Biology & Biochemistry

Requirements

Biology

Major Requirements

Entry-level requirements and co-requisites:
· Principles of Biology I and II, completed with a minimum grade of C, or evidence of high achievement in equivalent course work, as a prerequisite for all biology courses above the 2000 level. If a C- or below is received in either class, it must be retaken and passed with a minimum grade of C before students can progress to the 3000-level electives.
· Principles of Chemistry I and II, Principles of Chemistry I and II Lab, completed with a minimum grade of C-.
· Calculus I completed with a minimum grade of C-.

It is strongly recommended that students take Principles of Biology and Principles of Chemistry in the freshman year. Students who begin the program as General Biology majors and plan to pursue graduate study or a career in the health professions must complete the appropriate co-requisites before applying (see pre-health and graduate school preparation).

Upper Level Biology Requirements:
· seven elective courses above the 1000 level. Four of these must be laboratory courses, one of which may be an independent study or internship.
· For the General Biology Program, no more than two of the major courses may be at the 2000 level. Students preparing for the health professions or graduate school (see below) should not take more than one 2000 course as part of their seven course electives.

Biology majors should seek an advisor from the Biology department in the beginning of their sophomore year to guide in the choice of program and electives.

Note: All elective major courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

Senior Research Program
In addition to the entry-level requirements and co-requisites and the seven electives, as outlined above, biology majors must also complete the following three-course sequence (see course descriptions below for further details):
· BIO 3099: Research Seminar
· BIO 3499: Senior Research
· BIO 3998: Senior Evaluation

All students in the Senior Research Program are required to attend the senior presentations, and all majors are encouraged to attend.

Departmental Honors
Departmental Honors are conferred upon graduating seniors who have maintained a Biology grade point average of 3.5, have received a minimum grade of A- for the Senior Evaluation, and have contributed to the activities of the Biology department.

Students must meet the following requirements in order to complete the Honors program within the Biology major:
· Completion of Principles of Biology I and II with a minimum grade of B+, or present evidence of high achievement in equivalent courses.
· Seven additional one-semester, 3000-level courses in Biology with a minimum grade of B+.
Of these seven additional Biology courses, six must be laboratory courses.
· Principles of Chemistry I and II with laboratories with a minimum grade of B+.
· Organic Chemistry I and II with laboratories with a minimum grade of B+.
· Biochemistry, with laboratory, with a minimum grade of B+.
· College Physics I and II with laboratories, with a minimum grade of B+.
· Mathematics through Calculus II, with a minimum grade of B+.
· Senior research program. A minimum grade of A- must be obtained in the course sequence.
· Students must declare interest in this Honors Program by the end of their 3rd semester or in the first semester for transfer students.

Health Professions and Graduate School Preparation Prerequisites:
For those students planning to pursue health-related careers such as medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, nursing, or medical technology, or for those preparing for graduate school, the following prerequisites are required:
· Principles of Biology I and II
· Principles of Chemistry I and II with Laboratories
· Organic Chemistry I and II with Laboratories
· Calculus I and II
· Physics I and II
· English Literature course in addition to an academic writing course (e.g. ENC 4010).

Minor in Biology
Principles of Biology I and II or the equivalent and four additional one-semester courses in Biology of which three should be laboratory courses above the 2000-level. An independent study may fulfill one of these requirements.

Neuroscience Concentration
The Concentration in Neuroscience is a prescribed program of study that emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to solving problems in the study of the normal and pathological conditions of the nervous system. It combines the best of sub disciplinary, disciplinary, and interdisciplinary training, essential for future scientists challenged with problems whose solutions ignore the boundaries of the traditional scientific disciplines. This program provides students with solid foundational principles, structural approaches to problems, and a shared base of information, culminating in the development and implementation of an independent senior research project.

Neuroscience Laboratories and Facilities
Manhattanville College has many well?equipped laboratories to aid students in their curricular and experimental approach to solving problems in neuroscience. For a complete description of the laboratories and facilities available to Neuroscience students, see under the Biology Department.

