The Department of Biology offers a strong and flexible program designed to meet the career goals of students with widely varied interests. Graduates of the program are well prepared to enter graduate school in many areas of biological science, or professional programs (such as medical, dental, veterinary, physician’s assistant, etc.), become research technicians, secondary school teachers, or enter direct employment. To meet these varied interests, the department offers a wide variety of courses ranging from the molecular or physiological aspects of biology to ecology, field and environmental biology. Students interested in pre-medicine, pre-veterinary and pre-dental programs are strongly urged to register with the Biomedical Professions Council for individual advising about specific types of professional schools. The department is also involved with two combined degree programs leading to professional degrees in dentistry and optometry. Further details of these programs are listed under Pre-Medicine.
The Department of Biology offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology, Molecular Genetics, Medical Technology and Biology-Adolescence Education, as well as Master of Science degree programs to students who have already obtained a B.S. in Biology. The department also participates in the Biochemistry, Cooperative Engineering and the Environmental Sciences programs.
Adolescence Education
Students who wish to teach biology may obtain initial certification by completing the Biology Adolescence Education program and the required courses in Professional Education. New York State mandates that Adolescence Education majors demonstrate competence in a foreign language. This requirement may be satisfied in any one of the following four ways: (1) completion of three years of high school language with a passing Regents score (passing = 65), or, (2) completion of course work at the 116 level at Fredonia, or, (3) transfer two successful college semesters, or, (4) scoring at the 50th percentile or higher on the CLEP exam. The College Core Curriculum foreign language requirement differs from the certification requirement and must be satisfied for degree conferral.
The Department of Biology is particularly proud of its undergraduate research opportunities. Undergraduate students work closely with faculty members on original research projects (for example, see BIOL 440). Students annually present their research results at the university-wide Student Research and Creative Endeavors Exposition and at regional and national meetings. Students have been co-authors of papers published in scientific journals. A wide range of research projects is available in molecular or cellular biology, biochemistry, physiology, behavior, aquatic biology and ecology.
Summer Research Fellowships are sponsored in biology each summer. Each sophomore or junior awarded one of these prestigious fellowships will work on a specific project designed in collaboration with a faculty sponsor. These fellowships have been previously supported by the Constantine Barker Memorial Endowment, the Biology Endowment, the Holmberg Foundation, Merck/A.A.A.S. and the McNair Scholars program. Each award provides the student with a generous stipend and a supplies budget. For more information, interested students should contact a faculty sponsor in the department.
Many students also enjoy the activities of the student-run Biology Club that invites all biology students to join them. The club organizes many activities including faculty seminars on graduate school applications, careers in the Biological Sciences, and participating in undergraduate research, as well as social activities.
Members of the biology department faculty are among the Fredonia faculty members that are honored recipients of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Requirements for Transfer Credit: The degrees offered by the biology department require students complete between 33 and 40 credit hours of biology core and elective courses (Biology and Adolescence Education, 37 credits; Medical Technology, 33 credits; Molecular Genetics, 40 credits) chosen under the careful process of advisement. Students are expected to complete at least half of the biology courses at Fredonia. Additional credit hours transferred may be used as general electives toward graduation. Students wishing to minor in Biology must complete at least 9 credit hours of biology courses at Fredonia. As a rule the department will not accept as equivalent for upper level courses credit earned at two-year colleges.
Graduate programs are available in the department; for more information, see the separate Graduate Catalog or contact the Office of Graduate Studies at (716) 673-3808.