Biology (BA or BS)

Overview 

Explore the life sciences as you develop the skills and knowledge to begin a career in a broad range of fields, from brewing to research, or move to the next phase of your education in a professional program.

After graduation, biology graduates work in communities as lab technicians, representatives for pharmaceutical and medical instrumentation companies, biotech researchers, educators, and more. If your undergraduate degree is just the start, you'll also find the biology program uniquely prepares you for advanced programs from chiropractic to physical therapy to physician and more.

As a biology major at D’Youville, you’ll explore cell biology, ecology, evolution, anatomy & physiology, genetics, biochemistry, and more through hands-on experiences in our state-of-the-art science building. At D'Youville, we believe conducting research is important so we offer our undergraduate biology students several research experiences. 

Why Choose D'Youville?

Direct Entry Into Professional Programs

Students in D'Youville's biology programs can apply for direct entry into one of D'Youville's joint and combined professional degree programs which will allow you allow you to earn your bachelor's and advanced degree here in less time than you can at other institutions.

Personal Attention and Small Class Sizes

At D'Youville, your professors will know who you are and you'll find helpful resources right at hand, from financial aid to tech support. You'll get individualized attention in small classes, usually around 15-30 students, and not more than 40, and in science labs, you'll learn alongside 12 to 18 students per class. You'll also always be taught by a faculty member, never a teaching assistant.
 

Built for Your Future

As an undergraduate, you'll gain skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and written, and oral communication — all skills that employers believe are critical to success, no matter what career path you decide to take. 

What you'll learn:

  • Research skills that prepare you for your career
  • Bachelor of Science: coursework prepares students for careers in science or medicine or biological research
  • Bachelor of Arts: skills that prepare you to work immediately in biology or a biomedical field

Internships Designed With Your Future In Mind

The Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics encourages students to perform research internships as part of the completion of their undergraduate degree. Our friendly and engaging faculty has a diverse set of research interests, ranging from bioinformatics and analytics to animal behavior and human anatomy, so finding the research project that sparks your curiosity couldn’t be easier.

Research projects engage students in new and exciting scientific discoveries that allow them to gain knowledge and experience that is beneficial in applying to graduate programs.

Take Your Research Beyond The Lab

Students from the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics have presented their data in local, national, and international meetings. These experiences help to broaden the horizons of our students and to develop contacts and relationships with researchers from around the globe.

Explore Courses In The Biology Program

  • Connect with professionals in the health sciences, academia, and the industry to figure out future goals. Learn study skills, be matched with an older student mentor, and even participate in service experiences to learn and help your community.

  • Extract your own DNA to find out what your genes say and how that’s reflected in the way your body behaves through molecular technologies like polymerase chain reactions and sequencing.

  • Explore a built-in internship or research experience for credit and gain experience in your favorite biology field! Work for a biotech company, try quality control, or delve into academic research.

Admission Requirements

At D'Youville, we are committed to selecting students who are academically well-rounded and committed to meeting the challenges of a high-quality education. If you have been successful in a traditional college preparatory program in high school, you should be well-prepared for the academic challenges at D'Youville. 

First Time in College Student Requirements
  • Submitted application for admission
  • Official high school transcripts
    • An overall weighted GPA of 80% (BA) or 85% (BS) with successful completion of high school graduation requirements and three years of math, english, and science. 
Transfer Admission Required Review Criteria:
  • Submitted application for admission
    • Applications are free of charge and can be found on our apply webpage.
  • Official transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges/universities
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.0 (BA) or 2.5 (BS)

Careers

A degree in biology opens the door to many careers. It can equip you for graduate school and lead to a teaching or research career at a college or university. It may provide the foundation for a career as a doctor, dentist or veterinarian. It can also prepare you for related occupations in business, industry, and government.

Bachelor of Science (BS) In Biology

  • More extensive program that will prepare students for careers in science or medicine or biological research.
  • Meets the admissions requirements of graduate programs in biological specialties, as well as medical, dental, veterinary, and chiropractic schools.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) In Biology

  • Prepares you to work immediately in biology or a biomedical field.
  • Meets the admissions requirements of some graduate programs.

Alumni Successes

Many of our graduates continue their academic studies after they earn their bachelor's degree in biology. Some conduct research as Ph.D. candidates in doctoral programs around the country. Other biology graduates have attended professional schools just as medical and veterinary schools. 

Scholarships

The MS Anatomy program offers a variety of scholarships and financial aid to qualified students including:

  • Teaching assistantships are awarded to qualifying students entering the MS Anatomy program.
  • Automatic 25-50% scholarships for qualified students entering the BS/MS program that continues throughout your 5 years of study.
  • A wide range of other financial aid options are available for qualified students. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more details about applying or qualifying for aid.

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