Biology

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The mission of the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is to create quality educational experiences in all areas of biology and chemistry, especially those integral to the health of the population. The core principles of scientific inquiry and ethics serve to integrate coursework throughout the curriculum.

Students enrolled in the biology bachelor’s degree program can choose from four specialized educational tracks or pathways: Biochemical Analysis (BA), Pre-Professional Human Medicine (HMED), the Accelerated 3+2 Pathway to Physician Assistant Studies, or the Accelerated 3+3 Pathway to DPT Studies.

Through the multidisciplinary biology major, students will learn the fundamentals of biology, chemistry and physics as well as gain hands-on experience in laboratory settings. Depending on the educational track, students have the opportunity to take classes in subjects such as psychology, microbiology, instrumental analysis, human anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry, vocations in the life sciences, pathophysiology and forensics.

School
School of Arts & Sciences
Career
Chemical & Biochemical Industries Pursue graduate studies in the natural sciences or laboratory careers in academia, state and federal government, or several industries, including chemical, biochemical, pharmaceuticals, forensic science, healthcare, and energy. Biotechnology Pharmaceuticals Quality Control Laboratories Physician Assistant (PA) Prepare for graduate degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies. The track also opens the door to opportunities in the healthcare industry, laboratory clinics, and academia.
Program Contacts

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOLOGY

Let your interests guide your learning by choosing between four academic tracks within the biology bachelor’s degree program: Biochemical Analysis, Pre-professional Human Medicine, 3+2 Physician Assistant Pathway, or the 3 + 3 DPT Studies Pathway.

**The first two years of BAI and HMED are almost identical, and coursework and extracurricular activities include a variety of mechanisms for students to discern their vocations.

Bachelor of Science in Biology Program Features

Program Admission Requirements

A student must declare the Bachelor of Science in Biology program their major before completing the final 60 credit hours required for the degree. Applicants to the program must meet with a faculty advisor to develop a degree plan. Requirements for acceptance into the program (except the Accelerated 3+2 Pathway to Physician Assistant Studies) are the same as for acceptance to Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University.

To learn more about admissions, visit the Undergraduate Admissions Requirements page.

Program Goals

The goals of the bachelor’s degree in biology program are:

  1. To provide a multidisciplinary education that emphasizes ethical scientific reasoning and problem solving.
  2. To prepare students for a wide variety of postbaccalaureate paths, including careers in laboratory science or instrumentation and graduate programs in laboratory research or medicine (physician/physician assistant/physical therapy).

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

The program learning outcomes for the bachelor’s degree in biology program are to:

  • Use and, when identified as applicable, integrate natural science concepts to illustrate the processes of life.
  • Apply the scientific method in laboratory and simulated scenarios to solve problems in an ethical manner.
  • Communicate scientific findings and, when identified as applicable, their social implications in the context of the Franciscan values.
  • Design and execute research using biological and chemical laboratory techniques and instrumentation (BA only).
  • Apply anatomical and physiological concepts to the study of human biology and pathophysiology (HMED and Accelerated 3+2 Pathway only).

FAQs

What will I learn in the biology program?

The biology bachelor’s degree will build a solid base of knowledge in the principles of biology and chemistry while also providing track-specific courses in concentrated subject areas. During the program of study, students will take courses in biology foundations, general chemistry, biology and chemistry labs, algebra, psychology, organic chemistry and microbiology. Beyond these foundational courses, students will encounter diverse course offerings tailored to each unique program track.

What can I do with a biology bachelors degree?

What are graduates doing now?

What percentage of Biology graduates who apply to a graduate clinical program are accepted?

How affordable is the BS in biology?

Resources

Document TitleTypeFile Size
Document Title: Premedical Advisory Committee PolicyType: pdfFile Size: 90.22 KBDownload

Accreditation

For information about our SACSCOC accreditation, please visit our Institutional Accreditation page.