Biology

Career Opportunities

Career Paths for Biology Majors

Graduates of our Biology program embark on many rewarding career choices, including:

• Industry Scientist
• Physical Therapist
• Physician
• Physician Assistant
• Research Scientist
• Pharmacist
• Veterinarian

Curious about internships and job placement after you graduate? Visit our Office of Career Services.

Courses and Requirements

The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree in biology. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).

Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.

Major Requirements

Complete one of the following senior capstone options:

BIO 460, BIO 460H, BIO 465, BIO 465H: Students choosing one of the 9-credit senior capstone options can take one less upper level Biology elective.

Biology Electives (take 6 electives)

Take six courses from the following courses listed below according to the following criteria:

• A minimum of three courses at the 300 or 400 level
• A minimum of three lab courses
• A maximum of two courses with the BIOCH, or ENV designation
• A maximum of one research course from BIO 362, BIO 365, BIOCH 362, BIOCH 365, ENV 362, ENV 365

BIO 203, BIO 210, BIO 217, BIO 222, BIO 310, BIO 312, BIO 313, BIO 314, BIO 315, BIO 322, BIO 326 BIO 330, BIO 335, BIO 362, BIO 365, BIO 425, BIOCH 327, BIOCH 345L, BIOCH 362, BIOCH 365, BIOCH 427, ENV 213, ENV 255, ENV 260, ENV 270, ENV 275, ENV 280, ENV 285, ENV 307, ENV 310, ENV 320, ENV 330, ENV 340, ENV 360, ENV 362, ENV 365, ENV 375, ENV 410, ENV 420, ENV 430.

Students can take either BIO 217 or BIOCH 327 but not both. Students can take BIO 322 or BIO 326 but not both.

Tracks and Minors

Minor

The minor in biology requires successful completion of a minimum of six courses and 18 credits with a BIO prefix. For biology courses with a separate lab co-requisite, both the lab and lecture for the course must be taken; however, the lab does not count as a separate course toward the minor. 

Courses ineligible for the biology minor include:

• BIO 104 The Human Body and Contemporary Health Issues
• BIO 211 Genetics and Society
• BIO 240 Nutrition

Please see the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences for further information regarding this minor. General guidelines regarding minors may be found in the Minors section of the catalog.

BS/MSF option

The BS/MFS option is available for students majoring in biology who wish to combine their bachelor’s coursework with work toward a Stevenson University master’s degree in forensic science. Students choosing this option may earn their master's degrees in as little as one year after their bachelor's degree. Interested students must formally apply for entrance into this BS/MFS option in their junior year. Once admitted into this program, students develop an educational plan in consultation with their undergraduate and graduate advisors. Please see the Forensic Sciences section of this catalog for more information.

BS/MAT option

The BS/MAT option is available for students majoring in biology who wish to combine their bachelor's coursework with work toward a Stevenson University master's degree in teaching. Please see Additional Enrollment Options in the Admissions section of this catalog for more information.

One Credit Learning Beyond and Service Learning Options

One credit Learning Beyond and service learning options are offered periodically with some biology courses. These one credit options will be listed and described in the course schedule each semester. Please consult the course instructor or the department chair if you have any questions.

Service-Learning Options

Service learning options are offered periodically with some biology courses. Please consult the course instructor or the department chair if you have any questions.

Biology Honors Requirements

Eligible students majoring in Biology may elect to pursue honors within the department of biological sciences. The intention to pursue Biology department honors must be declared no later than the end of the first semester of the junior year. To declare the intent to pursue departmental honors, a student must have earned a science GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Students graduating with Biology department honors will have this distinction noted on their official university transcript. In order to graduate with departmental honors, the following requirements must be met:

• Completion of a 400-level capstone experience with a grade of “B” or better
• Completion of BIO 440 Seminar Topics in Biology with a grade of “B” or better
• Completion of an Honors Contract Project in an upper-level biology course. A grade of “B” or better must be earned in the course in which an Honors Contract Project is completed. The student must submit a contract project proposal to be approved by department faculty before beginning the project. The final project must be approved by department faculty in order to receive honors credit.
• A science GPA of 3.50 or higher at the time of graduation