Program Overview

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Biology Bachelor of Science Degree

Overview

Study biology across molecular, cellular, and ecological fields to launch your STEM or health career.

Why Study Biology at RIT

• Industry Technology: Sequence and annotate whole genomes of a variety of organisms using the Illumina MiSeq in the Genomics Lab.
• Work Experience: RIT’s cooperative education and internship program includes science co-ops that offer opportunities to gain real-world experience.
• Participate in Undergraduate Research: Engage in research projects starting as early as your first year, preparing you for a wide range of careers with hands-on experience.
• Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising Program: Receive personalized guidance to become a competitive candidate for admission to medical schools and graduate programs in the health professions.
• Strong Career Paths: Join biology BS graduates in becoming highly competitive applicants for acceptance into veterinary school, medical and dental school, and graduate programs in health care professions.
• Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Available: Earn both your bachelor’s and your master’s in less time and with a cost savings, giving you a competitive advantage in your field.
• STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.

RIT’s Biology Bachelor of Science Curriculum

You’ll start with foundation courses in biology, math, chemistry, and liberal arts and then immerse yourself in the biological sciences, studying:

• Animals
• Micro-organisms
• Plants at the level of molecules, cells, tissues, organisms, populations, and the environment

You will acquire a comprehensive set of practical skills, from the proper way to prepare cultures in the lab to gathering and analyzing ecological data in the field.

And since scientific knowledge is based on research, students are encouraged to participate in undergraduate biology research projects to enhance their educational experience and prepare them for graduate school or full-time employment.

Furthering Your Education in the Biological Sciences

Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees

Students enrolled in the biology bachelor’s degree will be prepared to pursue advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, and chiropractic medicine, as well as a wide range of graduate programs in the life sciences. Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.

• Biology BS/Environmental Science MS: In this combined accelerated dual degree pathway, the biology BS degree provides a robust background in molecular, cellular, and ecological disciplines of biology. This dynamic course work is coupled with lab courses that provide hands-on bench skills and access to technology used by industry professionals. Blend your foundation in biology with a master’s in environmental science to add unique field work, interdisciplinary coursework, and cutting edge research that will set you apart when applying for jobs. Graduates of this program are working to address global issues like climate change, habitat loss, species conservation, pollution, and more.
• +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.

Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising

RIT’s Office of Pre-Health Advising offers an advising program that’s open to all majors and provides personal, individualized academic counseling to help you create a comprehensive long-term strategy to assist you in building successful applications to medical, dental, and veterinary schools or graduate degrees in the health professions (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc.). Our pre-health advisors will have in-depth conversations with you around critical topics that include academic planning and course selection, MCAT and other admission exams, undergraduate research opportunities, clinical experiences and field work, timelines, and much more. Learn more about pre-med/pre-health advising.

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

• Research Laboratory Technician
• Veterinary Assistant
• Lab Technician
• Microbiology Laboratory Technician II
• Doctor's Assistant
• Quality Control Lab Technician
• Medical Scribe
• Clinical Research Scientist

Industries

• Biotech and Life Sciences
• Pharmaceuticals
• Scientific and Technical Consulting
• Medical Devices
• Research

Cooperative Education

What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries.

Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Science co-ops include a range of hands-on experiences, from co-ops and internships and work in labs to undergraduate research and clinical experience in health care settings. These opportunities provide the hands-on experience that enables you to apply your scientific, math, and health care knowledge in professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.

As a biology undergraduate, you have the option to pursue co-op and internship opportunities in research, lab support, or data analysis in private businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Biology BS students have worked for hospitals, wildlife centers, veterinary clinics, food companies, and pharmaceutical firms.

National Labs Career Events and Recruiting

The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education offers National Labs and federally-funded Research Centers from all research areas and sponsoring agencies a variety of options to connect with and recruit students. Students connect with employer partners to gather information on their laboratories and explore co-op, internship, research, and full-time opportunities. These national labs focus on scientific discovery, clean energy development, national security, technology advancements, and more. Recruiting events include our university-wide Fall Career Fair, on-campus and virtual interviews, information sessions, 1:1 networking with lab representatives, and a National Labs Resume Book available to all labs.

