The Department of Biological Sciences offers a single major for students who intend to prepare for graduate study, medicine, dentistry, secondary school teaching, biotechnology and industry. Students planning to pursue a Biology major are strongly encouraged to declare their major as soon as possible after completing one semester of Principles of Biology.
Declared majors will be assigned to a faculty adviser who will assist in individual curriculum planning. Students are required to consult with their adviser at least once each semester throughout their undergraduate career to discuss their program and progress.
Only a letter grade (A, B, C, D, including + or -) will be accepted by the department in the required science and mathematics courses for the biology major.
Per Hunter College policy, Biology majors cannot elect the P/NC option in any science or mathematics course required for the major.
Undergraduate Research Students who wish to undertake a research project under the supervision of a faculty member must first obtain written permission from that faculty member and then register for the appropriate BIOL 48000 series course. Research opportunities for undergraduates at Hunter are available in cell and molecular biology, genetics, developmental biology, neuroscience, cancer biology, microbiology and a variety of other contemporary areas. Students may also arrange with a Biology faculty member to enroll in BIOL 48000 series courses for research performed at one of the several neighboring research institutions. Synopses of faculty research interests can be obtained in the department office or from the Department of Biological Sciences Website http://Biology.hunter.cuny.edu). Please note that, to qualify for departmental honors at graduation, there is a research requirement (please see below for details).
In order to qualify for departmental honors, students must have a departmental GPA of at least 3.5 and an overall GPA of at least 3.0. They must also satisfy a research requirement consisting of either, choose one (a) or (b):
The research requirement includes a written report resulting from work in any of these courses.