Direct admission to the dual-degree program (BS and MS)

Incoming first-year students entering Hofstra 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 MS 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 MS program, or upon completion of 92 s.h. of course work toward their BS degree in urban ecology.
2. Successful completion of BIOL 112, BIOL 113, BIOL 120, one intermediate lab course (BIOL 126, BIOL 127, BIOL 128, or BIOL 129) and BIOL 142 by the end of the semester in which they apply for admission to the dual-degree program.

Admission to the dual-degree BS in Urban Ecology/MS in Urban Ecology for current Hofstra students

Qualified Hofstra students enrolling in the BS major in urban ecology may apply for admission to the dual-degree program prior to completing 92 s.h. of undergraduate course work. 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 MS program, or upon completion of 92 s.h. of course work toward their BS degree in urban ecology;
2. Successful completion BIOL 112, BIOL 113, BIOL 120, one intermediate lab course (BIOL 126, BIOL 127, BIOL 128, or BIOL 129) and BIOL 142 by the semester in which they apply for admission to the dual-degree program.

All students admitted to the dual-degree BS in urban ecology/MS in urban ecology must complete a total of 145 s.h.: 30 s.h. of graduate course 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 BS and the MS degree requirements.  Depending on course offerings, other courses may be substituted with 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 BS 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 Science degree, as specified in this Bulletin;
2. The following undergraduate major requirements for the BS in urban ecology.

Graduate requirements for the MS in Urban Ecology: 30 s.h.

All students should meet with the graduate program director at least once each semester. Candidates must complete 30 semester hours of graduate-level coursework, including BIOL 200, 224, and 2567, all three courses taken by dual-degree candidates in the final year of undergraduate study. Depending on course offerings, other courses may be substituted with the permission of the graduate advisor.  Also required are BIOL 301 and 302. BIO 238 is recommended. Up to 3 semester hours of graduate courses may be taken in related disciplines outside of Biology with permission of the graduate program director. A graduate course in urban ecology is required if no undergraduate courses in urban ecology were taken prior to the awarding of the BS degree.

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

Footnote*

*Dual-degree students will substitute BIOL 200 , 224 , and 256 , taken in the senior year, for undergraduate courses for GEOG 161, BIOL 124, and 156, respectively. Depending on course offerings, other courses may be substituted with the permission of the graduate advisor.