General Information
The program options in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences provide students with the background required to succeed in a wide variety of fields such as cell and molecular biology, medicine, environmental science, and education. A core of science courses provides a solid foundation in biology while electives allow students to pursue their special interests. In addition, all biology majors do independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor during their senior year.

For Biology majors, the Professional Option prepares students planning to move on to graduate or professional school (e.g. medical school), or who plan to work in an entry-level biology position (e.g. research technician). The Bioscience Option is for students not planning to continue further biology education, but who still wish to have a general biology background. The Ecology Option prepares students for graduate school and/or careers in ecology and environmental science.

Students looking to careers as an elementary or secondary school teacher, with a background in biological sciences, have several options available.

Students who earn 18 or more credit hours in select department courses can earn a Minor in Biology.

All degree programs require the completion of required courses, general education requirements, and additional free electives to total a minimum of 122 semester hours, including physical education and foreign language. Students should contact their academic advisor about meeting these requirements. Downloadable program planning sheets may be found at the Forms webpage. Descriptions of undergraduate biology courses are available online.