Biology

The Biology Program provides academic experiences in the life sciences that meet a variety of student needs. The courses offered cover a broad range of subjects from General Biology, Biostatistics and Genetics, which all majors must take, to Organismic Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Ecology. The program of study fulfills the academic requirements for admission to medical, dental and related professional schools and also prepares students for graduate studies (M.S. or Ph.D.) in all areas of Biology.

The program also provides non-science majors with an understanding of biological concepts and the importance of biological discoveries to the solution of social and environmental problems.

Biotechnology

The Biotechnology Program is an interdisciplinary major designed to provide academic, laboratory and research experiences to students with career interests in the biomedical sciences. The program serves as preparation for the pursuit of graduate degrees in biotechnology, molecular genetics, molecular biology, cellular biology, biochemistry and other related fields. It provides a strong academic program for students interested in further studies leading to careers in the medical professions. Graduates with the bachelors degree may also seek jobs on the technician level in areas such as pharmaceutical, hospital and academic research laboratories.

The Biotechnology major incorporates general courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, with upper level instruction in Biochemistry, Genetics and Biotechnology. The course of study emphasizes the structure, function and relationships of DNA, RNA and proteins in the regulation of gene expression. Methods used in teaching and research laboratories incorporate instruction and training on modern equipment employed in Biotechnology for processes such as gene cloning, DNA sequencing and RNA processing, with application to the improved analysis, diagnosis and treatment of inherited and acquired human diseases.

The Chemistry Program has three principal objectives:

1. to prepare chemistry majors for careers in chemistry or related areas such as medicine, dentistry or the health professions;
2. to provide students in other disciplines with the required chemistry courses for their programs; and
3. to provide non-science majors with an opportunity to acquire knowledge of our natural and technological environment as explained through chemical principles.

The chemistry major provides the student with a sound foundation in the theoretical and experimental principles of chemistry. The course of study includes the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, physical chemistry and biochemistry. The major prepares students for advanced study in graduate school, professional programs in medicine and dentistry, and careers in teaching, industry, and government that require a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.

Geology is a dynamic discipline, intimately related to the proper management of earth resources and the human environment. The program prepares the student to function upon graduation as a professional geologist, or to continue studies on the graduate level. In addition, geology majors may prepare for careers as high-school science teachers or as specialists in the field of environmental protection. Knowledge of the earth has assumed critical importance because of the imminent depletion of many natural resources and the rapid deterioration of the physical environment. Demand for fossil fuels, metals and industrial minerals, and the development of alternative sources of energy; have opened excellent job opportunities for graduates with a Geology degree. In addition, Federal and State environmental regulations are requiring more geological information than ever before. Oil and mining companies, consulting firms, federal, state and city agencies employ our graduates at present. The objectives of the geology curriculum are to provide the student with a scientific understanding of earth materials, their properties, arrangement and distribution, as well as the dynamic processes that affect them; the historical dimension of the earth and its inhabitants, the evolutionary processes that shaped them; the geologists role in the proper planning for use of earth resources and the maintenance of the quality of the environment.

The Department offers a major in Geology with Biology and Physics options.

Dr. Nazrul Khandaker, Geology Coordinator

Recommended Four Year Course Progression:

• Geology B.S. - Biology Track
• Geology B.S. - Physics Track

Physics

The physics discipline, in its desire to serve both the general academic community and the community of science and engineering majors, has the following interrelated and complementary objectives:

1. Liberal Education of the Students;
2. Professional Career Education;
3. Research and Independent Inquiry; and
4. Public and Community Service.

Through a choice of courses and major, physics students can prepare for graduate study in astronomy, physics, professional schools of medicine, dentistry, and engineering, or for career placement upon attainment of the baccalaureate degree. The physics program prepares students in allied fields of science with the background to grasp the underlying physical principles of their disciplines and to fulfill professional requirements. The physics discipline prepares pre-engineering students for transfer into the professional levels of baccalaureate engineering schools.

In public and community service, some of the disciplines specific aims are:

1. To upgrade the physics curriculum in the high schools.
2. To improve the high school physics instruction of disadvantaged students.
3. To make quality education in the sciences accessible to high-ability female, minority and disadvantaged students, and
4. To improve the quality of life through the monitoring and investigation of our physical environment.

The Department offers a major in Physics, a minor in Astronomy, a minor in Physics, and the Pre-Engineering Special Program.

Dr. Timothy Paglione, Astronomy Coordinator

Dr. Samuel Borenstein, Physics Coordinator

Drs. Kevin Lynch and James Popp, Pre-Engineering Coordinators

Recommended Four Year Course Progression:

• Physics B.S.

