Biology

Study of the biological sciences is a major requirement for students who wish to specialize in such fields as plant or animal research, and for students who plan to enter various health professions, such as medicine, dentistry, medical technology, physician assistant, and physical therapy; research in fields from cells and molecules to organisms to ecosystems, and education at both the high school and collegiate levels. The Department offers a varied and balanced program for biology and health profession majors.

Biology Tracks
Students must elect one of the following tracks to complete the Bachelor of Science in Biology degree program. They are: General, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavioral Biology, and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Minimum Grade Required 
A grade of C or above is required in all BIO courses that are prerequisites for the major requirements. Students are allowed to repeat courses if necessary.

Graduation Minimum GPA in Major

To qualify for graduation, students must have at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) in the courses that make up the major. 

Biology Master of Science Degree | Double Counting Policy

Undergraduate students who have accumulated a minimum of 75 credits with a 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply for early admission to the Master's of Biology program.  If accepted, students will be eligible to enroll in graduate courses that will count toward both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students will receive an admissions decision before selecting the last 30 credits toward their undergraduate degree program.

Once admitted to the master’s program, the student will register for the advised combination of graduate and undergraduate courses to complete the requisite number of credits to complete the undergraduate degree. If graduate courses substitute for specific undergraduate degree requirements, this should be noted. If graduate courses do not substitute for specific undergraduate degree requirements, students must complete their undergraduate degree requirements using the appropriate graduate and undergraduate courses. Once undergraduate requirements are completed, the undergraduate degree will be conferred. Up to 12 credits of approved graduate courses taken as an undergraduate will count toward the graduate degree. Graduate courses taken will appear simultaneously on both the undergraduate record and the graduate record as original coursework with grades calculated into the GPA. Double counting 12 credits is accepted. Students will pay the undergraduate tuition rates up to the number of credits required to earn their baccalaureate degree. Any credits taken after that number will be charged at the appropriate graduate program level. 

Neuroscience Master of Science Degree | Double Counting Policy

Undergraduate matriculated CSI Biology majors at the College of Staten Island who have accumulated a minimum of 90 credits with a 3.3 GPA are eligible to apply for admission and conditional acceptance into the Neuroscience Master of Science graduate program. If accepted, students who meet the criteria below may be granted permission to take up to three CSI 700-level Neuroscience (NSM) graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate to be counted toward their bachelor’s degree (to satisfy their 300- or 400-level elective requirements) and their Neuroscience Master’s degree. All graduate courses in the MS in Neuroscience can be taken as double-counting courses.

Criteria:

• Current enrollment in bachelor’s degree in Biology at the College of Staten Island and successful completion of three years of study with 90 or more earned credits.

• Cumulative GPA 3.3 or above.

• Permission from the course instructor, the coordinator of the Neuroscience MS program, and the Biology Department chairperson.

• Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a full-time College of Staten Island Biology faculty under whom the applicant has studied.

• Application for admission and conditional acceptance into the Neuroscience graduate program.