Advising

UG BIO Advising for Prospective Students

Biology is one of the largest majors at Stony Brook University with about 2,000 majors/minors as of Spring 2011. The Biology Curriculum includes 32 different lecture courses and 16 different lab courses.

The Introductory Biology courses (i.e., BIO 201, 202, 203, 204, 205) give the students a foundation in the areas of organisms, ecology, evolution, molecular and cellular biology, and physiology. 

The first two to three years of the Biology Major cover the majority of the Pre-Health Pre-Requisites (e.g., Pre-Med, Pre-Dent, Pre-PA, Pre-PT, Pre-Optom, Pre-Vet). Several options are open to Pre-Health students in the beginning of their Life Sciences studies. We recommend that Pre-Health students use BIO 202, 203, 204/205 as the "One Year of Biology and Biology Lab."

At the Advanced level, Biology students elect between:

BIOLOGY MAJOR SPECIALIZATIONS:
General Biology Track
Developmental Genetics Track
Neuroscience Track
Ecology & Evolution Track
Environmental Biology Track
Biology with Bioengineering Minor
Biology/ Clinical Laboratory Sciences Double Major
BIOLOGY MINOR

Pre-Health Students following the Biology Major should elect the Biology Track in which they are most interested, especially if this track will give them the highest grades.

Several of our students explore research opportunities in the fields of the Life Sciences, often beginning in their second or third year. This is a very important experience for many of these students. It is an excellent way of gaining insight in sciencific topics and methods. Such research experiences may help student make decisions about future careers.

Most Biology courses have Mathematics and/or Chemistry Pre-/Co-Requisites. Students have to be at a certain level (Pre-Calculus - MAT 123) in Mathematics before they can take Chemistry. For this reason, it is important for prospective students to make sure that they are as well prepared as possible in Mathematics and Chemistry.  

• Overview of Suggested Semester Schedules for Biology Majors
  with different Mathematics background.
   
• More Detailed Suggested Semester Schedules for Biology Majors.

Prospective Freshmen - At Orientation you will register for the courses you take in the 1st semester of your Freshman Year (U1). It will depend on your background in Mathematics whether or not you can take Chemistry in your first semester of your U1 Year. If you have no transferable Mathematics courses at Pre-Calculus level or above then you must take the Math Assessment Exam, preferably before you attend Orientation. Please see the Suggested Semester Schedules for Biology Majors above to get an idea of which courses you should take in your first semester.

At Transfer Orientation you will register for your first semester courses. Several of the Math and Science Major Advisors (e.g., Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, and Physics) will be present at this event. It is important to establish your background in Mathematics and Chemistry before you see the BIO Advisors at Transfer Orientation. will depend on your background in Mathematics whether or not you can take Chemistry in your first semester of your U1 Year. If you have no transferable Mathematics courses at Pre-Calculus level or above then you must take the Math Assessment Exam before you attend Orientation.

Prospective Post-Baccalaureate Students