Bachelor of Science in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Stony Brook University SUNY

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biology at Stony Brook University provides a rigorous foundation in the biological sciences, supported by chemistry, mathematics and physics, while allowing students to develop deeper expertise through one of six specializations: Developmental Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Environmental Biology, Interdisciplinary Biology, Neuroscience, or Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics. It is well suited to students planning graduate study, health-science careers, or technical careers in biotechnology, research and government, with inquiry-based laboratory work and opportunities for faculty-mentored research integrated into the academic experience.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their scientific foundation through courses such as BIO 201: Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems, CHE 131: General Chemistry IB, and MAT 125: Calculus A or an approved calculus alternative. The curriculum also begins scientific inquiry and laboratory development through the introductory biology sequence and associated chemistry laboratories.

Second Year: Students progress into BIO 202: Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology, BIO 203: Fundamentals of Biology: Cellular and Organ Physiology, and CHE 321: Organic Chemistry I, building a stronger understanding of biological systems alongside chemistry and quantitative science. Students also begin the BIO 204: Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I sequence, developing skills in scientific investigation and evidence-based analysis.

Third Year: The program moves toward advanced biological study through BIO 320: General Genetics, BIO 310: Cell Biology, and specialization-specific upper-division courses. Students continue scientific inquiry through BIO 205: Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences II or BIO 207, while completing required physics and additional advanced biology coursework.

Fourth Year: Students complete the B.S. through advanced courses and laboratories selected within their declared specialization, with options such as BIO 312: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, BIO 365: Biochemistry Laboratory, BIO 335: Neurobiology Lab, or other specialization-specific courses. The final year allows students to consolidate their biological knowledge while applying advanced laboratory, quantitative, research and scientific-communication skills.

Focus Areas

Specializations: Developmental Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Environmental Biology, Interdisciplinary Biology, Neuroscience, and Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics. Students must declare exactly one specialization before completing the B.S.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to use scientific observation, hypothesis development, measurement, data collection, experimentation and data analysis to investigate biological questions; interpret scientific evidence; and apply concepts and models to understand the natural world. The program's inquiry-based laboratory curriculum also develops practical skills in data collection, primary scientific literature analysis and student-designed experiments.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The official Stony Brook University Biology B.S. pages and Undergraduate Bulletin reviewed for this program do not state a specialized professional accreditation for the Biology B.S.; therefore, no program-specific accreditation is listed here. The curriculum is designed for progression into graduate biological and health sciences and technical careers in biotechnology, research and government.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Stony Brook University reports a QS World University Ranking of 468 globally and 68 in the United States for 2026; this is a university-level ranking rather than a specific ranking of the Biology B.S.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the B.S. in Biology at Stony Brook University gain practical experience through inquiry-based laboratory courses, faculty-mentored research, internships and independent scientific projects. The program’s Biology Learning Laboratories (BLL) contain 15 instructional laboratories equipped with research-grade equipment, while students can also connect with research laboratories in the Centers for Molecular Medicine, Life Sciences departments and the School of Medicine.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Inquiry-Based Laboratories: Students complete a two-semester inquiry-based laboratory sequence where they collect and analyze data, work with primary scientific literature and develop student-designed experiments rather than simply following predetermined procedures.
Biology Learning Laboratories: The Biology Learning Laboratories (BLL) provide 15 instructional laboratories with research-grade equipment and fully equipped support facilities for undergraduate biology teaching and experimentation.
Faculty Research: Students can work one-on-one with faculty and research scientists on projects spanning areas such as cancer biology, infectious diseases, evolutionary genomics and neurobiology.
Research for Credit: Students can undertake independent research through courses such as BIO 486, BIO 487 and BIO 489, with qualifying research potentially substituting for an upper-division Biology laboratory requirement.
Research Facilities: Undergraduate researchers can access the broader life-science research environment around the Centers for Molecular Medicine, Life Sciences buildings and Renaissance School of Medicine, including specialized microscopy, genomics, sequencing and mass-spectrometry resources.
Internships: BIO 488: Internship in Biological Sciences provides academic credit for career-focused experiences such as laboratory assistance, scientific writing, environmental-contaminant research, medical assisting and clinical or healthcare shadowing.
Undergraduate Research Support: URECA (Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities) provides research opportunities, competitive summer awards, travel awards for conferences and an annual campus-wide undergraduate research symposium.
Field & Ecology Research: Students interested in ecology and evolution can pursue laboratory or field research, including opportunities involving animal husbandry, wet-lab techniques and bioinformatics. Stony Brook also operates field research resources such as the Swan Pond Biological Station and Flax Pond Salt Marsh Preserve and Laboratory.
Bioinformatics & Computational Work: The Biology B.S. includes a Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics specialization, and research opportunities can involve bioinformatics alongside laboratory work.
Scientific Presentation: Students conducting independent research can prepare written and oral reports and present their findings at the annual Stony Brook undergraduate research symposium, with opportunities for advanced students to participate in regional and national scientific meetings.
External Research Connections: Biology students can benefit from Stony Brook’s research relationships with institutions including Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, expanding opportunities beyond the campus laboratory environment.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biology at Stony Brook University prepares graduates for scientific, healthcare, biotechnology, research, environmental, and other life-science pathways. The program's strong research environment and opportunities for internships, faculty-mentored research, and professional experience can help students build practical skills for employment or prepare for graduate and professional education.

Career roles: Medical Laboratory Technician, Health Communications Specialist, Research Scientist, Pharmaceutical Sales Representative.
Career development: Stony Brook combines dedicated career support with structured experiential opportunities, allowing Biology students to connect academic preparation with employers, internships, research, and further education:
Career services: The Stony Brook Career Center helps students prepare for internships, employment, and further education and connects hiring organizations with Stony Brook students and alumni. Students can also use Handshake to find life-science jobs and internship opportunities.
Internship opportunities: BIO 488: Internship in Biological Sciences allows students to earn academic credit for career-focused experiences, including medical assisting, medical scribing, clinical shadowing, environmental work, scientific writing, and laboratory internships.
Industry and research connections: Biology students have gained research experience with organizations including Stony Brook Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Research support: URECA provides competitive summer awards for faculty-mentored research, travel awards for conference presentations, and an annual university-wide research symposium. The Biology department also offers the Explorations in STEM Program, including summer stipend support and career-development programming.
Specialized research opportunities: Students can participate in Stony Brook iGEM, a student-led synthetic-biology research project with faculty guidance, institutional facilities, and support from iGEM sponsors.
Employment outcomes: Stony Brook reports that nearly 95% of graduates are employed or attend professional or graduate school; Biology's official career page lists employers such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Northwell Health, CityMD, CVS Pharmacy, and Quest Diagnostics.
Salary information: The official Biology program page does not publish a specific salary figure for B.S. Biology graduates, so a program-specific salary should not be assumed. Stony Brook does publish earnings data for some graduate programs, but those figures are not directly representative of this bachelor's program.
Accreditation value: The official Biology B.S. pages reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation for the Biology bachelor's degree; therefore, no program-specific accreditation should be assumed.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can enter life-science and healthcare employment or continue into professional and graduate education. Stony Brook specifically identifies careers ranging from research and laboratory work to healthcare communication and pharmaceutical sales.

Further Academic Progression: Biology graduates can continue into graduate and professional programs in biological sciences, health sciences, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, and related fields. Stony Brook also offers a Biochemistry and Cell Biology M.S., designed for careers in research, teaching, biotechnology, or further advanced study in health and life sciences.