A Bachelor of Science degree in Biology can open the door to career opportunities in life sciences, biotechnology and medical professions. Some students use the degree as a stepping stone toward a graduate program leading to a Master’s or Ph.D. degree. Still others use the degree to qualify for acceptance into a professional school, such as dentistry, physical therapy and optometry. Our major prepares you well for success in a world with growing concerns over environmental and health issues. The structure of the degree requirements provides opportunities for students to customize to their interests by selecting among course electives from the zoological or plant sciences, ecology, microbiology, genetics, evolutionary and molecular biology, and biomedical sciences. Many of our faculty are engaged in basic and applied research and undergraduate students have many opportunities to obtain credit working in a lab with a biology faculty member.

Students with an interest in a major in Biology are required to complete coursework to satisfy the University Core Curriculum and one of the Biology degrees described on these pages. Our curricula have sufficient latitude that a student can select among course electives from the zoological sciences, plant sciences, ecology, microbiology, genetics, evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, and molecular biology. These electives will be selected in consultation with the students' undergraduate advisor.