Biology Courses

Natural Science Division

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) may be used to partially fulfill Core Requirements.

BIOL 101* Introduction to Cell Biology: Two hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Topics include cell ultra-structure, biochemistry and genetics. Required of Biology majors and Biology concentrations.
Prerequisite: high school chemistry or co-requisite: CHEM 101.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Every Semester, 4 Credits
BIOL 102* Plant Biology: Three hours lecture/discussion, three hours laboratory. Photosynthesis, respiration, cell structure, survey of plant kingdom, anatomy and physiology of flowering plants, ecology and plant communities. This course may be substituted for BIOL 101.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Every Semester, 4 Credits
BIOL 104* Human Biology: Three hours discussion, two hours laboratory. A study of scientific method, and of man's similarities to, and differences from, other animals, with emphasis on the major organ systems.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall or Spring, 4 Credits
BIOL 105* Field Biology: Two hours lecture, three hours laboratory. A study of the principles of ecology through field work in local ecosystems. Emphasis will be given to the natural history of local floral and faunal communities.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Every Semester, 4 Credits
BIOL 106* Social Aspects of Biology: This course is designed to help the non-science student understand some of the developments in Biology which will affect us as individuals and as a society. Topics will include human reproduction, the manipulation of human heredity and human genes, the effects of radiation on cells and tissues, human organ transplants and artificial organs, the biological effects of such chemicals as food additives, drugs, insecticides. The causes and nature of some human diseases such as cancer, diabetes, birth defects and problems of the heart and circulatory systems will be considered.
Every Semester, 3 Credits
BIOL 108* Nutrition: Three hours discussion. This course has no science prerequisites and therefore is suitable for non-science majors. The course is a consumer education course but will provide an introduction to scientific methods, elementary descriptive bio-chemistry, physiology, endocrinology, and anatomy as applied to the nutritive processes. This course does not satisfy Biology 100-level requirement for science majors.
Spring, 3 Credits
BIOL 201 (MS 201*) Marine Phycology: Two hours lecture/discussion, four hours laboratory. Morphology, taxonomy, applied biochemistry, physiological ecology, and distribution of major groups of marine algae.
Prerequisites: Two 100 series Biology courses or permission of instructor.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
BIOL 205* Mammalian Anatomy and Histology: Five hours lecture/laboratory/field trip. The cat will be dissected as a representative mammal. The course will examine cat tissues, organs, and systems grossly and microscopically, comparing them to those of man.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
BIOL 206* Human Physiology: Three hours lecture. The course will cover the physiological aspects of topics including the musculoskeletal system, the nervous and endocrine systems, circulation, respiration, digestion, and reproduction.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Spring, 3 Credits
BIOL 207* Invertebrate Zoology: Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Surveys of the classification, anatomy, development, ecology, phylogeny and natural history of invertebrate animals. The laboratories emphasize the taxonomy and morphology of the principal phyla, classes and orders.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Spring, 4 Credits
BIOL 208* Developmental Biology: Two hours lecture/discussion, four hours laboratory. Development of representative plants and animals with emphasis on marine forms. Fertilization, growth, morphogenesis, differentiation, regeneration, self-recognition, control mechanisms and conceptual models.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses or permission of instructor.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Alternate Spring, 4 Credits
BIOL 209 (MS 209) Marine Invertebrate Zoology: A field-oriented course that emphasizes the taxonomy and ecology of selected marine invertebrate taxa.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses. Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Summer, 4 Credits
BIOL 210* Microbiology: Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. An introduction to the study of microscopic organisms, including protozoa, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The emphasis of the course is on the structure, metabolism and ecology of these organisms, as well as their practical importance in medical, aquatic, and industrial microbiology.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses, CHEM 101, 102.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Every Semester, 4 Credits
BIOL 211* Genetics: Three hours of lectures which present the fundamental principles of inheritance and explore the contemporary developments in molecular biology and biochemical genetics.
Prerequisite: BIOL 101 or BIOL 102.
