Undergraduate Programs Director

Scott E. Erdman
Room 110 Life Sciences Complex
seerdman@syr.edu, 315-443-3748.

Contact:

Undergraduate Programs Secretary Deborah Herholtz
114 Life Sciences Complex
herholtz@syr.edu, 315-443-9139.

Faculty

David M. Althoff, John M. Belote, Carlos Castaneda, Samuel H.P. Chan, Heather Coleman, Steve Dorus, Scott E. Erdman, Thomas P. Fondy, Douglas A. Frank, Jason D. Fridley, Jannice Friedman, Anthony Garza, Paul Gold, Sarah Hall, James A. Hewett, Sandra J. Hewett, Donna Korol, Katharine Lewis, Eleanor Maine, Susan Parks, Melissa Pepling, Scott Pitnick, Ramesh Raina, Surabhi Raina, Mark Ritchie, John M. Russell, Kari A. Segraves, Robert Silver, W. Thomas Starmer, Melody Troeger Sweet, Joseph T. Tupper, Roy Welch, Jason R. Wiles

Students majoring in biology establish a general background in the discipline through a series of first-year/sophomore-level core courses that preview the major sub-disciplines of biology. This introductory program is followed by courses that allow the student to focus on more advanced material.

The major in biology leads to either the B.A. or the B.S. degree. The B.S. degree is intended for students interested in graduate study in biological science or the health professions (medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine). In addition to biology requirements, students pursuing the B.S. degree in biology take general and organic chemistry, and mathematics through calculus. Students are also encouraged to gain practical experience and academic credit through the University Honors Program, the Community Internship Program, or departmental research. Students may also receive a B.S. in biology with emphasis on environmental sciences.

The B.A. degree is intended for students who wish to pursue technical or science-related careers that do not require a graduate or professional degree, or careers outside of biology in which a background in science may be useful, such as science writing, business, or law. Although the first-year/sophomore-level core biology course requirements for the B.A. and the B.S. degrees are similar, there are key differences for the B.A. in the first-year courses required and fewer additional courses in chemistry and mathematics are required relative to the B.S.