraduate student with a broad background in the biological sciences and adequate supporting strength in the physical sciences. Accordingly, the B.S. programs listed here are structured around a combined major/minor sequence.

The department also offers programs leading to the M.S. and the Ph.D. in which the graduate student is able to obtain an in-depth professional education in one of several more specialized areas of biological sciences.

The Department of Biological Sciences strongly supports a student’s desire to enhance her/his educational experience by pursuing additional majors and minors. However, once a student has declared her/his major in one of the majors offered by the department (B.A. and B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), the student may not pursue a second major in another program within the department. Should there be an extenuating circumstance requiring an exception to this policy, the student MUST take at least 24 additional credits for the second major.

Careers
The B.A., which specifies the major only and requires a separate minor sequence outside science and mathematics, is designed with the aims of the liberal or fine arts students in mind and as such is not intended for the professional biologist or teacher. The B.S. programs provide a strong background for further study in either graduate school or the medical field, and prepare the student for secondary school teaching and a variety of careers in biology at the technical level. Graduates with a B.S. degree may find technical-level positions with pharmaceutical companies or as research assistants in grant-related positions. Those who go on to graduate or professional school have a wide array of career opportunities in research, health fields, and business.

Advanced Placement Examinations
Students who have received scores of 5 on Advanced Placement exams in biology shall be allowed credit for A BIO 131 or 120, A BIO 130 or 121, A BIO 201, and A BIO 202, required of all majors. Students who have received scores of 3 or 4 on Advanced Placement exams in biology shall be allowed credit in either the natural science general education category or in the general elective category. No credit will apply towards the major or minor in Biology or the Interdisciplinary Studies major with a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology concentration.

Course Progression Restrictions
Students must complete A BIO 131 with a C- or better to register for A BIO 212Y and to register for A BIO 301. Students must complete A BIO 212Y with a C or better to register for A BIO 365.

Degree Requirements for the Majors in Biology

General Program B. A.: Major sequence consisting of a minimum of 36 credits.

Required courses:
A BIO 130 or 121, 131 or 120, 201, 202Z, 212Y
A CHM 120 or 130 or T CHM 130, 121 or 131 or T CHM 131, 124, 125
16 additional credits of biology major electives including two courses which are partially or exclusively laboratory courses:

• A BIO 399/399Z and 499/499Z may contribute up to a total of 4 credits of non-laboratory major elective credit.
• Courses that do not yield credit toward the major are so indicated in the individual bulletin descriptions.
• Major electives must be selected so that a total of 12 credits at the 300 level or above are included in the major. 

The minor sequence will consist of a minimum of 18 credits. The student may not have a minor in: Atmospheric Science, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics.

Bachelor of Arts in Biology Requirements:

General Program B.S.: Combined major and minor sequence consisting of a minimum of 67 credits effective Fall 2022

Required courses:
A BIO 130 or 121, 131 or 120, 201, 202Z, 212Y, 301, 330, 365
A PHY 105 or 140 or 142, 106 or 145, 108 or 150 or 152, 109 or 155
A MAT 108 & 111 or A MAT 108 & 112, or A MAT 111 & 113, or A MAT 112 & 113
A CHM 115 or 120/124 (or T CHM 130/124), A CHM 116 or 121/125 (or T CHM 131/125), 220, 221, 222, 223

15 additional credits in biology at the 300 level or above are also required, and must include at least 3 courses which are partially or exclusively laboratory courses.

• Credits in A BIO 399/399Z and 499/499Z may be used to fulfill the requirement for 1 laboratory course if the student completes at least 4 credits over at least 2 semesters. A BIO 399/399Z and 499/499Z may contribute a total of 4 credits towards the major.
• Courses that do not yield credit toward the major are so indicated in the individual bulletin descriptions.
• Courses in the combined major/minor sequence must include at least 6 credits at the 300 level and at least 3 credits at the 400 level or above.

Graduate courses are open to qualified seniors with appropriate departmental and instructor consent.

Bachelor of Science in Biology Requirements:

Degree Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology concentration (BCAMB) is an Interdisciplinary Studies major (Biology and Chemistry) designed for students interested in these rapidly developing fields of science. Students with training in these fields can pursue careers as researchers in academic or industrial settings or they can pursue further study in graduate or professional schools. Students must complete 40 graduation credits before application to the program, generally in the spring of the sophomore year.

Admission: Students must obtain the approval of the Program Director before officially declaring this Interdisciplinary Studies major.

General Program B.S.: Combined major and minor sequence consisting of a minimum of 65 credits.
Required courses:
A BIO 130 or 121, 131 or 120, 201, 202Z, 212Y, 365, 366, 367, 425, 426
A CHM 115 or 120/124 (or T CHM 130/124), A CHM 116 or 121/125 (or T CHM 131/125), 220, 221, 222, 223, 350 or 444, 351 or 445
A PHY 140 or 141 or 142 or T PHY 141, A PHY 150 or 151 or 152 or T PHY 151
A MAT 111 or 112 or 118, 113 or 119 
An additional laboratory course in Biology or Chemistry at or above the 300 level. Credits in A BIO 399/399Z and 499/499Z or A CHM 425 and 426 may be used to fulfill this laboratory requirement if the student completes at least 4 credits over 2 semesters.

