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Other Opportunities
EFB Undergraduate Program

Many students enroll in an EFB degree program with the ultimate goal of a career in medicine, veterinary science, or other health professions.  Others are focused on a career in Science Education, or want to have the necessary qualifications as a back-up plan.  While these goals are very different, they share the fact that no formal undergraduate major exists, so students must take a more active role in planning their course selections. With the following guidelines, and the help of a specialized faculty advisor, this is simple to do.

Pre-health Professions

Either the Environmental Biology or Biotechnology majors will prepare students for admission to a variety of professional schools in health-related areas, including human and veterinary medicine. A rigorous foundation in the basic biological sciences, calculus, physics and organic chemistry is provided by the core requirements of these majors. Potential electives include certain benchmark courses that admissions committees of professional schools frequently look for, such as comparative vertebrate anatomy and animal physiology. Pre-veterinary students will find strong supporting courses and faculty interest in vertebrate biology, and pre-medical students can pursue such relevant elective subjects as microbiology and environmental toxicology. In addition, our students take advantage of Syracuse University’s broad array of relevant courses and the fine advising, counseling and resources of their Health Professions Advisory Program. Students can earn credit for a variety of internships, such as paid or volunteer work in clinics and other professional settings.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Scott Turner, Dr. James Nakas
Pre-Health Advising

Course suggestions: In addition to fulfilling the requirements for a BS in Environmental Biology, students should  have passed two semesters each of organic chemistry, calculus and physics. These courses are part of the core requirements in Biotechnology, but  and it is recommended that the physics sequence be PHY 211/221 and 212/222 (these are higher-level courses, based on a knowledge of calculus).  Further, students should distribute at least 19 of their upper division elective credit-hours in the manner described below.

Essential courses

• EFB 303 - Introductory Environmental Microbiology (4 cr) Fall
• EFB 385 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 cr) Spring
• EFB 462 - Animal Physiology: Ecological & Environmental (3 cr) Fall

Suggested Electives

The following elective courses are available at ESF or Syracuse University. Students should  take at least four courses from this list, the particular courses to be determined in consultation with the advisor.  (POI = permission of instructor)

Course #	Course Title	Credits	Prerequisites	Offered
EFB 420	Internship in EFB	3-5
EFB 440	Mycology	3	-	Fall
EFB 480	Principles of Animal Behavior	4	-	Spring
EFB 501	Introduction to Genetic Engineering	3	-	Spring
EFB 510	Health and Our Chemical Environment	3	-	Fall
EFB 561	Medical Entomology	3	EFB 352 Elements of Entomology	Spring (even)
FCH 530	Biochemistry I	3	2 sem organic chemistry	Fall
FCH 532	Biochemistry II	3	2 sem organic chemistry	Spring
ANT 431	Human Variation	3	-	yearly
ANT 432	Disease and Human Evolution	3	General Biology	yearly
ANT 433	Human Skeletal Anatomy	3	POI	yearly
ANT 455	Culture and AIDS	3	-	-
ANT 465	Medical Anthropology	3	POI	even
ANT 467	Culture and Mental Disorders	3	POI	even
BIO 462	Functional Animal Ecology	3	Animal Physiology	yearly
BIO 447	Immunology	3	Cell Biology, Genetics	yearly
BIO 501	Biology of Cancer	3	Cell Biology, 1 sem Organic Chemistry	yearly
BIO 503	Developmental Biology	3	-	Even
BIO 518	Endocrinology	3	Cell Biology, 1 sem Organic Chemistry	yearly
PSY 315	Drugs and Human Behavior	3	-	yearly
PSY 321	Introduction to Sensation and Perception	3	-	on demand
PSY 322	Human Information Processing	3	-	yearly
PSY 323	Brain and Behavior	3	Biopsychology or equiv, POI	yearly
PSY 324	Developmental Biopsychology	3	-	yearly
PSY 331	Laboratory in Sensation and Perception	2	Research methodology	on demand
PSY 332	Laboratory in Human Information Processing	2	Behavior, POI	yearly
PSY 333	Laboratory in Brain and Behavior	2	Biopsychology or equiv, POI	yearly
PSY 334	Laboratory in Developmental Biopsychology	2	-	yearly
PSY 422	Cognition of Left/Right Brain Function	3	Biopsychology or equiv, POI	yearly
PSY 423	Cognition of Left/Right Brain Function Laboratory	2	Biopsychology or equiv, POI	yearly
PSY 426	Cognitive Neurochemistry	3	Biopsychology or equiv, POI	irregular
REL 551	Ethics and the Health Professions	3	-	yearly
BEN 305	Engineering Analysis of Living Systems I	4	Gen Biol, Gen Chem, Calc, Gen Phys	yearly
BEN 306	Engineering Analysis of Living Systems II	4	BEN 305	yearly
BEN 310	Bioenergetics and Transport Phenomena	4	Gen Phys, Calc	irregular
BEN 465	Skeletomuscular Biomechanics	3	BEN 305, Calc, POI	yearly

Science Education (Biology and General Science Teaching, Grades 7-12)

Teaching in public schools, private schools, nature centers, and other educational institutions continues to be an important profession and source of employment for graduates of the ENB curriculum.  The current shortage of science teachers in middle and high schools has created a good job market in that area.