Every Semester, 3 Credits
BIOL 214W (MS 214W*) Tropical Marine Biology: A field course focusing on the invertebrates, fish and algae of selected coral reef, seagrass meadow, tidal flat, and mangrove habitats in the tropical South Pacific. In the first half of the course, daily lectures and demonstrations will supplement extensive, first-hand observations of the organisms and their ecology. In the latter half, students will conduct an independent research project. Snorkeling, reef-walking, underwater photography and optional SCUBA diving are the major activities. Performance will be evaluated on the basis of full participation in the course, a comprehensive practical examination, and the quality of a final paper on the independent project.
Prerequisites: Introductory Biology or permission of instructor.
Laboratory fee: $55.00
Winter, 4 Credits
BIOL 215 Anatomy and Physiology I: This two semester sequence is an in-depth study of the structure and function of the organ systems of the human body. Emphasis will be placed on the practical aspects of anatomy, from both microscopic and gross study combined with relevant physiology applicable to the health care professional.
Laboratory fee: $55.00
Summer, 4 Credits
BIOL 216 Anatomy and Physiology II: A continuation of Anatomy and Physiology I.
Laboratory fee: $55.00
Summer, 4 Credits
BIOL 221 (MS 221*) Ichthyology: Two hours lecture, three hours laboratory. The biology of fishes. Topics include their evolution and ecology with an emphasis on the diversity of their structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations. The laboratory will cover a detailed survey of Long Island fishes, field work and a general review of the major groups of freshwater and marine fishes.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
BIOL 222 (MS 222*) Aquaculture: Lectures emphasize the basic principles involved in culturing aquatic animals and plants through the entire life cycle. The latter half of the course surveys specific practices in the culture of catfish, salmon, algae, shrimp, scallops and other commercial species. Laboratory exercises include spawning and rearing of local shellfish, and visits to nearby hatcheries which raise oysters, clams, trout and lobsters.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Spring, 4 Credits
BIOL 230 (MS 230*) Marine Fishes: This course is to serve as an elective for biology, marine biology, environmental biology and environmental education majors. Subject material will include information on fish ecology, morphology, physiology, behavior and identification. Emphasis will be placed on field work involving on-the-water sampling of the various local fish communities along the Atlantic Coast, throughout Shinnecock Bay, and within the Peconic Estuary.
Prerequisite: Two semesters of introductory biology
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Summer, 4 Credits
BIOL 244 Ornithology: Two hours lecture, three hours laboratory/Field Trip. The biology of birds emphasizing identification, ecology, behavior and the impact of man on bird populations.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Periodically, 4 Credits
BIOL 255 Biometry: This course is designed to provide an introduction into the use of statistical methods in biology and is aimed at those students who plan to atttend graduate school and/or seek employment in research fields. Topics covered will include experimental design, preliminary data analysis (descriptive stats and graphical presentation), and parametric and nonparametric statistical tests such as X², t-test, F-test, ANOVA, and regression. Weekly problem sets will reinforce the theory and application of statistics in the natural sciences.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior status, MAT 211
Periodically, 2 Credits
BIOL 281 (MS 281) Australearn: Tropical Marine Ecology: A one month field course to the Northeast coastal regions of Australia to study coastal and island ecosystems and the relationships of marine organisms to their environment.
Prerequisites: Two 100-level biology courses and special application.
Summer, 4 Credits
BIOL 290 Current Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology: This course introduces students to the growing field of molecular biology through weekly guest lectures. Students read and summarize scientific journal articles relevant to the week's discussion, critique and summarize presentations, and engage in informal discussions with the speakers.
Prerequisites: BIOL 211 and Sophomore or higher standing.
Fall, 2 Credits
BIOL 301 Molecular Cell Biology: Two hours lecture, four hours lab. This course will explore the structural and functional relationships between genes, cells, and organisms by drawing on concepts from cell biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Emphasis will be placed on learning molecular experimental techniques, including modern methods for the extraction, cloning, and characterization of nucleic acids and proteins.
Pre- or co-requisite: BIOL 211 or permission of the instructor.