Environmental Health Science

The Environmental Health Science Program is designed for students with a special interest in improving the quality of man’s physical environment.

Students will be prepared for careers in industrial, governmental, health care, urban affairs, and educational agencies concerned with environmental health, occupational health, public health, and community interaction.

As professional technologists students will be prepared to assist in the conduct of comprehensive environmental control programs. They will have acquired skills in laboratory and field procedures from the analysis of water, food and air pollutants.

The Department offers a major in Environmental Health Science, and a minor in Environmental Science.

Dr. Ratan Dhar, EHS Coordinator

Majoring in English provides students with well-honed reading, writing, and speaking skills, deep knowledge of the Humanities, and experiences in problem solving, all tremendously valuable in today’s global job market. Through close reading and study, English majors explore a variety of classic and contemporary literature and learn to articulate ideas clearly and convincingly.  Read more about our majors and minors.

Journalism majors and minors gain the knowledge, skills, and techniques needed to compete for positions in print, broadcast, and online media. They have the opportunity to work on a variety of college-based multimedia, including Pandora’s Box, the York College newspaper, and to gain real-world experience through fieldwork in news writing, reporting, and broadcast journalism. Read more about the Journalism Program.

Our English and Journalism faculty hail from near (New York City) and far (Australia, Canada, China, and Jamaica) and hold Ph.D. and M.A. degrees. They are equally dedicated to advancing knowledge in their fields and to working closely with students to engage them academically. Read more about our faculty.

The Department of English also administers the Writing Program, which oversees the Writing 300 courses, and works with the Writing Fellows and Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC), as well as the Writing Center.  Read more about the Writing Program.

• prepare students to understand, read, speak and write a second language;
• give them an understanding and appreciation of the literature and civilization particular to that language;
• provide them with a comparative element that will enable them to improve communication skills in their own language.

The department offers courses in a variety of languages, interdisciplinary courses in the Humanities, courses in English as a Second Language and in Puerto Rican Studies, with majors in French and Spanish and minors in French, Italian Studies, Latin American Studies, Puerto Rican Studies, Spanish, Women's Studies and World Literature. The instructional program is enhanced by a state of the art digital Language Laboratory and web supported materials. Annual events sponsored by the department helping to reinforce the instructional program are poetry contests, student journals, international film festivals, conferences and colloquia,designed not only to enhance the academic program but also to involve high school of the Queens area and the Jamaica community.

Note:  If it is determined that a student is too advanced for a specific language course after observation in the classroom by the instructor, the student may be requested to change to a higher level course.

Surveys indicate that graduates who can demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language expand their career opportunities. To help students prove achievement in their foreign language studies, the Department grants a Citation of Achievement in French, Italian or Spanish, which can be presented to prospective employers. An intermediate proficiency citation will be offered to students completing 10-14 credits in foreign language with a B average in those courses. Intermediate Proficiency (Credits 10-14)
Required Courses to be chosen from the following:

• French — French 101*, 102, 105, 106 or 213.
• Italian — Italian 101*, 102, 105, 106 or 230.
• Spanish — Spanish 101*, 102, 105, 106

*This course may be waived if the student is qualified to pass an exemption examination.

Foreign Language Literature Courses Offered in English

These courses also are open to all students.

• French 221 (French Literature from the Middle Ages to the Revolution in Translation),
• World Literature 201: The Literature of the Western World through The Renaissance
• World Literature 210 (Modern French Literature in Translation),
• Humanities 204 (Ibsen and Strindberg),
• World Literature 211 (Italian Theatre in Translation),
• Italian 353 (Italian Culture and Civilization), Italian 356 (A Major Italian Author in Translation),
• World Literature 212 (Masterpieces of Spanish Literature in Translation),
• World Literature 206 (Introduction to the Literature of the Caribbean),
• World Literature 205 (Introduction to Francophone Literature),
• World Literature 207 (Introduction to the Literature of Latin America)

For more information about our programs please click on the appropriate link under programs and courses.

Department Chair
Dr. Martin Atangana

The degree programs in Computer Science and Information Systems Management are described under those headings. The objectives of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Studies are threefold:

• To prepare students for professional careers in mathematics, and computer studies;
• To satisfy the mathematical needs of students majoring in other disciplines; and
• To help all students develop or review basic mathematical skills and understanding.

The Department seeks to achieve these objectives through its course offerings, and a variety of supplemental learning resources.