Mar 28, 2024  
2009-2010 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2009-2010 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Biology, B.S. Major in


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B.S. major in biology: Students should apply to the department as soon as possible after making the decision to major in biology. Applications are available in the Biology office. Advisers are assigned when the student applies for acceptance as a major. The department encourages interested students to speak with a biology adviser about this specialization before declaring a major. Grades in biology lower than a C- do not count toward the total number of semester hours required for this specialization.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 124


Candidates for graduation must successfully complete the following requirements:

1. The Successful Completion of at Least 124 Semester Hours


The successful completion of at least 124 semester hours and a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 in work completed at Hofstra. Military Science 1C, IE, 2C, 2E and associated leadership laboratories may not be counted toward this total semester-hour requirement.

2. Liberal Arts


At least 60 semester hours must be completed in liberal arts courses outside the Biology Department.

3. Residence Requirements


There are two requirements that must ordinarily be completed in residence at Hofstra: 20 semester hours in the major field of specialization and the last 30 semester hours. The 20 semester hours need not be included within the last 30 hours.

4. General Requirements


English


Foreign Language


German, French or Russian preferred, completion of level 4 if studied in high school or to level 2 if studied as a new language;

Distribution Course Requirement


(for listing of distribution courses, the Distribution Courses program)

6 semester hours in humanities: 3 hours from Literature (LT) or Appreciation and Analysis (AA), and 3 hours from Creative Participation (CP); 6 semester hours in social science: 3 hours in behavioral social sciences and 3 hours in history and philosophy.

Note:


Students who matriculate at Hofstra with advanced standing must complete at least 3 semester hours in humanities distribution courses and 3 semester hours in social science distribution courses in residence. In no case may distribution course requirements be taken elsewhere after matriculation at Hofstra.

5. Completion Requirements


After completion of the freshman year and each subsequent semester, all B.S. program majors must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 or better and a grade point average of 2.8 or better in all BIO courses to remain in the B.S. program. If a student does not maintain the proper cumulative grade point average, he/she will be placed on a one-semester probation. If at the end of the probationary semester, his/her grade point average does not meet the requirement, the student’s major will be changed from the B.S. specialization in biology to the B.A. specialization in biology. Students should be aware that this change in major will change biology and distribution course requirements for graduation.

6. Major and Additional Requirements


The fulfillment of the following major and additional requirements:

45 Credits in Biology Including:


The fulfillment of the following major and additional requirements:

Two Semesters of Mathematics with One Course Chosen from the Following


And any other MATH course under advisement with the exception of MATH 4A, 4 B, 30A, 40, 60, 61A. BIO 100 may be used to satisfy a MATH elective (in such cases, an additional 3 semester hours of biology must be completed). Students planning to pursue advanced degrees in life and health sciences are urged to take MATH 71.

Departmental Honors


To qualify for departmental honors, students must complete: BIO 93 and 94 or 95. All majors are required to take a comprehensive examination administered by the department in the senior year.

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