Biology

Dr. Charles Adair, Chair
Ward Hall
631.420.2175

The Biology Department offers a baccalaureate program in Bioscience designed to produce versatile graduates prepared for a wide range of positions in the rapidly developing bioscience field.  The Concentrations in this multi-disciplinary curriculum build on a strong Biology core and combine this with selected courses drawn from Chemistry, Business Administration, Computer Programming and Information Systems, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and/or Medical Laboratory Technology.

In addition to offering the Bioscience Program, the Biology Department also supports other programs at Farmingdale State by offering courses that are required for those curricula (either as prerequisites or as part of their curriculum displays), and also by offering a variety of elective courses.  All of these courses are classified as Arts & Sciences courses, and many of them fulfill the General Education Natural Science Core requirement. 

There are four professional concentrations available within the Bioscience Program, allowing the graduate to specialize in one of the following areas:

Bioinformatics:  The graduate is prepared to engage in the computer-based assembly, mapping, and comparison of genomic and other biologically-derived data, leading to applications such as predicting the function of gene products and developing pharmacogenomic treatments of disease.

Biopharmaceutical:  The graduate is trained in the basic principles of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical production management, ranging from fermentation and raw material extraction to processing and finishing, with emphasis on quality control, regulatory compliance issues, and support functions.

Bioscience Research:  A strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics, combined with advanced courses in cell and molecular biology, prepares the graduate for a significant role in support of basic and applied bioscience research, and also for advanced studies in the life sciences at the graduate or professional level.

Forensic DNA Technology:  A strong foundation in cell and molecular biology is combined with training in criminal justice, concluding with a capstone course in Forensic DNA Analysis, so that the graduate is qualified in the processing and analysis of DNA forensic evidence to produce validated results for use in judicial proceedings.

The bioscience industry in New York is concentrated in the Long Island region, with at least 60 companies employing over 8,000 workers, and the future growth of this industry will require increased availability of a trained workforce possessing the skills the Bioscience Program will impart.  The need for graduates of this program has been documented through industry surveys conducted by the New York Biotechnology Association and the Long Island Association, and is confirmed by employment data collected by the New York State Department of Labor.

A credit-bearing internship is offered to recommended students in the senior year that provides valuable work experience in a manufacturing or processing facility, clinical laboratory, forensic laboratory, research laboratory, or other bioscience-related institution.

Typical Employment Opportunities:
Clinical Data Specialist; Clinical Research Associate; Compounding Supervisor; Documentation Coordinator/Processor; Manufacturing Associate; Molecular Pathology Technologist; Process Development Associate; Production Planning Scheduler; Quality Assurance Auditor; Quality Control Analyst; Regulatory Affairs Specialist