BIOLOGY

The Biology programs at Russell Sage College offer a variety of pathways leading to many exciting careers.  The four-year Bachelor of Arts degree leads many students to graduate studies and careers in research.  Many students choose premedical studies to prepare to become a physician, veterinarian, dentist, or physician assistant. Students who intend to enter the Doctorate in Physical Therapy program or Masters in Occupational Therapy program may complete accelerated Biology 3+3 DPT or Biology 3+2 OT programs.  Students interested in teaching in elementary or middle schools will want to consider our BS in Life Science /Childhood Education. In addition, the program provides the opportunity for minors in Biology and in Environmental Science.

 

BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN BIOLOGY

The BA program in Biology provides a broad overview of modern biological findings and investigative techniques, along with necessary scientific background in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.  This program provides strong preparation for employment; further study in biology and in professional fields including medicine, veterinary science, and education; and life-long learning. To achieve these ends, the program features instruction in many settings, including classrooms, internship placements, field settings, seminars, and laboratories.  To emphasize independent research, every student completes an independent research project.  Additionally, most students take advantage of internship opportunities in Capital District hospitals, research laboratories, and governmental agencies.

 

Degree Requirements		Credits
Biology Courses
Core Courses		20
BIO 104	Foundations of Biology I (w/lab) (NS)	4
BIO 105	Foundations of Biology II (w/lab) (NS)	4
BIO 358	Proseminar:  Biological Communications	3
BIO 359	Explorations in Research Methodology	3
BIO 401	Senior Independent Project (2 semesters)	6
Foundational Courses: Select three of the following		12
BIO 206	Genetics (w/lab)	4
BIO 217	Invertebrate Zoology (w/lab)	4
BIO 220	Cell Biology (w/lab)	4
BIO 323	Biology of Development (w/lab)	4
BIO 326	Principles of Ecology (w/lab)	4
BIO 336	Animal Behavior (w/lab)	4
BIO 357	Environmental Toxicology (w/lab)	4
Elective Courses: Select three 3-4 credit courses in Biology		9-12
Supporting Courses
CHM 111	General Chemistry I (w/lab)	4
CHM 112	General Chemistry II (w/lab)	4
Select four of the following courses		13-18
CHM 104	Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry	4
CHM 201	Organic Chemistry I (w/lab)	5
CHM 202	Organic Chemistry II (w/lab)	5
PHY 101 or 107	General Physics I or Physics I (w/lab)	4
PHY 102 or 108	General Physics II or Physics II (w/lab)	4
CHM 205	Chemical Analysis	3
CHM 302	Instrumental Analysis	4
CHM 303	Biochemistry I	3
MAT 201	Calculus I (QR)	3
MAT 220	Applied Statistics I (QR)	3
Total credits required in the major		62-70
General Education Requirements- not fulfilled by Major or required Supporting Courses
Core Requirements		30-36
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing	3
WLD 120	Women in the World	3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3
Humanities/Arts	Language  (may include cross-cultural requirement)	6
Humanities/Arts	Other humanities (may include cross-cultural requirement)	6
Social Science (may include cross-cultural requirement)		6
Quantitative Reasoning Course		0-3
Cross-Cultural Course		0-3
Electives		14--28
Total credits required for degree		120

Note: If the Language Requirement is satisfied through proficiency or waived, then an additional 6 credits of other humanities must be taken.

 

Suggested Course Sequence for BA in Biology

The following is a general schedule for the Biology major. Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning your course schedule. Other course sequences are possible. Consult your advisor or the Biology Program Coordinator. Note also that one can introduce flexibility into this recommended sequence by shifting elective and/or general education slots around to allow one to pursue other courses of personal interest or compensate for scheduling conflicts.

