SUNY transfer paths outline the knowledge and skills that are essential for students to complete during their first sixty credits of study for a major in a specific discipline. The coursework described below will meet degree requirements at all SUNY campuses offering majors in the above discipline. If you complete this coursework successfully, you will be well-positioned to finish your degree with an additional two years of full-time study at your intended SUNY transfer campus.
Use this transfer path to discover both courses related to your major and general education requirements that will prepare you for transfer. Click on each course to view a course description.
The courses below are specifically related to your field of study and are part of the requirements for graduation in your intended transfer major. This transfer path suggests you pursue these courses within your first sixty credits of study. Sixty credits can generally be achieved with two years of full-time study.
In consultation with your advisor, choose a minimum of 5 courses from the list below. The selections should be made on both your interests and the specific requirements of the biology program into which you want to transfer.
Use our Transfer Path Planner to view courses you may pursue at any of our SUNY campuses.
Select a CampusThere may be additional courses in your major which would transfer, or courses which could be substituted for one of the above. These may be established on a case-by-case basis. Please see an advisor at your transfer campus to explore those options.
The Introductory and Intermediate courses listed in the Lower Division Major Requirements section are specifically related to your field of study and are part of the requirements for graduation in your baccalaureate major. You must complete all Introductory as well as five courses under the Intermediate courses list. Completing only the Introductory courses will probably allow you to graduate with the equivalent of a BA in Biology in two or three more years, but probably not with a BS (depending on the transfer campus’ major program tracks). Generally, the appropriate selection of Intermediate courses should allow you to graduate with a biology baccalaureate in two additional years.
Check with your receiving campus for specific recommendations for their biology tracks. BS degree programs may require a year each of Calculus, Organic Chemistry and University Physics (calculus based). BA degree programs may require fewer cognates.
Intermediate level courses have prerequisites: Biology courses may require a year of General Biology (or equivalent); Organic Chemistry requires a year of General Chemistry (or equivalent); and University Physics requires a year of Calculus. Statistics and Calculus have specific math placement pre-requisites (see your advisor).
Unless otherwise noted, courses that include online labs are not currently guaranteed for transfer across all campuses. Those courses and their online labs may be evaluated for transfer on a case-by-case basis by the receiving campus. Check with your advisor to see what restrictions and options may apply.
General Biology I & II should be taken at the same institution (consult your receiving campus).
There may be additional courses in your major which would transfer, or courses which could be substituted for one of the above. These may be established on a case-by-case basis. Please see an advisor at your intended SUNY transfer campus to explore those options.
All SUNY students are required to complete SUNY General Education requirements. The following are the SUNY General Education Framework requirements that effective starting in fall 2023. General Education courses are related to key academic disciplines and may be outside your field of study. The SUNY General Education Framework includes ten knowledge and skills areas and up to three core competencies.
The SUNY General Education Framework is effective fall 2023, for new first-time students entering AA-, AS-, and baccalaureate-degree programs; and effective fall of 2024, for new first-time students entering AAS- and AOS-degree programs. (The complete policy is also available online)
A minimum of 7 of 10 categories of knowledge and skills are required for AA, AS, and all baccalaureate-degree programs.
The following four knowledge and skills areas are required for all undergraduate degree programs:
1. Communication – Written and Oral
2. Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
3. Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning)
4. Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning)
A minimum of three of the following six are required for AA, AS, and all baccalaureate degree programs.
1. Humanities
2. Social Sciences
3. The Arts
4. US History and Civic Engagement
5. World History and Global Awareness
6. World Languages
The following Core Competencies are required for all undergraduate programs beginning fall 2023.
1. Critical Thinking and Reasoning
2. Information Literacy
The following Core Competency is also required for all undergraduate programs beginning fall 2026.
3. Civic Discourse
General Education requirements vary by campus and by major. However, if you satisfy the SUNY General Education requirement at one campus with a grade of C or higher, you will have met that SUNY General Education requirement at every other SUNY campus. Students are always encouraged to speak with their current academic advisor and are also encouraged to speak with an advisor or admissions representative at their intended campus prior to or during the admissions process. (Learn More)
If you began a SUNY program before fall 2023, your general education requirements may differ. Students are encouraged to speak with an advisor or admissions representative at their intended campus for additional information. In addition, students may review the campus catalog to determine what general education areas are required, and the courses available within those areas.