Biology Minor

The minor in Biology is available to students of all majors. It is designed to give students an overview of the study of the most central concepts in life sciences including evolution and natural selection, cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology. Within each biology course, students will appreciate the history of the study of life on earth and how this history has shaped and continues to shape biological research. Five lecture courses and two lab courses are required for the minor and students may select courses from the list of biology offerings.

Rationale.Students in a wide variety of majors will benefit from a minor in biology, particularly those interested in postgraduate study or employment in areas of psychology, public health, and related disciplines. By pursuing the biology minor, students will gain insightful and understanding regarding the biological underpinnings of all living things, including and especially humans. Furthermore, students will become familiar with the scholarly literature of the life sciences and learn to evaluate, interpret, and critique biological data. These skills are highly sought after by employers and graduate programs in a wide variety of disciplines and industrial and government settings.

Learning Outcomes. Students will:

• Understand the basic genetic, cellular, and molecular underpinnings of cells and organisms.
• Explain the biological theory of evolution and the way that cells, tissues, species, and ecosystems have been shaped through natural selection and adaptation.
• Use the biological sciences primary literature, and analyze and critique scientific experimentation and theory.
• Conduct and analyze biological experiments, emphasizing the role of ethics and objectivity in scientific data collection and interpretation.
• Develop their skills in the oral and written forms of scientific communication.

Credits required. 18-21

Prerequisites. BIO 103 (or BIO 101 + BIO 102) and CHE 103 (or CHE 101 + CHE 102). These course(s) are the prerequisites for the first course in the minor, BIO 104. They also fulfill the Required Core: Life/Physical Sciences category and the Flexible Core: Scientific World category of the College’s general education program.

Minor coordinator. Professor Jason Rauceo, Department of Sciences (646.557.4893, jrauceo@jjay.cuny.edu)

Requirements. A maximum of two courses can overlap with a student’s major, other minors or programs.

Note. Students earning a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology can NOT earn the Biology minor.

Total Credit Hours: 18-21