                                                                                                Semester

First Year		1st	2nd
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
WLD 120	Women in the World		3
BIO 104/105	Foundations of Biology I & II (w/lab)	4	4
CHM 111/112	General Chemistry I & II (w/lab)	4	4
	Humanities:  Language	3	3
		15	14
Second Year		1st		2nd
BIO	Biology Foundational Course	3-4		3-4
ENG 220	College Research and Writing	3
	CHM, PHY, or MAT: Supporting Course	3-4		3-4
	General Education:  Humanities	3		3
	General Education:  Social Science	3		3
	Elective or Cross-Cultural Course			3
	15-17			15-17
Third Year		1st		2nd
BIO	Biology Foundational Course	4
BIO	Biology Elective	3-4
	CHM, PHY, or MAT: Supporting Course	3-4		3-4
BIO 358	Proseminar			3
BIO 359	Explorations in Research Methodology			3
	Elective or Quantitative Reasoning Course			3
	Electives	6		3
	16-18			15-16
Fourth Year		1st		2nd
BIO 401	Senior Independent Project	3		3
BIO	Biology Electives	3-4		3-4
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3
	Electives	3-6		6-9
	12-16			12-16

Total for BA in Biology  ....................................................................... 120

Suggested Sequence for BA in Biology: Pre-Medical Studies for Medical (Physician) and Veterinary Schools

Students interested in preparing for careers in the medical professions need to complete science courses including general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and college mathematics, usually calculus. Your advisors in Biology can help you select courses appropriate for preparation for these careers and suggest possible internship sites to strengthen your application. Students interested in applying to medical school are encouraged to complete courses necessary for the MCAT exam by the end of their 3rd year. Students applying to veterinary school take the GREs by the end of their 3rd year.

 

		Semester
First Year		1st	2nd
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
BIO 104/105	Foundations of Biology I & II (w/lab)	4	4
CHM 111/112	General Chemistry I & II (w/lab)	4	4
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
WLD 120	Women in the World		3
	Humanities: Language	3	3
		15	14
Second Year
BIO	Biology Foundational Course	4
BIO	Biology Elective		3-4
CHM 201/202	Organic Chemistry I & II (w/lab)	5	5
MAT 220	Statistics	3
	General education: Humanities		3
	General education: Social Science	3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing		3
		15	14-15
Third Year
BIO	Biology Foundational Course	4
BIO	Biology elective		3-4
BIO 358	Proseminar		3
BIO 359	Explorations in Research Methodology		3
PHY 101/102	General Physics I & II (w/lab)	4	4
MAT 201	Calculus I	3
	General Education: Social Science	3
	Elective		3
		14-15	16-17
Fourth Year
BIO	Biology Foundational Course	4
BIO	Biology Elective		3-4
BIO 401	Senior Independent Project	3	3
	Cross-Cultural Course	3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World		3
	General Education: Humanities	3
	Electives	3	6
		16	15-16
Total required			120

 

Suggested Sequence for BA in Biology: Pre-Medical Studies for Physician Assistant Schools

Physician Assistant is one of the fastest growing professions in the USA. This program gives you the foundational courses required by many schools offering a Masters Degree in Physician Assistant. You will take some courses to distinguish you from other undergraduate students such as Pathology & Prevention of Injuries, Orthopedic Evaluation, and the Pre-PA Clinical & Seminar

 

		Semester
First Year		1st	2nd
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
BIO 104/105	Foundations of Biology I & II (w/lab)	4	4
CHM 111/112	General Chemistry I & II (w/lab)	4	4
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
WLD 120	Women in the World		3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology		3
	Humanities: Language	3	3
		15	17

Second Year
BIO 201/202	Anatomy & Physiology I & II (w/lab)	4	4
CHM 201/202	Organic Chemistry I & II (w/lab)	5	5
MAT 220	Statistics	3
SCI 240	Pathology & Prevention of Injuries		3
HSC 206	Cultural Perspectives of Health, Disability and Wellness	3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing		3
		15	15
Third Year
BIO 206 or 220	Genetics or Cell Biology	4
BIO 208	Microbiology		4
BIO 359	Explorations in Research Methodology		3
CHM 303	Biocehmistry I	3
MAT201	Calculus I	3
SCI 242	Orthopedic Evaluation	3
SCI 365	Pre-PA Clinical & Seminar		3
	Social Science Elective		3
	Electives	3
		16-17	13
Fourth Year
BIO	Two Biology Foundational Courses	4	4
BIO 401	Senior Independent Project	3	3
BIO 358	Proseminar		3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3
	General Education: Humanities	3	3
	Electives	3	3
		16	16
Total required			120

 

Suggested Course Sequence for Students in the BA in Biology leading to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Students interested in physical therapy (PT) as a career may select Biology as their undergraduate major and complete an accelerated 3+3 program.  Students complete requirements for the major, RSC general education courses, and PT program prerequisites during their first three years of study.  Qualified students who meet PT program GPA requirements accelerate into the PT graduate courses in the fourth year and complete the baccalaureate degree in Biology. Students complete two more graduate academic years and earn the DPT.  One can introduce flexibility into this recommended sequence by shifting Biology requirements or general education slots around to allow one to pursue other courses of personal interest or compensate for scheduling conflicts.

