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 BIO 011, 012, 013, 014, 015 and 020 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 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 MA program, or upon completion of 92 s.h. of course work toward their BA degree in urban ecology;
2. Successful completion of BIO 011, 012, 013, 014, 015, and 020 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 BIO 200, 201, and 275, 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 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

The following courses are required for the degree:

• BIO 011 - (NS) Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics Semester Hours: 4
• BIO 012 - (NS) Animal Form and Function Semester Hours: 4
• BIO 013 - (NS) Prokaryotes, Protists, Fungi and Plants Semester Hours: 4
• BIO 014 - (NS) Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Semester Hours: 4
• BIO 015 - Scientific Process Skills Semester Hours: 2-4
• BIO 020 - Urban Habitats Semester Hours: 2
• BIO 114 - General Ecology Semester Hours: 3
• BIO 170 - Urban Ecology Semester Hours: 3
• BIO 200 – Computer Utilization in Biological Research Semester Hours: 3  
• BIO 201 – Statistical Analysis of Biological Data Semester Hours: 3  
• BIO 275 – Advanced Conservation Biology Semester Hours: 3  

All majors are required to take a comprehensive examination administered by the department in their senior year. 

Additional urban ecology courses:

At least 6 additional semester hours in urban ecology must be chosen from the following courses:

• BIO 108 - Ornithology Semester Hours: 4
• BIO 116 - Terrestrial Vertebrate Natural History Semester Hours: 2
• BIO 147 - Invertebrate Zoology Semester Hours: 4
• BIO 154 - Entomology Semester Hours: 4
• BIO 175 - Field Botany Semester Hours: 4

The following courses are also required:

Chemistry—Semester Hours: 11

• CHEM 003A - (NS) General Chemistry I Semester Hours: 3-4
• CHEM 003B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory I Semester Hours: 1
• CHEM 004A - (NS) General Chemistry II Semester Hours: 3
• CHEM 004B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory II Semester Hours: 1
• CHEM 185 - Environmental Chemistry Semester Hours: 3

Mathematics—Semester Hours: 4

Students are required to take one mathematics course chosen from:

• MATH 050 - (MA) Precalculus Semester Hours: 4
• MATH 071 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Semester Hours: 4

Students planning to pursue advanced degrees in urban ecology are urged to take MATH 71.

Geography—Semester Hours: 6

• GEOG 102 - (BH) Population, Resources and Environment Semester Hours: 3
• GEOG 106 - (BH, CC) Urbanization in the Developing World Semester Hours: 3

Geology—Semester Hours: 3

• GEOL 005 - (NS) Environmental Geology Semester Hours: 3

Engineering

• ENGG 110 - Project Management Semester Hours: 3

Technology and Public Policy—Semester Hours: 6

• TPP 004 - (NS) Introduction to Forensic Science Semester Hours: 3
• TPP 112 - Technology and Human Values Semester Hours: 3

or

• PHI 133 - (HP) Ethics and the Natural Environment Semester Hours: 3

Sociology—Semester Hours: 3

• SOC 141 - (BH) Urban America Semester Hours: 3

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

Candidates must complete 33 semester hours of graduate biology courses numbered 200 or above. BIO 200 , 201 , and 275 , 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 (Bio 303).   The exam will be based on 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 are required for graduation. 

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