The mission of the Department of Biology is to produce high quality, professional, career-oriented graduates who wish to pursue careers in biology, applied biology, research, medical and paramedical fields as well as biologically related fields.

Department of Biology Goals

• To increase the participation of students with diverse educational, socio political, and cultural backgrounds in the biological sciences, in the professions of medicine, dentistry, research, teaching and other biology-related fields;
• To provide students with the essential knowledge and skills needed for career advancement and professional mobility;
• To provide knowledge of the role that modern biological science and technology play in society and to provide students with a sense of responsibility for their humanistic applications;
• To prepare students for leadership roles in their communities and to foster their personal growth and development;
• To enrich knowledge and experiences of residents of the community in the biological sciences; and
• To increase community awareness and interaction to further collaboration and advocacy to enhance support for students and programs in the biological sciences.

About the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology offers courses, which are designed for the student who wishes to pursue a career in biology and biology-related fields as well as for the student who desires some general knowledge of biology. The Department also offers courses to meet the degree requirements of programs in other departments of the College.

Two degree programs are offered within the Department of Biology:

• Associate of Science in Science
• Bachelor of Science in Biology

Many undergraduate research opportunities are available through the Biology Department.  Students are invited to participate in the research activities of the faculty as a means of enhancing their training in the sciences and to give them a firsthand experience of how new knowledge in science is obtained.  Department of Biology faculty has received research project support from various agencies, including: NIH, NIGMS, NSF, NYS Dept. of Education, Department of Defense and PSC/CUNY.

The department also collaborates with many other prestigious universities which provide research internships.  Students have interned at various institutions including Harvard University, UMASS at Amherst, University of Virginia and SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn.  Biology majors have also participated in fully funded international summer research programs including the University of Helsinki in Finland, the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and the National University of Singapore.

The Department offers special Transfer Opportunities into Allied Health Programs at SUNY/Downstate. Students who complete a prescribed course of study at MEC are granted preferred acceptance into four SUNY/Downstate degree programs: Physician Assistant Program, Physical Therapy Program, Diagnostic Medical Imaging Program, and Occupational Therapy Program.

Students wishing to attend medical, dental, veterinary, osteopathic, chiropractic or graduate school benefit from an expert that is available to Biology majors for personalized academic advisement, research internship placement and organization of MEC-MCAT study groups.  Biology majors are also invited to join and become officers of the Medgar Evers Science Association (MESA), sponsored by the Pre-professional committee.