Liberal Arts and Sciences with Advisement Area in Biology
The Degree
Associate in Science (A.S.)
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 educationl experiences in a seminar format. Successful completion of the Honors courses or cetificate 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 specialities 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 carribean. 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.
A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences
Curriculum Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 64 semester hours, with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0).
All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.
Students must successfully complete:
Humanities
- ENG101 Freshman English and
ENG 102
Introduction to Literature
or
ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors - COM 110 Public Speaking OR COM 115 Interpersonal Comm.
Social Science
- 3 credit hours of HIS history electives
- 6 credit hours of social science elect.
Science
and Mathematics
24
credit hours (minimum)
- Minimum of
one of the following sequences:
BIO 121 and 122 General Biology I & II
OR
CHM 121 and 122 Chemistry I & II
OR
PHY 151 and 152 Physics I & II
OR
BIO 171 and 172 Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II - MAT 145 College Algebra**
- MAT 152 Pre-Calculus**
Information Management
- 3 credit hours of computer science electives
Health/Physical Education Elective*
- 4 credit hours
General Elective
- The remainder of the required credit hours must be made up of approved electives. In many cases the student may wish to study to prepare for transfer into specific subject area degree programs at four-year colleges and universities. By appropriate course selection in consultation with a faculty advisor, students pursuing the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree may prepare for transfer to upper-division study.
Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. View the general education requirements for more details.
**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.To successfully complete the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree and transfer to an upper-division institution at full junior status in mathematics or the sciences may require the student to start at Finger Lakes Community College at 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 the student lacks sufficient mathematics and science preparation, the student may receive instruction at FLCC, but it may take more than two years to complete the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree.
Liberal Arts and Sciences with Advisement Area in Biology
Sample Schedule
The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.S. Liberal Arts and Science degree with an advisement area for in biology transfer may be met in four semesters. Please 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 Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some preparatory course work may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete. All students should consult their advisors when they plan their schedules.
First Semester (17 Credit Hours)
- ENG 101-Freshman English (3)
- CHM 121-General Chemistry I (4)
- BIO 121-General Biology I (4)
- SCI 100-Orientation Science and Technology (2)
- Mathematics Elective** (3)
- PE Elective (1)
Second Semester (18/19 Credit Hours)
- ENG 102-Introduction. to Literature (3)
- CHM 122-General Chemistry II (4)
- BIO 122-General Biology II (4)
- Social Science Elective* (3)
- Mathematics Elective** (3/4)
- PE Elective (1)
Third Semester (16/17 Credit Hours)
- Biology Elective (3/4)
- Social Science Elective* (3)
- CSC Elective (3)
- Approved Science Elective+ (3)
- HIS Elective (3)
- PE Elective (1)
Fourth Semester (18/20 Credit Hours)
- Biology Elective (4)
- Biology Elective (4)
- COM 110/115 (3)
- General Elective (3)
- Approved Science Elective+ (3/5)
- PE Elective (1)