Faculty Advisor
Annemarie Bettica (Biology Department) — Cell biology, molecular genetics, cancer biology, neuroscience, bioethics, bioinformatics, electron microscopy, histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and biophotography

Neuroscience Concentration Requirements
Nineteen courses are required for the Neuroscience concentration, fifteen of which are core requirements and four are electives. It is strongly recommended for majors to seek out the Faculty Advisor as early in the program as possible to ensure proper placements in required and elective courses.

Seven Core Prerequisite Courses to be completed with a minimum of grade C:
· BIO 1001/1002: Principles of Biology I and II (or present evidence of high academic achievement in equivalent course work as a prerequisite for all biology-based courses above the 2000 level);
· CHM 1001/1002:Principles of Chemistry I and II
· CHM 2001: Organic Chemistry I and CHM 2005: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
· PSY 2012: Statistics for the Social Sciences I (or an appropriate computer science course).

Eight Upper-Level Core Requirements:
· BIO 2021: Introduction to Neuroscience
· BIO 3030: Molecular Cell Biology
· BIO 3039: Recombinant DNA Technology
· BIO 3060: Bioethics
· PSY 3000: Physiological Bases of Behavior
· BIO 3099: Research Seminar
· BIO 3499: Senior Research
· BIO 3998: Senior Evaluation

Four Electives. Choose at least one of the following BIOLOGY laboratory-based courses:
· BIO 3003: Histology
· BIO 3005: Developmental Biology
· BIO 3057: Forensic Biology

Choose at least one of the following NEUROBIOLOGY courses:
· BIO 3049: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology
· BIO XXXX Any Neurobiology elective

Choose one of the following BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE courses:
· PSY 3016: Clinical Psychopharmacology
· PSY 3023: Biological Bases of Mental Illness
· PSY 3035:Seminar in Biopsychology

Choose one (1) of the following COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY courses:
· PSY 2008: Sensation and Perception
· PSY 2048: Learning and Memory
· PSY 3044: Cognitive Psychology

Senior Evaluation
The following three-course sequence must be completed by each student in the Neuroscience concentration before graduation (see Senior Research Program under Biology major and consult course descriptions for further details).
· BIO 3099: Research Seminar
· BIO 3499: Senior Research
· BIO 3998: Senior Evaluation

The senior research sequence culminates in an oral presentation to the Biology department and a written journal article.

Premedical Candidates
In addition to Principles of Biology I and II, Principles of Chemistry I and II plus labs, Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, the premedical candidate, pursuing a concentration in Neuroscience must also satisfactorily complete Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II, Physics I and II, Calculus I and II, and an English Literature course in addition to a course in academic writing (e.g. ENC 4010).

Note: Neuroscience is not available as a minor.

Biochemistry

Major Requirements

BIO 1001 & 1002: Principles of Biology I and II with labs;
CHM 1001 & 1002: Principles of Chemistry I and II;
CHM 1003 & 1004: Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I and II;
CHM 2001 & 2002: Organic Chemistry I and II;
CHM 2005 & 2006: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I and II;
BIO 3035 & 3036: Biochemistry I and II;
BIO 3037 & 3038: Biochemical Techniques I and II;
MATH 1030 & 1032: Calculus I and II;
PHY 1001 & 1002 or 1003 & 1004: Physics I and II
CHM 2009 & 2010: Physical Chemistry I and II;
CHM 2011 or 2012: Physical Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 3003: Chemical & Instrumental Analysis;
CHM 3004: Chemical & Instrumental Analysis Laboratory;
BIO 3030: Molecular Cell Biology;
BIO 3039: Recombinant DNA Technology;
BIO 3013: Microbiology;
BIO 3007: Human Anatomy and Physiology;
BIO 3099: Research Seminar;
BIO 3499: Senior Research;
BIO 3998: Senior Evaluation.

Prospective Biochemistry majors should meet with a Biochemistry Faculty Committee member as soon as possible in order to prepare an appropriate study plan.

Note: This program may not be taken as a minor.

Senior Evaluation

Majors in the Biochemistry Program are required, beginning in their Junior year, to complete the three-course Biology Senior Research sequence. (See program and course descriptions under the Biology major for further details.)

Science Laboratories

The science laboratories are described above on page 15 and also below under the departments of Biology and Chemistry.