Biology Major

You’ll explore how biological organisms function, discover the connections between biology, physics and chemistry, and build a foundation for a career in healthcare or research.

The major comes alive in our state-of-the-art lab facilities in NYSCAS’ new building at 3 Times Square. There, you’ll gain hands-on experience and work closely with professors who are invested in your success — all with supportive environment and small class sizes that NYSCAS is known for.

Prepare for a Satisfying Career

Most of our students are already thinking about what comes next — whether that's medical school, dental school, or programs that prepare them to be physician assistants, physical therapists, or occupational therapists.

With a bachelor’s degree in biology from NYSCAS, you’ll be prepared to:

• Continue toward an MD, DO, DDS, DPM, or other specialized health professional program, like PA, PT, OT.
• Pursue a graduate degree in areas like molecular biology or healthcare management.
• Enter the workforce in growing fields such as biotechnology, environmental conservation, or food science.

To help you stand out, you can take this major as an honors major.

Bio By The Numbers

Half our bio majors stay at Touro for grad school or professional studies.

You’ll never have more than 20 students in your lab class.

You can expect to spend over 30 hours a semester in our lab classes with a professor, not a TA.

Learn From Experts Who've Been Where You Are Now

NYSCAS’ biology professors are invested in your success and eager to help you gain the hands-on experience that’s in-demand for professional schools and future employers.

You’ll study with professors who are both MDs and PhDs. Their combined credentials, research and teaching experience make them excellent mentors. Don’t be shy about asking what they’ve learned from their own professional journeys. You'll gain valuable insights into what med school is really like, and what it takes to pursue a clinical or research career.

Faculty Spotlight

When you take a class with Prof. Babayan, you get a uniquely focused learning experience designed to set you up for success in medical or dental school. Prof. Babayan doesn't just teach; he strategically prepares you for high-stakes exams by:

• Breaking down complex biological processes into clear, memorable explanations.
• Highlighting exactly what you need to know by using color-coded slides. He’ll mark critical info, like how thyroid hormones impact metabolism and heart rate, so you’ll give it your full attention.
• Connecting scientific concepts to their use in medicine, like showing how iodine processing in thyroid cells relates to hyper- and hypothyroidism.
• Offering extra review sessions for the MCAT and DAT, for free, on his own time.

Prof. Babayan also is a pioneer in interactive learning. He uses virtual reality tools to explore anatomy in 3D and help you truly understand how biological systems work.

With his medical and research background (M.D., Ph.D., multiple fellowships at top universities), he knows exactly what future medical professionals need to learn. His classes are about understanding medical science in a way that will serve you throughout your professional career.

Your Path to a Career in the Health Sciences

As a bio major, you’ll start by understanding the fundamental processes of life. Each semester your coursework helps you level up, gaining the skills necessary to solve real-world problems in healthcare and biological research.

You’ll also get to study in spaces that many students wish they had in high school. The anatomy lab features glass walls, mounted TV monitors, and brand-new models on the bench tops that give you a professional learning environment from day one.

Along the way, you’ll find faculty and staff eager to help you choose a path that meets your goals:

• Our pre-health advisor offers advice to plan your coursework, prepare your applications, and develop material for the committee letters required by medical and dental schools.
• Your professors and career services staff will connect you with research opportunities in the biology department or with researchers at other Touro campuses.
• You can join faculty-led MCAT, DAT, and other exam review sessions to prepare for admission exams.

What You'll Learn (and When You'll Learn It)

The bio major unfolds within a four-year college program. But many of our students heading to medical and dental schools are able to finish their bachelor’s degree in less time, because NYSCAS offers multiple ways to streamline your education.

You can:

• Take summer courses to finish your prerequisites faster.
• Apply transfer credits from your studies at other accredited schools.
• Choose class formats (in-person or online) that best fit your schedule.

Here are the building blocks of the program:

First: Build your foundation

• Explore the basic principles of biology and chemistry.
• Develop essential lab skills and scientific thinking.
• Take core courses in general biology and chemistry.
• Start planning your pre-health path with guidance from our pre-health advisor.

Next: Deepen your knowledge

• Study advanced topics like anatomy, physiology, and organic chemistry.
• Choose electives that match your health career interests.
• Join the Pre-Health Sciences Club to participate in activities like organizing blood drives and inviting guest speakers to campus.
• Do internships or research projects.
• Prepare for and take medical, dental, graduate or professional exams.

Finally: Prepare for your future

• Complete your senior capstone course, focusing on an original research topic.
• Write a senior thesis in your field of interest.
• Present your work to department faculty.
• Work with NYSCAS’ pre-health advisor to develop strong committee letters and application materials for the next step in your education.
• Apply to and interview for medical, dental, graduate or professional programs.

Course Spotlight: Genetics with Lab

Ever wonder why some siblings look alike and others don’t? Or how COVID tests actually work? In this class you’ll get to answer these questions and more. It’s one of our most popular electives because it connects to so many things you hear about in the news — from DNA ancestry testing to new cancer treatments.

You'll get to:

• Learn about inheritance patterns that explain why you have the eye color you do.
• Discover how genes turn on and off, and why that matters for your health.
• Use the same techniques that forensic scientists use to solve crimes and that labs use to analyze DNA or run PCR tests (the technique used in COVID testing)
• Understand the science behind mRNA vaccines and modern medical breakthroughs.

In each lab session, you’ll gain research and scientific skills that are in demand for health professionals.

Pathways at Touro: A Fast Track to Graduate and Professional Schools

Four out of every five NYSCAS’ biology majors choose to continue at Touro for advanced professional and graduate degrees.  

Your biology coursework will meet many prerequisites for these programs, giving you a head start on your professional journey. And with our accelerated options you can apply to many of these grad programs after your third year at NYSCAS.

Touro Honors & Pathway Programs

These competitive programs offer a direct path to medical or dental school for motivated high school students. You apply for them along with your undergraduate application.

• In the Medical Honors Pathway you’ll earn a bachelor’s degree from NYSCAS and an MD from New York Medical College.
• In the Dental Honors Pathway you graduate with a NYSCAS bachelor’s degree and a DDS from with Touro College of Dental Medicine, and have the option to complete both degrees in four years.
• In the PharmD Fast Track with Touro College of Pharmacy, you earn your BS and PharmD in less time and at a lower cost.
• In the Integrated Osteopathic Honors Track with Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM), you'll get your bachelor's from NYSCAS and a DO medical degree from TouroCOM.
• In the Integrated Health Sciences Honors Track with the School of Health Sciences you can get your PA, PT, or OT degree.

Many of our students appreciate Touro’s supportive and friendly environment and want to stay within the Touro family. While there might not be formal pathways, NYSCAS graduates continue their studies at these Touro graduate & professional schools:

• Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (MS in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences, MS Pathologists’ Assistant)
• New York College of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)