Students may qualify for provisional certification as teachers of general science and biology in grades 7-12 in public schools.  This program requires application and admission into a joint degree program between ESF and Syracuse University's School of Education, and Environmental Biology is the only appropriate EFB major.  This program, approved by the NYS Education Department, permits students to complete education courses, including student teaching, while enrolled full-time and charged state (ESF) tuition.  Since the program entails three core semesters of professional education classes, two of which include semesters devoted to student teaching, an extra semester or two maybe required to complete your program.  Also note that the three-semester set of core education classes must be completed in sequence and must be begun in the fall semester.

Paul Douglas Teaching Scholarships (federal) and the Empire State Challenger Scholarships (NYS) are available competitively to finance the education of those willing to commit to public school teaching following graduation.  Additional information, including an application, is available from:  Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry,  227 Bray Hall,  Syracuse, N.Y.  13210 (telephone (315) 470-6599).

Faculty Advisors

Dr. Thomas Horton serves as primary faculty advisor to ENB undergraduates interested in the joint science education program.  Andrew Saunders serves as the liaison between science education and environmental interpretation (see Environmental Interpretation elective concentration). Students contemplating pursuit of the Science Education program also should contact Dr. John Tillotson at Syracuse University (112 Heroy, 443-9137) as early as possible for further advising on SU science education course requirements.  Both Dr. Horton and Dr. Tillotson can provide you with a detailed information package on how to complete the Science Education program requirements and obtain provisional teaching certification.

Course Requirements

Courses typically taken prior to professional semesters (Candidacy and Student Teaching)

• EDU 207   (4 cr.)  Study of Teaching (includes classroom field placement)
• EDU 307   (4 cr.)  Principles of Learning in Inclusive Classrooms (includes classroom field placement)
• RED 346   (4 cr.)  Literacy Across the Curriculum (includes tutoring field experience)
• EDU 310   (3 cr.)  The American School

A course still under development covering topics such as identifying and reporting child abuse, alcohol, tobacco and drug use; and safety issues

• SED 340   (0 cr.) Participation in the Professional Development School
• (this is required for each of the three core semesters).
• WRT 205   To meet the additional literacy requirement.

Candidacy semester (spring only-typically junior year)

• SCE 413   (3 cr.)  Methods and Curriculum in Teaching Science
• SED 409   (3 cr.)  Adapting Instruction for Diverse Student Needs
• EDU 508   (3 cr.)  Student Teaching.   Half days for approximately 6 weeks.

Standard Student Teaching semester (fall only-typically senior year)

• EDU 508   (9 cr.)  Student Teaching.   Full days for a minimum of 10 weeks.
• SED 415   (3)  Teacher Development in Science

Additional Requirements

15 clock hours of volunteer science tutoring

Computer course  (3 cr.)  (emphasizes the use of technology in the classroom).

Science requirements: 30+  credit hours in the primary content area (i.e. biology), 15 credits hours in

the secondary content area (i.e. chemistry), and 6 credit hours each in two other science content areas (i.e. physics and geology)

Professional Portfolio.  Each student begins to develop a professional portfolio during the EDU 207 semester.

Other Requirements and Suggestions

1. Science Education is a dual program between Syracuse University and ESF.  Students apply to this program through the Dean of Instruction (Dr. Dudley Raynal, 227 Bray Hall).  Refer to the current ESF Catalog for changes in admission procedures - listed under "Special Opportunities; Coordinated Programs with Syracuse University". Freshman entrants must complete at least one year at ESF and earn a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or better; transfer students must have either a 3.0 average at their prior college or take at least one semester at ESF and earn a 2.8 GPA.
2. Several students at ESF participate in this joint program. If you are in EFB, you must complete all requirements of that curriculum. Since education requirements will be taken in addition, at least one extra semester is necessary.
3. Our own faculty develops program requirements for Biology. Your advisor will notify you of any changes. The State of New York may also change requirements for provisional and permanent certification for high school teachers. The EFB coordinator and our Syracuse University School of Education representative will keep all students enrolled in the program advised.
4. Recognize that you are moving toward a vocation in Science Education. Even though you have majored in Biology, you may be asked to teach high school chemistry.  Working teachers often advise science education students to take a full two years of college chemistry, so as to avoid embarrassing problems on the job, or to use for certification in a second area.
5. During your program tenure, SU's School of Education and its Director of Science Teaching will call one or more meetings to explain changes in State requirements and answer questions about scheduling and concerns. These meetings are considered essential for your education.