The Biology Department offers a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Minor in Biology. The course requirements are structured to allow students to concentrate their study into one of three areas:
- A Pre-professional and Bio-Medical Science track prepares students for entry to medical school, dental school, pharmacy and other health care post-graduate education.
- A Biotechnology and Molecular Biology track emphasizes skills that will prepare students for research careers in the pharmaceutical, forensic, and biomedical sciences.
- A Environmental and Organismal Biology track focuses on coursework to prepare students for careers in the study, conservation and utilization of all forms of life and their environments.
Each of the tracks will provide students with the required background to succeed in professional studies (e.g. medical school), graduate studies leading to masters, and doctoral degrees and careers immediately after completion of their undergraduate studies.
Students majoring in biology are encouraged to acquire in-depth knowledge in related scientific disciplines or in other areas of study that use biology or contribute to biological methodologies. Biology students are thus encouraged to consider obtaining a minor in another area of study. The student's advisor will help plan such a program, which may be in disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences or in other divisions of the university.
The Biology Department also offers a concentration for an Associate of Arts as well as a Pre-professional Studies program in the Health Sciences.
Degree Requirements
Completion of a B.A. in biology requires 120 credit hours and a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. Completion of a B.S. in biology requires 127 credit hours. Any deficiencies in this preparation can be made up by taking Biology L100 and Chemistry C101/C121 along with a developmental math course.
For more information, visit the Biology page on the IU Northwest Bulletin.