Curriculum

Biology, BS degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • BIOL-123: Introduction to Biology: Organisms and Ecosystems (General Education)
  • BIOL-124: Introduction to Biology: Molecules and Cells (General Education)
  • BIOL-125: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Organisms and Ecosystems (General Education)
  • BIOL-126: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Molecules and Cells (General Education)
  • CHMG-141: General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective)
  • CHMG-142: General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective)
  • CHMG-145: General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective)
  • CHMG-146: General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab (General Education)
  • MATH-161: Applied Calculus (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A)
  • YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
  • General Education – Artistic Perspective
  • General Education – Social Perspective
  • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI)
• Second Year
  • BIOL-206: Molecular Biology (General Education)
  • BIOL-216: Molecular Biology Laboratory (General Education)
  • BIOL-302: Cell Biology
  • BIOL-499: Biology Co-op (summer)
  • CHMO-231: Organic Chemistry I (General Education)
  • CHMO-232: Organic Chemistry II (General Education)
  • CHMO-235: Organic Chemistry I Lab (General Education)
  • CHMO-236: Organic Chemistry II Lab (General Education)
  • Choose one of the following:
    • STAT-145: Introduction to Statistics I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
    • STAT-155: Introduction to Biostatistics (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
  • Choose one of the following options:
    • BIOL-240: General Ecology (WI-PR)
    • BIOL-265: Evolutionary Biology (WI-PR)
    • BIOL-265R: Evolutionary Biology Recitation
  • General Education – Global Perspective
  • General Education – Ethical Perspective
  • Open Elective
• Third Year
  • PHYS-111: College Physics I (General Education)
  • PHYS-112: College Physics II (General Education)
  • Choose one of the following:
    • BIOL-321: Genetics
    • BIOL-365: Introduction to Population Genetics
  • Choose one of the following:
    • BIOL-322: Developmental Biology
    • BIOL-313: Comparative Animal Physiology
  • Program Electives
  • Open Elective
  • General Education – Immersion 1
• Fourth Year
  • BIOL-500: Experiential Learning Requirement in Life Science
  • Program Electives
  • Open Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 2, 3

Biology Electives

• BIOL-205: Animal Behavior
• BIOL-207: Galapagos: Ecology and Evolution
• BIOL-211: Invertebrate Zoology
• BIOL-212: Vertebrate Zoology
• BIOL-218: Biology of Plants
• BIOL-220: Biology of Fungi and Insects
• BIOL-230: Bioinformatics Languages
• BIOL-296: Ethical Issues in Biology and Medicine
• BIOL-305: Plants, Medicine, and Technology
• BIOL-306: Food Microbiology
• BIOL-309: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
• BIOL-311: Introduction to Microbiology
• BIOL-315: Tissue Culture Laboratory
• BIOL-327: Fundamental Bioinformatics Analysis
• BIOL-335: Phage Biology
• BIOL-340: Genomics
• BIOL-343: Tropical Ecology
• BIOL-345: Molecular Ecology
• BIOL-371: Freshwater Ecology
• BIOL-372: Biology Without Walls
• BIOL-375: Advanced Immunology
• BIOL-385: Seneca Park Zoo Internship
• BIOL-401: Biological Separations: Principles and Practices
• BIOL-403: Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry and Pathology
• BIOL-404: Microbiology of Fermentation
• BIOL-408: Biology of Cancer (WI-PR)
• BIOL-412: Human Genetics (WI-PR)
• BIOL-414: Animal Nutrition
• BIOL-415: Virology
• BIOL-416: Plant Biotechnology
• BIOL-418: Plant Molecular Biology
• BIOL-420: Bacterial-Host Interactions: Microbiomes of the World
• BIOL-427: Microbial and Viral Genetics (WI-PR, WI-GE)
• BIOL-428: Eukaryotic Gene Regulation and Disease
• BIOL-441: Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology (WI-PR)
• BIOL-444: Ornithology
• BIOL-455: Biogeography
• BIOL-460: Infectious Disease: Impact on Society and Culture
• BIOL-471: Environmental Microbiology
• BIOL-495: Advanced Biology Research
• BIOL-498: Advanced Biology Independent Study
• BIOL-530: Bioinformatics Algorithms
• BIOL-550: High Throughput Sequencing Analysis (WI-PR)
• BIOL-573: Marine Biology
• BIOL-575: Conservation Biology
• BIOL-594: Molecular Modeling and Proteomics
• BIOL-599: Research Based Writing (WI-PR)
• BIOL-601: Genetic Diseases and Disorders
• BIOL-635: Bioinformatics Seminar
• BIOL-694: Molecular Modeling and Proteomics
• CHMA-650: Chemical Separations and Mass Spectroscopy
• CHMB-402: Biochemistry I
• ENVS-250: Applications of Geographic Information Systems
• ENVS-301: Environmental Science Field Skills
• ENVS-311: Wetlands
• ENVS-531: Climate Change: Science, Technology & Policy
• ENVS-540: Ecological Models in Geographic Information Systems
• ENVS-640: Ecological Models in Geographic Information Systems
• MEDS-245: Medical Genetics
• MEDS-250: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• MEDS-251: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• MEDS-310: Introduction to Pharmacology
• MEDS-313: Introduction to Infectious Diseases
• MEDS-421: Parasitology
• MEDS-422: Endocrinology
• MEDS-490: Human Gross Anatomy
• MEDS-515: Medical Pathophysiology
• MEDS-520: Histology & Histopathology
• MEDS-530: Human Immunology

Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees

Biology, BS degree/Environmental Science, MS degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • BIOL-123: Introduction to Biology: Organisms and Ecosystems (General Education)
  • BIOL-124: Introduction to Biology: Molecules and Cells (General Education)
  • BIOL-125: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Organisms and Ecosystems (General Education)
  • BIOL-126: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Molecules and Cells (General Education)
  • CHMG-141: General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective)
  • CHMG-142: General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective)
  • CHMG-145: General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective)
  • CHMG-146: General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective: General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab
  • MATH-161: Applied Calculus (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A)
  • YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
  • General Education – Artistic Perspective
  • General Education – Social Perspective
  • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI)
• Second Year
  • BIOL-206: Molecular Biology (General Education)
  • BIOL-216: Molecular Biology Laboratory (General Education)
  • BIOL-302: Cell Biology
  • BIOL-499: Biology Co-op (summer)
  • CHMO-231: Organic Chemistry I (General Education)
  • CHMO-232: Organic Chemistry II (General Education)
  • CHMO-235: Organic Chemistry I Lab (General Education)
  • CHMO-236: Organic Chemistry II Lab (General Education)
  • Choose one of the following:
    • STAT-145: Introduction to Statistics I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
    • STAT-155: Introduction to Biostatistics (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B)
  • Choose one of the following options:
    • BIOL-240: General Ecology (WI-PR)
    • BIOL-265: Evolutionary Biology (WI-PR)
    • BIOL-265R: Evolutionary Biology Recitation
  • General Education – Global Perspective
  • General Education – Ethical Perspective
  • Open Elective
• Third Year
  • PHYS-111: College Physics I (General Education)
  • PHYS-112: College Physics II (General Education)
  • Choose one of the following:
    • BIOL-321: Genetics
    • BIOL-365: Introduction to Population Genetics
  • Choose one of the following:
    • BIOL-322: Developmental Biology
    • BIOL-313: Comparative Animal Physiology
  • Program Electives
  • Open Elective
  • General Education – Immersion 1
• Fourth Year
  • BIOL-500: Experiential Learning Requirement in Life Science
  • ENVS-601: Environmental Science Graduate Studies I
  • ENVS-602: Environmental Science Graduate Studies II
  • Graduate Professional Elective
  • Graduate Science Core Elective
  • Program Elective
  • Open Electives
  • General Education – Immersion 2, 3
• Fifth Year
  • Choose one of the following options:
    • ENVS-780: Environmental Science Project
    • Graduate Professional Electives (6SCH)
    • ENVS-790: Environmental Science Thesis (6SCH)
    • ENVS-795: Environmental Science Graduate Research
  • Graduate Professional Elective
  • Graduate Public Policy/STS Elective
  • Graduate Statistics Elective
  • Graduate GIS Elective

Admissions and Financial Aid

First-Year Admission

First-year applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background that includes:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of social studies and/or history
• 3 years of mathematics is required and must include algebra, geometry, and algebra 2/trigonometry. Pre-calculus isrecommended.
• 2-3 years of science is required and must include biologyand chemistry.

Transfer Admission

Transfer applicants should meet these minimum degree-specific requirements:

• A minimum of college algebra is required. Pre-calculus or calculus ispreferred.
• Chemistry and biology are required.

Faculty

• Hyla Sweet: Associate Professor
• Susan Pagano: Associate Professor
• Sandi Connelly: Principal Lecturer
• Dawn Carter: Principal Lecturer

Research

Undergraduate Biology Research Opportunities

Many students join research labs and can engage in research projects starting as early as their first year. Participation in undergraduate research leads to the development of real-world lab techniques, enhanced problem-solving skills, and broader career opportunities. Our students have opportunities to travel to national conferences for presentations and also become contributing authors on peer-reviewed manuscripts. Explore the variety of life science undergraduate research happening at RIT.

Facilities

• Genomics Enterprise Center
• Greenhouse
• Life Sciences Laboratory Prep Core Facility

Related News

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• November 4, 2024: Students form band after chance meeting on campus
• March 21, 2024: Genomics lab allows scientists and students to help protect the local ecosystem

Contact

• L. Kate Wright: School Head, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, College of Science, 585‑475‑4669, lkwsbi@rit.edu