                                                                                                      Semester

First Year		1st	2nd
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
WLD 120	Women in the World		3
BIO 104	Foundations of Biology I (w/lab)  (NS)	4
BIO 105	Foundations of Biology II (w/lab)  (NS)		4
BIO 201	Anatomy and Physiology I (w/lab)  (NS)	4
BIO 202	Anatomy and Physiology II (w/lab)  (NS)		4
CHM 111	General Chemistry I (w/lab)	4
CHM 112	General Chemistry II (w/lab)		4
	Humanities:  Language	3	3
		19	18

 

Second Year		1st	2nd
BIO 220	Cell Biology (w/lab)	4
BIO	Biology Foundational Course	4
PHY 101 or 107	General Physics I or Physics I (w/lab)		4
PHY 102 or 108	General Physics II or Physics II (w/lab)		4
MAT 220	Applied Statistics I	3
BIO 359	Explorations in Research Methodology		3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology (SS)	3
PSY 202	Human Development (SS)		3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing	3
		17	14

 

Third Year		1st	2nd
BIO 358	Proseminar:  Biological Communications		3
BIO 401	Senior Independent Project	3	3
BIO	Biology Elective		3-4
BIO	Biology Foundational Course (w/lab)	4
	CHM, PHY, or MAT: Supporting Course	3-4
	Humanities:  Cross-Cultural	3
	General Education:  Humanities		3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World		3
13-14			15-16
Summer before Fourth Year
PTY 502	Gross and Functional Anatomy w/ Lab			4
PTY 504	Introduction to Physical Therapy			3
PTY 505	Surface Anatomy			1
PTY 506	Human Biomechanics			5
PTY 521	Pathophysiology I			2
				15

Fourth Year

30 credits of graduate level DPT courses by advisement

BA in Biology awarded at the end of the Fourth Year

Refer to the Physical Therapy section of the Sage Graduate School catalog for course sequences in the fifth and sixth years to meet the remaining requirements for the DPT.

 

Suggested Course Sequence for Students in the BA in Biology leading to the MS in Occupational Therapy

Students interested in occupational therapy as a career may select Biology as their undergraduate major.  Students complete requirements for the major, RSC general education courses (including 90 credits of liberal arts), and OT program prerequisites during their first three years of study.  Qualified students who meet OT program GPA requirements accelerate into the OT graduate courses in the fourth year and complete the baccalaureate degree in Biology.  Students complete one more graduate academic year plus fieldwork, and earn the MS in Occupational Therapy. 

 

		Semester
First Year		1st	2nd
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
WLD 120	Women in the World		3
BIO 104	Foundations of Biology I (w/lab)  (NS)	4
BIO 105	Foundations of Biology II (w/lab)  (NS)		4
BIO 201	Anatomy and Physiology I (w/lab)  (NS)	4
BIO 202	Anatomy and Physiology II (w/lab)  (NS)		4
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology (SS)		3
	Humanities:  Language	3	3
		15	17

Second Year		1st	2nd
BIO	Biology Foundational Courses	4	4
CHM 111	General Chemistry I (w/lab)	4
CHM 112	General Chemistry II (w/lab)		4
MAT 220	Applied Statistics I	3
BIO 359	Explorations in Research Methodology		3
PSY 202	Human Development (SS)		3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing		3
	General Education:  Humanities	3
	Humanities: Cross-Cultural	3
		17	17

Third Year		1st	2nd
BIO 358	Proseminar:  Biological Communications		3
BIO 401	Senior Independent Project	3	3
BIO	Biology Elective		3-4
BIO	Biology Foundational Course	4
PHY 101 or 107	General Physics I or Physics I (w/lab)	4
PHY 102 or 108	General Physics II or Physics II (w/lab)		4
	CHM, PHY, or MAT Supporting Course	3-4
WLD 420	Women Changing the World		3
PSY 308	Abnormal Psychology	3
17-18			16-17

