Bachelor in Biology Thiel College

The major program in biology provides students with a broad background in various areas of biology and prepares students to understand and use biological principles and methods. The relevance of biology to other disciplines is emphasized. The program promotes participation in laboratory and field studies. Students are prepared upon graduation to enter graduate school, professional school, or careers in biologically-related areas.

Major Features

• Understand biological principles and their implications from the molecular to the ecosystem levels of the organization.
• Discover how the social sciences and traditional combine in the most effective conservation strategies.
• Study, analyze experimentally, and interpret biological problems.
• Communicate effectively about biological and ecological matters.

Major Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree

The requirements for the biology major are structured so that students take at least one course in each of several areas of biology and related sciences. BIO 145 serves as a prerequisite for each of the upper-level biology courses. Courses that consider the characteristics of major kinds of life (BIO 212, 222, 262, and 263) are intended to follow BIO 145 (after completed with a C minus or better) and should be started before other upper-level biology courses are taken. Additional courses in biology, related sciences, and math are important for advanced work in biological fields.

I. Foundational Courses

• BIO 145 Foundations of Biology

And one of the following four systematics courses:

• BIO 262 Animal Systematics
• BIO 222 Entomology
• BIO 263 Plant Systematics
• BIO 212 Microbiology

II. Breadth in the Discipline of Biology

Students must take all five courses:

1. BIO 290 Cell Biology: A Molecular Approach
2. BIO 322 Genetics
3. BIO 342 Biostatistics and Research Methods
4. BIO 392 General Ecology
5. One elective from any four-credit, 200 or 300-level BIO lab course, except BIO 350—Principles of Immunology. Students may also choose from NCSI 202, 209, or 315.

Note: Courses applied as foundational courses may not also be applied as breadth in the discipline courses.

III. Senior Capstone Experience in Biology

A completed research project under the supervision of a biology department faculty member is required of the student majoring in biology. The project is culminated with a formal scientific research paper and a formal oral presentation. See the biology chair for specific requirements of the research project.

Students must take both of these courses:

• BIO 395 Junior Research Seminar
• BIO 462 Senior Seminar

And one of the following two courses:

• BIO 452 Advanced Biology
• BIO 482 Independent Study

IV. Related Math and Science Courses

• MATH 142 Precalculus (minimum requirement)

And one of the following three pairings:

• CHEM 140 General Chemistry I
• CHEM 160 General Chemistry II

OR

• PHYS 154 Physics I (non-calculus based)
• PHYS 164 Physics II (non-calculus based)

OR

• PHYS 174 Physics I (calculus-based)
• PHYS 184 Physics II (calculus-based)

Thiel College alumni have gone on to become pharmacy technicians, veterinary technicians, laboratory technicians, and much more! Here are just a few post-graduation opportunities available to biology and conservation biology majors:

• Research Biologist: Work in research and you can expect to earn an average of $70,790 per year. Some industries pay more. Biologists working in governmental institutions earned an average of $74,980 and pharmaceutical firms pay $79,220.*
• Biological Technicians: These jobs pay an average of $42,520. The top 10% of these jobs pay over $69,000.*
• Conservation Scientists plan ways to utilize natural resources but still protect the environment. The median salary is currently $61,110 per year.*
• Zoologists who specialize in conservation biology study endangered species and research methods of protection. The median salary is currently $59,680 per year.*

*Job and salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Study.com.