Direct admission to the dual-degree program (BA and MA)

Incoming first-year students may apply for direct admission to this dual-degree program. For those who choose to submit a standardized test score, a 1240 or better on the critical reading and mathematics sections of the SAT (or an ACT score of 25) is recommended.  Applicants must have an overall high school GPA of 3.5 (or be in the top 15 percent of their high school graduating class) in order to be considered for admission.  First-year students admitted directly to the dual-degree program will be admitted automatically to the MA program in urban ecology at the end of their junior year provided they fulfill the following requirements:

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 in biology courses at the time of application to the MA program, or upon completion of 92 s.h. of course work toward their BA degree in urban ecology.
2. Successful completion of BIOL 113 , 112 , 120 , and 142  by the end of the semester in which they apply for admission to the dual-degree program.

Admission to the dual-degree BA in Urban Ecology/MA in Urban Ecology for current Hofstra students

Qualified Hofstra students taking the BA major in urban ecology may apply for admission to the dual-degree program prior to completing 92 s.h. of undergraduate coursework. Students applying to the dual-degree program should note that admission requires they fulfill the following requirements:

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 in biology courses at the time of application to the MA program or upon completion of 92 s.h. of coursework toward their BA degree in urban ecology;
2. Successful completion of BIOL 113 , 112 , 120 , and 142  by the semester in which they apply for admission to the dual-degree program.

All students admitted to the dual-degree BA in urban ecology/MA in urban ecology must complete a total of 148 s.h.: 33 s.h. of graduate work and 115 s.h. toward their undergraduate degree. Graduate courses BIOL 200, 224, and 256, taken in the senior year, are credited to both the BA and MA degree requirements. Depending on course offerings, other courses may be substituted with the permission of the graduate advisor. Students accepted into the dual-degree program who have attained senior standing may begin taking graduate courses.

Undergraduate requirements for the BA Major in Urban Ecology

Students should apply to the department as soon as possible after making the decision to major in urban ecology. The department encourages interested students to speak with an urban ecology adviser before declaring a major. Advisers are assigned when the student applies for acceptance as a major. Grades in biology courses lower than a C- do not count toward the total number of semester hours required for the biology major.

1. The complete requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree , as specified in this Bulletin;
2. The following undergraduate major requirements for the BA in urban ecology:

Undergraduate Program Requirements

Requirements for the MA in Urban Ecology - Semester Hours: 33

Candidates must complete 33 semester hours of graduate biology courses numbered 200 or above. BIOL 200, 224, and 256, or their approved substitutes, are required, and will be taken by dual-degree candidates in the final year of undergraduate study. Up to 9 s.h. of graduate courses may be taken in other related disciplines with permission of the graduate program director.  To complete their degree, students may choose either to take a comprehensive exam or to complete a written essay (BIOL 303).   The exam will be based on the selection of essay questions from each graduate course taken at Hofstra.  Questions will be submitted and graded by the faculty instructor of the relevant course.  The essay will be chosen by the student in consultation with an adviser and supervised by a Hofstra Biology faculty member and essay committee. A successful defense of the essay or ≥ 80 % score on a comprehensive exam is required for graduation. 

Graduate students are expected to receive a grade of B or better in their biology courses.