 

Accelerating students progress to first year graduate OT courses; non-accelerating students register for undergraduate electives by advisement. To accelerate into the graduate OT Program in the fourth year, students must earn a minimum overall 3.0 GPA, minimum 3.0 GPA in the seven OT Program prerequisite courses, minimum 2.75 science GPA (BIO 201, BIO 202, and PHY 101), and have completed all college major, general education, and OT program prerequisites by the end of the third year of coursework. Total minimum credits required for the BA degree is 120. Refer to the Sage Graduate School catalog for more information on the MS in Occupational Therapy courses.

Fourth Year		1st	2nd
OTH 504	Foundations of OT/Lab	3
OTH 503	Models & Therapies in OT Practice	1
OTH 507	Func Anatomy & Appl Kinesiology/Lab	6
OTH 514	Occup Perf in Children & Youth/Lab	4
OTH 515	Occup Performance in Adulthood/Lab	4
OTH 512	Technology & Adaptations		1
OTH 501	Neuroscience/Lab		4
OTH 606	Eval & Inter: Hand & UE Rehab/Lab		4
OTH 608	Foundations of Physical Rehab/Lab		3
OTH 623	Fieldwork I: Psychosocial Settings		1
OTH 609	Eval & intervention: Psychosocial Settings/Lab		4
		18	17

 BA in Biology awarded at the end of the Fourth Year

 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN LIFE SCIENCE /CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

This program leads to certification to teach grades 1-6 in the public schools.  Students entering the program will graduate after four years with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Childhood Education. 

 

Degree Requirements		Credits
Biology Courses
Core Courses		17
BIO 104	Foundations of Biology I (w/lab) (NS)	4
BIO 105	Foundations of Biology II (w/lab) (NS)	4
BIO 358	Proseminar: Biological Communication	3
BIO 359	Explorations in Research Methodology	3
BIO 401	Senior Independent Project	3
Core Biology Courses		11
BIO 110	Environmental Issues	3
BIO 206 or 220	Genetics or Cell Biology	4
BIO 323	Biology of Development	4
Supporting Courses		14
SCI 104	Earth Science & Astronomy	3
CHM 103	Introduction to General Chemistry (w/lab)	4
CHM 104	Introduction to Organic & Biochemistry (w/lab)	4
MAT 220	Applied Statistics (QR)	3
Education Courses		39
EDU 201	Education and Society	3
EDU 201F	Education and Society Fieldwork	0
EDU 206	Educational Psychology	3
EDU 206F	Educational Psychology Fieldwork	0
EDU 306	Inclusive Learning Design	3
EDU 307	General Methods Practicum	3
EDU 309	Reading and Language Arts Methods	3
EDU 309	Reading and Language Arts Methods Fieldwork	0
EDU 312	Mathematics Methods	2
EDU 314	Social Studies Methods	2
EDU 315	Science Methods	2
EDU 319	Advanced Reading and Language Arts Methods	3
EDU 337	Classroom Management	3
EDU 401	Childhood Student Teaching Grades 1 - 3	6
EDU 402	Childhood Student Teaching Grades 4 - 6	6
NCR 070	Report & Identify Child Abuse & Maltreatment	0
NCR 071	School Violence Prevention Workshop	0
NCR 316	Physical Education Standards Workshop	0
NCR 317	Health Education Standards Workshop	0
Required Supporting Courses (Liberal Arts)		27
Select one of the following (H/A)		3
HST 105	History of the U.S. I
HST 106	History of the U.S. II
Select one cross-cultural history [HST] course (XC)(H/A)		3
MAT 111	Mathematics for Teaching and Learning I (QR)	3
MAT 121	Mathematics for Teaching and Learning II	3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology (SS)	3
PSY 203	Childhood and Adolescence (SS)	3
VPA 111	Introduction to Visual & Performing Arts (H/A)	3
Two semesters of a language other than English (H-L)		6
General Education Requirements--  not fulfilled by Major or required Supporting Courses
Core Requirements		13
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing	3
WLD 120	Women in the World	3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3

Total  ..............................................................................................................121

All students in education are required to subscribe to a designated electronic portfolio system.

