Biology: Education

No. Because of the rigor of the program a combination of General Education courses and major-level courses is recommended. Students should contact the Program Coordinator as early as possible to plan their course of study.

Full-time students can complete the 120-credit degree program in four years.

Yes. You can take as little as one course per semester. The program is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate working adults and many students attend part-time. Day, night and weekend classes are available.

Yes, faculty are always ready to help students with questions about what courses to take, the sequencing of courses, and career opportunities, including internships and cooperative education.

A program that prepares students for careers in the life sciences, medicine and biomedical sciences, as well as teaching, graduate school, or medical school, where there is a strong need for integration of the biological and physical sciences will be prepared.

As early as your freshman year. If you’re considering it, contact the Chair or Program Directors as early as possible to plan courses.

Yes. The program will prepare you for both Master's and Doctorate level work. Additional courses in mathematics or physics may be required.

Because the curriculum is rigorous, the program is designed for people who can work across disciplines, among them Biology, Chemistry and the Biomedical Sciences.

General Education Requirements*: 60 Credits 
Major Concentration Core Courses: 36 Credits 
Major Elective: 6 Credits 
Open Electives: 18 Credits

Total: 120 Credits

Students who choose the major concentration in biology must complete all the biology core courses along with the courses in their track:*

* Students must complete MATH 116 (rather than MATH 115) as part of their General Education  requirements.

** See the academic sequence map for general education requirements

To complete major concentration, corequisite lab courses must be taken.

Students who have not taken Regents High School Biology and obtained a score of 75 or higher are advised to take BIOL 122 prior to BIOL 160.

There is a 15-credit residency requirement in the major concentration of biology that must be completed with courses numbered BIOL 230 and above. CHEM 354 may also be used to meet this requirement.

Students enrolling in natural science courses must earn at least a letter grade of C in all prerequisite courses. It is recommended that students be at the level of English 111 when enrolling in all natural science courses. Students in the biology major may not repeat a course more than once.

For a full curriculum listing visit our catalog.

Innovative curriculum that engages students in authentic classroom based research experiences and project-based learning.

Students engage in research with faculty in the areas of:

• Neuroscience - Mechanisms of neuroprotection from oxidative stress
• Genetics – Mechanisms of telomere regulation
• Cell and Molecular Biology - Regulation of the assembly of synaptic contacts
• Developmental Biology - Regulation of neural crest cell migration during development
• Computational Biochemistry - Development of fluorescent nucleic acid bases

Newly renovated teaching and research labs, including a dedicated cell culture facility and green house.

State-of-the-art equipment, including: DNA sequencer, HPLC machine, real-time PCR machine, in vivo microinjection and electroporation instruments, and fluorescence microscopes.

• Complete an internship with a research lab
• Enrichment programs through STEM
• Wide-range of courses and topics
• Prepares graduates to work or continue studying in many different fields

• Master the requisite core concepts and competencies necessary for biological literacy and practice.
• Be proficient and ethical in standard laboratory or field research including: use of standard instrumentation, performing routine calculations, maintaining laboratory notebooks, and interpreting experimental results.
• Access and understand the scientific literature, prepare and deliver clear and cogent presentations of experimental results, and obtain proficiency in scientific writing.
• Understand the impact of science on society and its application to community, global service, and sustainability.

Step Up to STEM

Each summer, faculty and students come together at Mercy University to work on authentic research projects in the Summer Research academy. This program is for STEM Scholars at WCC but is also open to Mercy students who are interested in gaining research experience. Summer research has many benefits for students: gaining hands on experience in STEM fields will aid in success in graduate school and other career pathways.  Go to our STEM Scholars page to learn more.

Download a copy of the sequence map for:

• B.S. Biology Education Track

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• 2022-2023 B.S. Biology Education Track
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• 2019 - 2020 B.S. Biology Education Track