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology:

Honors Program

The honors program is designed for outstanding students in programs leading to the B.S. degree in either Biology or Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Students may apply for admission to the honors program by submitting a letter of request to the departmental honors committee no later than April 15 of the freshman or sophomore year (for admission for the fall) or November 15 of the sophomore year (for admission in the spring). Junior transfers may apply at the time of their admission to the University. Students found acceptable by the committee must find a research adviser to supervise the independent study leading to an HONORS THESIS.

The requirements for admission include: (1) the candidate must declare the major and have completed (or have in progress at time of application) 12 credits of course work required for the biology major, including A BIO 130 or 121, 131 or 120, 201, 202Z; (2) an overall grade point average of 3.50; (3) a grade point average of 3.50 in courses required for the major; and (4) a written recommendation from an adviser, professor or teaching assistant if possible. Primary emphasis will be placed on indications of academic ability and maturity sufficient for applicants to complete with distinction a program involving independent research.

Students in the program are required to complete a minimum of 65 or 67 credits as specified for the respective program for the B.S.  and must include: (1) at least 6 credits of independent study (A BIO 399, 499); the independent study, or honors research project, which will result in an HONORS THESIS; (2) at least 3 credits of course work at the 500 level or higher (not including A BIO 515) in the student’s area of interest; and (3) oral presentation of research at a public seminar.

Students in the program must maintain both a minimum grade point average of 3.50 overall and in biology courses taken to satisfy major requirements during the junior and senior years. The progress of participants in the honors program will be reviewed at the end of the sophomore and junior years by the student’s advisor and the departmental honors committee. Students not meeting academic and independent research standards may be precluded from continuing in the program during their senior year. These students may, of course, continue as Biology majors.

After completion of the requirements above, the departmental honors committee will make its recommendation to the faculty to grant the degree “with honors in biology” based upon (1) overall academic record, (2) performance and accomplishments of the independent study project(s), (3) the quality of the Oral Presentation (4) the evaluations of departmental faculty members who have supervised these activities.

Combined B.S./M.S. Program

The combined B.S./M.S. program in Biology provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master’s degree programs from the beginning of the junior year.

The combined program requires a minimum of 138 credits, of which at least 30 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.S., students must meet all university and college requirements, including the requirements of the undergraduate major described previously, the minimum 60-credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.S., students must meet all university and college requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience, and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.S. and M.S. programs.

An application, which must include the consent from a faculty member to serve as the research advisor, should be made at the completion of the junior year. A minimum grade point average of 3.20 is required as well as three letters of recommendation from faculty. Students accepted into this program must complete at least 3 semesters of ABIO 399/399Z and 499/499Z.

Although the Graduate Record Examinations are not required for this program, students are encouraged to take the examinations in their senior year with the expectation that they will continue graduate studies. The standard graduate application should be submitted to the Office for Graduate Admissions. For further information, please contact the Department Main Office.

Joint Seven-Year Biology/Optometry Program

This combined program sponsored by the State College of Optometry, State University of New York, and the University at Albany, provides students an opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in biology and a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) in seven years. Participating students will matriculate at the University at Albany for three years and begin their optometry studies in year four of the program. Students will be awarded the B.S. degree after completion of their requirements at the end of the fourth year.

At the end of the seventh year and completion of all program requirements, students will be awarded the O.D. degree.

Students interested in making application to this program shall submit the necessary materials to the Pre-Health adviser in the University’s Advisement Services Center by the stated deadline in the middle of the spring semester of the freshman or sophomore year (transfer students are ineligible). Selection will be based on written application materials, academic progress, and a personal interview.

A minimum of a 3.30 grade point average on a scale of 4.0 in undergraduate courses completed at the time of application is required.

Students will complete three years (90 credits) of study at the University at Albany with a major in biology for a B.S. degree. Students attend SUNY-Optometry (New York City, NY) for the fourth year of study (and pay SUNY-Optometry tuition), beginning the first year of the professional program. With the completion of the fourth year of study, the University at Albany will accept as transfer credits 24 credits of biology and 6 credits of physics electives, for a total of 30 credits. Students in this program should take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) in October or February of the third year at the University at Albany.

A minimum of 90 credits must be taken at the University at Albany. Summer course work completed the first and second year or between the second and third year at the University at Albany is acceptable for this program.

The following courses are required:
A BIO 130 or 121, 131 or 120, 201, 202Z, 212Y, 16 credits of biology electives* (of which 12 credits must be at 300 or 400 level)
A CHM 120 or 130, 121 or 131, 124, 125, 220, 221, 222, 223
A MAT 112, 108
A PHY 105, 106, 108, 109
A PSY 101

In addition to the General Education Program requirements, students are required to enroll in 10 credits of electives.

*The biology electives MUST be 300-400 level courses in biology that are designated as courses that count towards the Biology major. The following courses will not be used as biology electives: A BIO 303, 325, 341, 342, 365, 406, 410, and 411.

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