Cell and Molecular Biology Major Resources

The Cell and Molecular Biology major is an in-depth exploration of the underlying chemistry and molecular biology in living cells. Students in this major are well-prepared for a variety of careers and graduate programs including PhD programs in the life sciences, medical school, and related professional degrees.

Here you will find:

● Key information about your major

● How and when to meet with your major advisor

● Planning tools that will help you track your progress in the major

● Ways to explore career opportunities related to the CMB major

Take a few moments to look at the information below. It will help you plan effectively and avoid surprises during your studies at John Jay.

CMB Requirements

Admission Requirements

Freshmen

To be admitted to the Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) major as a freshman, you must meet the following criteria:

Out-of-State Freshmen

High School academic average of 81 or higher AND

3 years of HS Math AND

3 years of HS Science AND

Have taken HS Chemistry course

In-State Freshmen

High School academic average of 81 or higher AND

3.5 units of HS Math AND

4 units of HS Science AND

Have taken HS Chemistry Regents OR HS Chemistry course

1. If you meet the above criteria and select CMB as your desired major on your admissions application, you will be approved for the CMB major. Your first chemistry and biology courses at John Jay will be determined by your math placement.

2. If you do not meet the above criteria, you will be defaulted to a Criminal Justice BS (CJBS) major, which you could change to another non-science major if you wish. If you still have a strong interest in the CMB major, you can try to achieve admission to the major by doing the following:

Register for a Life and Physical Science course in your first semester at John Jay (SCI 114, in-person lecture rather than on-line, is the preferred choice, or SCI 110 or 112).
Register for your math placement course.
Earn at least a 2.5 GPA in your math and science courses.
At the end of the term, after your grades have been posted, consult with the Science Department about whether you can declare the CMB major, or possibly consider a biology or chemistry minor.

3. If you did not apply for the CMB major but are interested in declaring it, at your freshman registration session you must express this interest. An academic advisor will give you a Referral Form to take to the Admissions Office, where they will evaluate your eligibility. If admitted, you will be allowed to register for the appropriate biology and chemistry courses. If not, see the steps above for students who do not currently meet the major's admission criteria.

Continuing Students

If you would like to switch to CMB from another major, consult with Dr. Jason Rauceo (jrauceo@jjay.cuny.edu) to discuss the feasibility of this switch and learn what you can do to put yourself in the strongest position for admission.

Transfer Students

In order to gain admission to CMB as a transfer student, you must have completed core science courses such as biology, chemistry, physics, algebra, or calculus at another college with a GPA of 2.5 or higher in these courses. If you don’t meet these admissions criteria, consult with Dr. Jason Rauceo (jrauceo@jjay.cuny.edu) to discuss your options.

Major Requirements

You are responsible for the major requirements that were in effect when you declared the major. To confirm the requirements you should be following, go to the Undergraduate Bulletin for that academic year. For example, if you declared the Cell and Molecular Biology major in Fall 2015 or Spring 2016, you would click on the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin. If you declared the major and then left the College for more than one full semester, you’re responsible for the major requirements in effect when you return, if they have changed. Not sure when you declared the major? Find out here.

Below, find the Undergraduate Bulletin that was in effect when you declared the major.

2019-2020 Undergraduate Bulletin - CMB
2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin - CMB
2017-2018 Undergraduate Bulletin - CMB
2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin - CMB
2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin - CMB

CMB Courses That Meet General Education Requirements

Each of the CMB courses below can count toward your major requirements and toward your General Education requirements.

Math & Quantitative Reasoning	Life and Physical Science	Scientific World
MAT 241	BIO 102 BIO 103 BIO 104 CHE 102 CHE 103 CHE 104 CHE 201 CHE 202 PHY 101 PHY 102 PHY 203 PHY 204	BIO 102 BIO 103 BIO 104 BIO/GEN 255 CHE 102 CHE 103 CHE 104 CHE 201 CHE 202 PHY 101 PHY 102 PHY 203 PHY 204

Note that a single course cannot meet both the Scientific World requirement and the Life and Physical Science requirement. You must meet these requirements with two separate courses.

