BA/BS in Biology, General

Biology is the study of living systems, from the earliest simple organisms that could copy themselves to the many forms of life that exist today. The field has changed rapidly in recent decades, and discoveries about genetic material have opened new areas of molecular research and biotechnology. Students in the major learn why the subject keeps expanding. Biology courses rest on the idea that organisms, however varied, share basic properties. Cells, the smallest units of life, use similar structures and chemistry, and multicellular bodies develop specialized parts from common building blocks. Studying these shared functions gives students a foundation that applies to medicine, agriculture, and environmental work. Laboratory and field work let students test these principles directly. Advanced courses connect cellular processes to the behavior of whole organisms, preparing graduates for research and professional study.