The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in biology is the liberal arts major program, appropriate for students planning a career in law, policy, or secondary school teaching. It requires math and chemistry only through Calculus I and introductory chemistry. Two semesters of introductory biology and eight upper- level courses are required. The upper-level courses include courses in specific areas, as well as elective courses in biology and related biological sciences.

Areas of Concentration As part of the biology major, you may elect to complete requirements in specified sub-disciplines in the biological sciences. Currently available areas of concentration in the biology major are: anatomy, physiology and biomechanics, animal behavior, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, genomics, marine biology, neurobiology, pharmacology, and plant biology. Completion of concentration requirements will result in a designation on the student's transcript. Research & Independent Study Options We encourage you to engage in independent study projects in areas of your interest. Most biology majors will do at least one or two semesters of research as part of their major. You can participate in state of the art research with world-class scientists in any one of the many of research labs in the University or the Medical Center (e.g, Cell Biology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, etc). Most students will start in their junior or senior year, although many begin earlier. You will likely do research as part of your regular course work, receiving grades and academic credit for the research. You may have your work published in the scientific literature and use your research as the basis for graduation with honors. Duke University Marine Lab Also available to students is the opportunity to study at the Duke Marine Lab. Located in Beaufort, N.C., the Marine Lab is a modern teaching and research facility in marine and estuarine biology which provides direct access to open ocean, estuaries, and coastal ecosystems. The campus includes modern laboratories, vessels for coastal studies, and the oceanographic vessels R/V Cape Hatteras and R/V Susan Hudson. The Marine Lab sponsors a variety of courses in the Summer, as well as a full semester program in the Fall and Spring.