Major Advising

Major Advising in Fall/Spring

Advisement is important and should not just be a visit to an office during registration. See your advisor at least once per semester. Also, if you are transferring course credits, make sure the correct course equivalencies are issued.

Dr. Jason Rauceo

CMB Major Coordinator

jrauceo@jjay.cuny.edu

Room 5.61.07 NB

Fall 2019 walk-in hours: Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Note: Dr. Jason Rauceo is currently advising for the CMB major in the absence of an official major advisor.

Major Advising in Summer/Winter

If CMB majors have any questions before June 30, they can email Dr. Jason Rauceo (jrauceo@jjay.cuny.edu). From July 1-August 20 there will be no advising for this major or for the Biology minor. Starting August 21, Dr. Rauceo will once again be available for advising. If students email him before that date, they can expect a response sometime after August 21.

Registration and Major Holds

Sophomores with 45-59 credits may have a major hold placed on their registration. The hold will be removed when they have a major advising appointment with Dr. Jason Rauceo. This discussion will encourage wise planning and allow students to ask any questions they may have about the major. How do you know if you have a major hold? Go to CUNYfirst and complete the following steps:

Check the Holds box of your CUNYfirst Student Center. If "Advisement Required" appears, click on “details.”

Click on “Advisement Required.”

See which type of advisement you need. If you must see a major advisor, then make a major advising appointment following the steps preferred by this department.

Plan Ahead: Graduate on Time

Avoid Course Planning Mistakes!

Planning ahead is vital to your success in the major. The following tips will ensure that you avoid issues during registration and graduation:

Take your prerequisite 100-level Math courses as early as possible (no later than your second semester in the major).

Be aware of major courses that are offered only in the fall or spring semesters (see chart below). Please note that course availability can change depending on student enrollment.

Services to Help You Succeed

Don’t fall behind in your coursework! If you need tutoring in Math and Science, help in writing lab reports, peer-study sessions, or other academic assistance, visit our Math and Science Resource Center (MSRC) at o1.94 NB or our Writing Center at 1.68 NB.

Monitor Your Progress in the Major

DegreeWorks degree audit - Use this online planning tool to track your overall progress toward graduation. You will see which of your general education and major requirements are completed, in progress, or still needed. Refer to the DegreeWorks FAQs to better understand how to use this helpful tool. Note: be sure to confirm the accuracy of your degree audit with a general advisor and major advisor.
CMB Major Checklist - Fill out this printable worksheet to keep track of which major requirements you have completed and which ones you still need.
Sample Four Year Plan - See our Sample Four Year Plan for students who placed into MAT 105 or our Sample Four Year Plan for students who placed into MAT 141 for an example of how you could complete all your degree requirements (major, general education, electives) and graduate in four years! Remember that each sample plan shows just one possible way to combine your requirements. Transfer students in particular should work with advisors to determine a plan that works best for them.

Meet with a General Academic Advisor

A General Academic Advisor will confirm what general academic requirements you still need, make suggestions about smart course planning that will help you graduate without delays, discuss your interest in adding a minor or second major, inform you about opportunities such as study abroad, discuss general questions and concerns, and make helpful referrals. Visit the Academic Advisement Center's webpage for more information.

CMB and Careers

Research Opportunities

Undergraduate research is critical for acceptance into graduate programs and preparation for the job market. We encourage students to seek research opportunities as early as the second year in the major. For information on getting involved in student research, explore our Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM) homepage.

Career and Internship Guidance

Visit our Pre-Health/Medical Careers Office for resources and tips concerning graduate school programs, summer research internships, and careers in science.

The Center for Career and Professional Development is another great resource for all questions related to job searches, internships, and career preparation. CCPD staff are available to meet individually with students and alumni in L72.00 New Building. To request a 45-minute counseling appointment, log on to John Jay Careers Online. 15-minute drop-in sessions are also available all day Mon-Fri. (Stop by in person earlier the same day to schedule a drop-in session.)