Biology, Advisement Area

Associate in Science (A.S.) Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Outlook

The range of careers pursued after completion of the baccalaureate program is almost limitless: medicine (including physical and occupational therapy, physician, physician assistant, medical laboratory technician, radiologist), teacher, professor, researcher, statistician, mechanical engineer, agronomist, nutritionist, aquatic biologist, and geologist are some examples.

The Program

This program is designed to provide students with a strong science foundation for transfer to and to successfully compete in a four-year institution. Laboratory experiences enhance course work.

In addition, the college offers an honors program in our new Honors House. The courses provide enhanced educational experiences in a seminar format. Successful completion of the Honors courses or certificate may enhance scholarships and transfer opportunities

The degree is recognized in transfer (articulation) agreements with a large number of public and private four-year institutions in New York State and across the nation.

The Experience

Creative thinking and problem solving are coupled with appropriate models, preserved specimen, and technical equipment to provide an excellent environment for learning. Our biology laboratory is equipped with presentation equipment and computers for student use. An additional science classroom has Pentium computers for student use in group learning, and new equipment for DNA analysis, electrophoresis, and electrocardiograms provides our students with specialized skills.

The Graduates

Graduates successfully transfer to such four-year institutions as the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell University, SUNY Colleges at Brockport, Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse, Buffalo, and Geneseo, in addition to Keuka and St. John Fisher Colleges.*

The Scholarships

Scholarships are available to qualified students. Details can be found at www.flcc.edu/scholarships.

The Faculty

Faculty in the biology are accomplished master and PhD biologists with specialties in a wide range of areas including gene therapy, DNA analysis, pharmacology, microbiology, protein chemistry, zoology, toxicology, and ecology. The faculty include Chancellor Award winners, former research scientists, and active researchers.

The faculty bring a hands on approach to learning and engage students in active research early in their academic career. Students have been involved in studying the sex of migratory red-tail hawks and perform DNA analysis in the labs as well as hours in the field collecting samples. Additionally, students are studying the affect of volcanic activity on the Island of Montserrat in the Caribbean. The research focuses on the molecular indicators of stress in corals and the use of biomarkers for the early detection of symbiotic breakdown. Students regularly travel with the biologists to Montserrat to participate in the research. The college is proud to note that one of its graduates received the prestigious $20,000 Barry Goldwater Scholarship because of the research work she participated in at FLCC.

Biology, Advisement Area

Associate in Science (A.S.) Liberal Arts and Sciences

Curriculum Requirements

As a student in this program, you are required to complete a minimum of 64 credit hours with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0).

All associate degree programs require ENG 101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature. You must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. If you are well prepared, you may substitute ENG 104 Freshman English I Honors and ENG 105 Freshman English II Honors for ENG 101 and ENG 102. (If you are considering the English Honors sequence, you should consult the Director of Honors by calling 585.394.FLCC, ext. 7367.) For this degree program, you must successfully complete the following:

Humanities

  • ENG 101 Freshman English AND ENG 102 Introduction to Literature OR ENG 104 Freshman English I Honors AND ENG 105 Freshman English II Honors
  • COM 110 Public Speaking OR COM 115 Interpersonal Communication

Social Science

  • 3 credit hours of History (HIS) Electives
  • 6 credit hours of Social Science Electives

Science/Mathematics

  • 24 credit hours of Science Electives/Mathematics Electives
  • Minimum of one of the following sequences:
  • BIO 121 General Biology I AND BIO 122 General Biology II
  • CHM 121 Chemistry I AND CHM 122 Chemistry II
  • PHY 151 Physics I AND PHY 152 Physics II
  • BIO 171 Human Anatomy and Physiology I AND BIO 172 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • MAT 145 College Algebra*
  • MAT 152 Pre-Calculus*

Information Management

  • 3 credit hours of Computer Science Electives

Health/Physical Education

  • 4 credit hours of Health/Physical Education (PE) Electives

General Electives

  • The remainder of the required credit hours must be made up of approved electives. If you plan to prepare for transfer into a specific subject area or degree program at a four-year college or university, you should consult with your advisor regarding your course selection.

If you plan to transfer to a four-year institution, you should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. Visit the course requirements for transfer programs web page for details.

Notes:

* If this competency has been met before entering the program, the student must select at least 6 credit hours in other higher Mathematics courses approved by their advisor.

For you to successfully complete the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree and transfer to an upper-division institution with full junior status in Mathematics or the Sciences , you may be required to start at FLCC in the Pre-Calculus or Calculus level of Mathematics. High School students are encouraged to contact their guidance office and make use of the Mathematics Alert Program to become more familiar with the requirements in Mathematics to pursue specific college degrees. If you lack sufficient Mathematics and Science preparation, you may receive instruction at FLCC, but it may take more than two years to complete this degree.

Biology, Advisement Area

Associate in Science (A.S.) Liberal Arts and Sciences

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.S. Liberal Arts and Science degree with an Advisement Area for transfer in Biology may be met in four semesters. You also should check with your transfer institution with regard to specific courses and requirements. This schedule is an example of one of many possible schedules that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending FLCC who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and may take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some preparatory coursework may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete. You should consult with your advisor when planning your schedule.

First Semester (17 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English (3) OR ENG 104 Freshman English I Honors (3)
  • CHM 121 General Chemistry I (4)
  • BIO 121 General Biology I (4)
  • SCI 100 Orientation Science and Technology (2)
  • Mathematics Elective* (3)
  • Health/Physical Education (PE) Elective (1)

Second Semester (18-19 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3) OR ENG 105 Freshman English II Honors (3)
  • CHM 122 General Chemistry II (4)
  • BIO 122 General Biology II (4)
  • Social Science Elective** (3)
  • Mathematics Elective* (3-4)
  • Health/Physical Education (PE) Elective (1)

Third Semester (16-17 Credit Hours)

  • Biology Elective (3-4)
  • Social Science Elective** (3)
  • Computer Science (CSC) Elective (3)
  • Approved Science Elective*** (3)
  • History (HIS) Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education (PE) Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (18-20 Credit Hours)

  • Biology Elective (4)
  • Biology Elective (4)
  • COM 110 Public Speaking (3) OR COM 115 Interpersonal Communication (3)
  • General Elective**** (3)
  • Approved Science Elective*** (3-5)
  • Health/Physical Education (PE) Elective (1)

Notes:

* Mathematics Electives: MAT 145 College Algebra and MAT 152 Pre-Calculus, or higher level, must be completed by all A.S. majors. MAT 271 Calculus I is highly recommended.

** Social Science Electives: ANT 111, ECO 210, ECO 211, PSY 100, SOC 100, POL 100, and POL 110

*** Any BIO prefix (except BIO 101, BIO 111, BIO 112), CHM 211 Organic Chemistry I, CHM 212 Organic Chemistry II, PHY 118 College Physics I, PHY 119 College Physics II, PHY 151 General Physics I, or PHY 152 General Physics II.

**** Recommended General Electives: Mathematics (MAT), Biology (BIO), Chemistry (CHM), and Physics (PHY).