Laboratory fee: $55.00
Spring, 4 Credits
BIOL 307* Endocrinology: Three hours lecture. Molecular structure, metabolism, mode of action of hormones. Pathologies related to malfunction of endocrine systems.
Prerequisites: CHEM 203, two Biology 100 series courses.
Spring, 3 Credits
BIOL 308 (MS 308*) Biology of Plankton: Two hours lecture, four hours laboratory. Systematics of phytoplankton or zooplankton (depending on instructor), biochemical taxonomy, alternate nutritional modes, extra-cellular products, techniques of identification, quantifying plankton samples.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Alternate Spring, 4 Credits
BIOL 314 (CHEM 314*) Biochemistry: Three hours lecture, four hours laboratory. This course will explore the structure and function of biological molecules in the context of their participation in the cell and organism. Basic concepts presented in lecture will be reinforced through weekly labs that demonstrate common biochemical experimental techniques.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses. CHEM 203.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Spring, 4 Credits
BIOL 321* Comparative Physiology: Three hours lecture, four hours laboratory. The concepts of energy in biological systems and a study of physiological adaptations of organisms to their environment.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses, CHEM 101, 102.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Spring, 4 Credits
BIOL 322 (MS 322*) Fisheries Biology: Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. A study of the ecology, growth, population dynamics, and harvesting of commercially important marine and freshwater species, and the application of this knowledge to the management of exploited populations. The second half of the course surveys the major fisheries of the United States and selected fisheries of the world. The lab is centered around field exercises to estimate population size, age, mortality and growth of local marine and freshwater species.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses. Junior or Senior status recommended. Background in statistics (MAT 113) helpful. Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
BIOL 323* Evolution: Three hours of lecture. The basic concepts of evolution are examined beginning with the historical background and development of ideas that resulted in modern evolutionary theory. Topiec covered include evolutionary theory before Darwin, Charles Darwin and the theory of natural selection, the evolutionary synthesis, principles of systematic biology, processes at the population level, concepts of fitness and adaptation, modes of speciation, evolutionary rates and trends, and opposition to evolutionary theory.
Spring, 3 Credits
BIOL 331* Ecology: Two hours lecture, three hours laboratory. A course in the principles of ecology and the interaction of organisms with their physical environment. These principles are applied to a research project involving local plant-animal communities.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses and Junior or Senior status.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
BIOL 341 (MS 341*) Marine Ecology: Three hours of lecture, one three-hour laboratory period. An introduction to modern quantitative research techniques involving sampling, describing and relating conservation principles to the study of marine organisms and their environment.
Prerequisites: Any two courses from BIOL 201, 207, or 221.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall/Summer, 4 Credits
BIOL 342* Ethology: Three hours of lecture. A comparative study of animal behavior, asking questions about ultimate causation (adaptive significance of behavior from the perspective of ecology and evolution) and proximate causation (how genetic, developmental, endocrine and neural sensory mechanisms are responsible for behavior).
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses and Junior or Senior status.
Spring, 3 Credits
BIOL 344 (MS 344*) Marine Mammals: Three hours lecture/discussion/field trip. This course will explore the world of marine mammals with particular attention to their physiological adaptations to ocean living.
Prerequisites: BIOL 101 or 102 and either BIOL 206 or 321.
Field trip fee: $35.00.
Spring, 3 Credits
BIOL 400 Independent Study: A student may enroll in an independent course of study under the direction of a Biology faculty member. Usually, the project will focus upon a particular area of research necessitating laboratory work and library research. Course requirements, goals, and grading must be arranged with the instructor prior to course registration. Also, the student must secure permission from his/her advisor and the division director.
Every Semester, 1 to 4 Credits
BIOL 440 Cooperative Education in Biology: Students interested in Cooperative Education should meet with the Cooperative Education staff as well as with their advisors.
Every Semester, 1 to 6 Credits
BIOL 490 Internship in Biology: Students should discuss interests in Internship with their advisors.
Every Semester, 16 Credits *May be used to partially fulfill Core Requirements.