/College of Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate Biology

Welcome to Undergraduate Biology at Stony Brook!

Stony Brook University is recognized as one of the nation’s top public research universities, and our biological sciences departments are among the best in the country.

The mission of the Undergraduate Biology Program is to provide a rigorous, engaging curriculum that develops an interdisciplinary understanding of the living world. We are dedicated to bridging the gap between classroom learning and the excitement of real-world scientific discovery.

 

Flexible Degree Pathways

Because biology intersects with so many different career paths, we offer two distinct undergraduate degree tracks, alongside a Biology minor:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.): Designed for students pursuing graduate studies in the biological or health sciences, as well as technical careers in biotechnology, research, or government. The B.S. requires students to dive deep into one of six specialized tracks:

    • Developmental Genetics

    • Ecology and Evolution

    • Environmental Biology

    • Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences

    • Neuroscience

    • Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.): Ideal for students who want a foundational education in the biosciences but have strong intersecting interests in the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, or communication. The B.A. requires the completion of a non-overlapping minor in the College of Arts and Sciences or the School of Communication and Journalism.

 

The Academic Experience

Our curriculum is built on a strong foundation of chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Students explore the core fundamentals of biology through comprehensive coursework spanning everything from single cells and molecular biology to complex organisms and global ecosystems.

This is complemented by our innovative, two-semester inquiry-based laboratory curriculum. Rather than just following instructions, students develop active skills in data collection, analyze primary scientific literature, and complete capstone student-designed experiments.

 

A Culture of Breakthrough Research

At Stony Brook, you won't just learn about biological discoveries—you will help make them. As a Tier 1 public research university, our undergraduate biology experience is deeply integrated with the groundbreaking work happening across campus and beyond.

While our courses utilize modern instructional spaces, the true core of our program is hands-on, faculty-mentored research. Our students work one-on-one with leading scholars to tackle the most pressing questions in the life sciences, contributing to active studies in cancer biology, infectious diseases, evolutionary genomics, and neurobiology.

Because our biology programs are closely aligned with the Centers for Molecular Medicine, the Renaissance School of Medicine, and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, undergraduates have unprecedented access to interdisciplinary research teams. Students frequently:

  • Participate in independent research for academic credit.

  • Present their findings at university symposia (like URECA) and national conferences.

  • Co-author peer-reviewed scientific papers.

  • Take advantage of Stony Brook’s close research ties to world-class institutions like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

 

Dedicated Student Support

Navigating a curriculum that serves approximately 14,000 student registrants a year requires a strong support system. Our dedicated Biology Advisors offer personalized advising, group presentations, and academic planning for both Biology and Biochemistry majors to ensure you are fully prepared for graduation and your future career.