Overview
The overarching goal of the Biology Department is to help students develop lifelong learning skills that will carry over into their professional lives, no matter what career they choose. The department believes that student-faculty interaction and independent learning are key to effective instruction. These approaches foster the development of independent observation, critical inquiry, problem-solving and communication skills.
Explore Biology Programs
Campus Facilities
Campus tools and facilities include molecular research laboratories, controlled-environment animal rooms, plant growth chambers, greenhouses and a tissue culture room. The Jewell and Arline Moss Settle Herbarium contains more than 14,000 specimens including algae, bryophytes, lycophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms and fungi, representing collections from central New York and Adirondack Park spanning from 1898–2015.
Biological Field Station
SUNY Oneonta’s 2,600-acre Biological Field Station on the shores of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown has 12 buildings housing laboratories, classrooms and research equipment. A well-equipped research vessel, electrofishing boat and several smaller boats provide access to bogs, marshes and ponds, and an upland forest, old field, conifer plantation, meadow and agricultural lands offer additional opportunities to learn and explore.
Preparation for Health Careers
Biology students interested in pursuing careers in health care receive specialized support from our Office of Health Careers.
Student Opportunities
Immerse yourself in field studies on and off campus, pursue research independently or in a faculty-led research lab, or join one of our many biology-related student clubs!
Contact the
Biology Department
122 Perna Science Building
108 Ravine Parkway
Oneonta, NY 13820
United States