OPTIONAL MIDDLE CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATION

Students desiring Middle Childhood (Specialist) Certification with a major in Biology must complete the BS degree in Biology/Childhood shown above and also complete the following requirements:

Additional Degree Requirements                                    Credits

EDU 325         Teaching & Learning in the Middle School  ................ 3

EDU 405         Middle Childhood Student Teaching 7-9  ................... 6

EDU 410         Literacy in the Middle School  .................................... 3

Total additional credits for Middle Childhood Certification  ... 12

 

Suggested Course Sequence for Life Science/Childhood Education

The following is a general schedule for the Biology/Childhood Education major.  Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning your course schedule. Other course sequences are possible. Consult your advisor or the Biology or Education Program Coordinator.  Note also that one can introduce flexibility into this recommended sequence by shifting Biology requirement slots around to allow one to pursue other courses of personal interest or compensate for scheduling conflicts.  A student also interested in completing the Middle Childhood certification should consult with her advisor and the faculty in the intended area of focus about a possible sequence of courses. 

                                                                                                Semester

First Year		1st	2nd
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
WLD 120	Women in the World		3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology	3
BIO 104	Foundations of Biology I (w/lab)	4
BIO 105	Foundations of Biology II (w/lab)		4
EDU 201	Education and Society		3
EDU 201	Education and Society Fieldwork		0
MAT 111	Mathematics for Teaching and Learning I	3
MAT 121	Mathematics for Teaching and Learning II		3
		14	13
Second Year		1st	2nd
BIO 110	Environmental Issues		3
MAT 220	Statistics		3
SCI 104	Earth Science & Astronomy	3
CHM 103	Intro to General Chemistry (w/lab)	4
CHM 104	Intro to Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry (w/lab)		4
PSY 203	Childhood and Adolescence	3
EDU 206	Educational Psychology		3
EDU 206	Educational Psychology Fieldwork		0
HST 105 or 106	US History	3
	Humanities:  Language	3	3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing	3
16			16

 

Third Year		1st	2nd
BIO 206 or 220	Genetics or Cell Biology	4
BIO 359	Explorations in Research Methodologies	3
VPA 111	Introduction to Visual & Performing Arts		3
EDU 306	Inclusive Learning Design	3
EDU 309	Reading and Language Arts Methods	3
EDU 309	Reading and Language Arts Methods Fieldwork	0
NCR 316	Physical Education Standards Workshop		0
NCR 317	Health Education Standards Workshop		0
EDU 307	General Methods Practicum		3
EDU 312	Mathematics Methods		2
EDU 314	Social Studies Methods		2
EDU 315	Science Methods		2
EDU 319	Advanced Reading and Language Arts Methods		3
EDU 337	Classroom Management		3
13			18
Fourth Year		1st	2nd
EDU 401	Childhood Student Teaching Grades 1-3	6
EDU 402	Childhood Student Teaching Grades 4-6	6
NCR 070	Report & Identify Child Abuse & Maltreat	0
NCR 071	School Violence Prevention Workshop	0
BIO 323	Biology of Development		4
BIO 401	Senior Independent Project		3
BIO 358	Proseminar: Biological Communication		3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World		3
HST	Cross-Cultural Course	3
HST 105 or 106	US History		3
		15	16

 

MINORS IN BIOLOGY

The Biology program at Russell Sage College offers two minors:  A Minor in Biology and a Minor in Environmental Science.

 

Requirements for Minor in Biology*

		Credits
BIO 104/105	Foundations of Biology I and II (w/lab)	8
Select three of the following courses		12
BIO 206	Genetics (w/lab)	4
BIO 220	Cell Biology (w/lab)	4
BIO 326	Principles of Ecology (w/lab)	4
BIO	One semester of Physiology (w/lab)	4
BIO	Select one additional course in biology	3-4
Total credits		23-24

*Students who have taken BIO 102, 202, 208, 218, or 219 for other majors may count two of these courses toward the Biology minor.

 

Requirements for Minor in Environmental Science        

		Credits
BIO 104/105	Foundations of Biology I and II (w/lab)	8
BIO 110	Environmental Issues	3
BIO 357	Environmental Toxicology (w/lab)	4
BIO	Select two additional courses in biology	6-8
Total credits		21-23