Biological science is a comprehensive field of biology that prepares students for a variety of careers in human health, environmental science, conservation, and plant and animal biology. Students in biological sciences earn degrees in medical and biomedical fields, continue as conservation or wildlife biologists, and are well prepared for graduate school in biology. The program provides firsthand experience in biological research and focuses on student experience and interests. This represents an exciting, rewarding area of sciences, which requires an especially strong academic background and an ability to think both analytically and comprehensively. This option provides an excellent foundation for a variety of careers. Our students continue on for careers as medical doctors, optometrists, dentists, genetic counselors, state and federal wildlife biologists, naturalists, wildlife rehabilitators, directors of zoological parks, conservation biologists, environmental consultants, teachers and researchers. It also leaves a student well-prepared to continue into graduate degree programs that require a solid background in the biological sciences. In fact, most professional scientists can anticipate graduate education as being essential for career advancement.
With its many areas of emphasis, the program integrates studies in zoology, botany, and biological sciences and offers students the flexibility to customize their field of study to align course selection with educational and professional goals. The program integrates broad-based biology foundation classes with specializations, such as biomedical science or conservation biology in later years. With appropriate course selection, the biological sciences degree also can provide a broad understanding of the complex relationship between the living and nonliving world. Students will be able to choose a research-based course in biology that focuses on antibiotics, wildlife ecology and conservation, STEM education, or genomics. Students planning to enter a health-professional program, such as medical school, should refer to the plan of study for pre-professional programs.
