The Biology Department offers programs
of courses and research leading to the
Master of Arts degree at Queens College.
Refer to the Bulletin of the Graduate School
for application, financial aid, and course
information for the PhD program.
Opportunities for specialization in applied
and basic research are included below in
the listing of the supervising faculty.
The Biology Department offers a variety of
graduate courses appropriate for master’s-level students in Education.
Students should meet with the Biology
Graduate Advisor for guidance in the se-
lection of Biology courses.
In addition to the program of courses
described below, students are encour-
aged to participate in the extensive re-
search programs of the Biology faculty.
Their research activities have recently
been funded by various agencies, includ-
ing the National Science Foundation,
National Institutes of Health, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, and a number
of private foundations, including the
American Cancer Society and American
Heart Association. Participation in
research is one of the best ways for stu-
dents to learn biology first-hand, and
to appreciate how scientific methodol-
ogy is used to answer important biologi-
cal questions. A description of current
faculty research can be found at
www.qc.cuny.edu/biology/faculty.
The department has excellent research
facilities for ecology, evolutionary, cell and
molecular biology, as well as well-equipped
research laboratories and core facilities.
Opportunities are enhanced by affiliation
with other city institutions and cooperative
efforts with other divisions of the City Univer-
sity and the American Museum of Nat-
ural History.
Requirements for Matriculation
These requirements are in addition to the
general requirements for admission.
1.Students are expected to have a
minimum of 20 credits in biology be-
yond the introductory level. Undergradu-
ate courses in physics, chemistry, and
mathematics are required. A course in
statistics is highly recommended.
2. The credentials of each applicant
will be examined by the departmental
admissions committee. This committee
may request an interview with a candi-
date for admission.
Requirements for the Master of Arts
Degree
These requirements are in addition to the
general requirements for the Master of
Arts degree.
1. Each student’s program will be ap-
proved by a supervising professor chosen
by the student with the approval of the
Graduate Advisor.
2. A minimum of either 24 graduate
course credits and 6 thesis credits, or 32
graduate course credits, is required. Stu-
dents who have taken a 300-level
Queens College biology course that is
also offered at the 600-level may not
take that 600-level course for credit. All
graduate students must take at least 10
credits of 700-level lecture courses. Fur-
thermore, the combination of 788 (Co-
operative Education Placement), 799
(Research), 791 (Colloquium), and 792
(Tutorial) may not exceed 12 credits.
3. Students may participate in two se-
mesters of Biology 791 (Colloquium),
one credit each semester.
4. Programs: Students must choose
one of the following degree options be-
fore completing 15 credits of 49 gradu-
ate courses.
A. Course Oriented. 32 course credits
chosen in consultation with the Graduate
Advisor. Students in this track are eligi-
ble to take Biology 788 (Cooperative Ed-
ucation Placement) and participate in the
Graduate Cooperative Education Pro-
gram. A student who takes the 32-
course-credit option will be given a
written or oral comprehensive examina-
tion based on the core courses and the
student’s area of concentration after at
least 24 course credits have been com-
pleted. Each student will be limited to
two attempts to pass this examination.
B.Research Oriented. Participation in
thesis research is subject to the approval
of a thesis advisor.
An oral examination shall be a re-
quirement of the research-oriented Biol-
ogy MA degree and shall be conducted
by an Examination Committee estab-
lished for each candidate. The Chair of
the Examination Committee shall be a
member of the Biology Department, cho-
sen by the candidate in consultation with
the Biology Department MA Advisor.
The remaining members of the Commit-
tee shall be chosen by the Committee
Chair in consultation with the candidate.
The content and nature of the oral exam-
ination shall be determined by the Chair
of the Examination Committee in con-
sultation with the student to be exam-
ined. Each student will be limited to two
attempts to pass this examination.
Cellular, Molecular, and Develop-
mental Biology. 24 credits chosen in con-
sultation with the thesis advisor, plus 6
credits of research under the direction of
athesis supervisor.
Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior.
24 course credits chosen in consultation
with the thesis advisor, plus 6 credits of
research under the direction of a thesis
supervisor.
Other Information
Arrangements may be made for students
to take courses for graduate credit in
other departments at Queens College or
within CUNY in order to fulfill particu-
lar career requirements (i.e., resource
management, environmental impact as-
says, etc.).
Faculty in the Department of Biology
at Queens College participate actively in
the CUNY PhD Program in Biology.
Arrangements can be made to transfer
graduate credits earned at Queens Col-
lege to the PhD Program at CUNY. Stu-
dents are encouraged to discuss their
long-range goals with the Master’s Pro-
gram Graduate Advisor as soon as possi-
ble.
The CUNY doctoral program in biol-
ogy is described in theBulletin of the
Graduate School.