Program Description
Biology is concerned with the workings of life in all its varied forms. Over the past few decades, the life sciences have been revolutionized by the development of molecular, cellular, genomic, and bioinformatics techniques that are now being utilized to study fundamental processes in organisms as well as applying this information to improve human health, enhance rational management of our environment, develop forensic science, and augment the production of renewable energy with the concomitant sequestering of pollutants, as well as approach ethical and legal issues that impinge on biological discoveries and their applications. The Biology curriculum aims to produce scientists with inquisitive minds who are self-reliant and who seek high quality of information about how the natural world works.
Building on the foundational science courses in chemistry, physics, biology, students in the Biology major learn to use the contemporary tools and approaches that are available to solve problems in areas of the current life sciences. In developing the major, we are first focusing on covering the essential “pillars of biological concepts”: molecular and cellular biology, genetics, and evolution. We also ensure that students are trained in modern methods of quantitative and computational analysis. The major is structured so that students can take a diversity of upper-level courses upon completion of the core courses. These intermediate and advanced courses provide a broad and intensive background in modern biology for those interested in careers in research, health-related fields, biotechnology, and education, among others. The biology major allows students to pursue independent research that could lead to an undergraduate thesis.
The Biology program at NYU Shanghai has strong interactive ties with the Department of Biology and the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology at NYU in New York, and the Biology program at NYU Abu Dhabi, as well as with other laboratories across NYU’s global network.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, students will display:
- Demonstrate an understanding of core knowledge in the biological sciences, particularly the concepts and mechanisms underlying how cells work, how heredity and evolution work, and how multicellular organisms develop, function and reproduce. This corresponds to Bloom Levels 1 and 2.
- Use and apply these concepts and knowledge to new situations or datasets to solve problems. This corresponds to Bloom level 3.
- Analyze data (e.g. from experiments or observations) and synthesize or construct models (hypotheses) to explain how a biological system works. Students will also be able to demonstrate facility at experimental design and analysis using the scientific method by generating ways of testing predictions from hypotheses and critically determining what would remain untested. This objective corresponds to Bloom Level 4 in the “New Bloom’s Taxonomy” (levels 4 & 5 in the “Old Bloom’s Taxonomy”).
- Create their own scientific works, critically evaluate their own works—as well as those of their peers and works from the current literature—and effectively communicate these evaluations in spoken and written form. This objective corresponds to Bloom Levels 5 & 6.
- Demonstrate a basic spectrum of technical skills commonly used in modern biological sciences, such as micropipetting, performing biological reactions, running electrophoretic gels and culturing bacterial or other cells.
- Demonstrate literacy in statistics and an ability to conduct relevant statistical tests, literacy in basic calculus, and optimally some literacy in bioinformatics.
Policies
Prerequisite Course for Declaring a Major
Final grade of C/ current semester midterm grade of B or higher in Foundations of Biology I.
Double Major Guidelines
Biology and Data Science Double Major GuidelinesStudents who are interested in pursuing a Data Science major along with a Biology major, a Business major, an Economics major, a Mathematics major, a Neural Science major or a Social Science major have the option to double-count more than two courses between the majors. To complete both majors successfully, students would need to complete the course requirements for both majors. However, the following courses are allowed to be double-counted toward both majors:
Biology and Data Science (Concentration in Genomics)
Note: Students who take Linear Algebra and Probability and Statistics are not allowed to take the lower level Math Tools for Life Science course. If you have not decided yet to pursue a double major and take Math Tools for Life Science first, you are required to take Linear Algebra and Probability and Statistics.
Biology and Neural Science Double Major
Students can not double major in Biology and Neural Science.
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
NYU Shanghai Policies
Additional academic policies can be found on the NYU Shanghai Academic Policies page.