Biology
administrative contact
Richard Thomas
rthomas@mail.wvu.edu
phone: 304-293-5201, x2516
program contact
Richard Thomas
rthomas@mail.wvu.edu
phone: 304-293-5201, x2516
Program Details
- Major: Biology
- Degree Program: Biology
- Program Web Site
- Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
- Degree Designation: Bachelor's (B.S.)
Program Description
The Department of Biology is dedicated to the study of living organisms and the processes of life. The Department of Biology offers two degree programs, the bachelor of science and the bachelor of arts in biology. An environmental biology track is also available in either degree program. These two programs are structured to meet the needs of all students who are interested in a career in the broad area of the life sciences.
The undergraduate programs provide an excellent preparation for those students who are preparing to attend graduate school and medical, dental, or other medically related professional schools. A degree in biology prepares students for a wide range of careers in the biological sciences including environmental biology, biotechnology, genetics, and other biologically related technical fields in government and private industry. In addition, with appropriate electives, students with a degree in biology can pursue a career in a wide array including law, journalism, teaching, health care administration, and business.
Irrespective of the degree program chosen, students will experience a wide variety of classroom environments from large lecture sections to small group discussions and intensive laboratory-oriented courses. Laboratory courses include topics such as cellular/molecular biology, comparative anatomy, ecology, ichthyology, invertebrate zoology, molecular genetics, plant systematics, and recombinant DNA technology, as well as many other laboratory experiences across the biological disciplines.
During the first four semesters as a Pre-Biology major, a student should successfully complete four required biology courses: Biology 115, 117, 219, and 221. At the same time, the student should be taking the basic requirements in mathematics, chemistry, and physics necessary to succeed as a biologist. As students enter the Department of Biology in their third year, they are encouraged to begin structuring their curriculum to meet their particular career goals and to ensure graduation in four years. For those interested in preparing for medical school or other related health careers, a broad range of options exist. Students are strongly recommended to take advanced courses in cellular and molecular biology and biochemistry if they wish to pursue a medical career. These areas best prepare for a successful medical education. In addition, students on this career path have a range of more classical courses, such as comparative anatomy and microanatomy, which provide a solid foundation for medical school.
The burgeoning area of biotechnology also provides a significant number of career paths for biology majors. For students interested in biotechnology and cellular and molecular biology, the Department of Biology offers a wide range of courses, including advanced cellular and molecular biology, DNA technology, molecular genetics, molecular endocrinology, and other relevant specialized courses. For those who want to pursue a career in environmental biology, there are many courses available, including plant ecology, biometry, behavioral ecology, plant population biology, quantitative genetics, global ecology, and plant physiology.
Career Profile
Biology is the most popular major for students wishing to enter medical school. In recent years, medical school acceptance levels for students from the Department of Biology have been higher than the national average. However, medicine is not the only career path open to students with a biology degree. A degree in biology opens the door to a wide array of career paths. As biotechnology and environmental issues enter all facets of everyday life, individuals with a background in biology are in demand well beyond the traditional areas of medicine, public health, research, and related fields. Students of biology are now finding opportunities in law, business, the media, and other areas. Biological and medical scientists hold about 117,000 jobs nationally. Many biological and medical scientists also hold faculty positions in colleges and universities. During a lifetime career, a bioscientist may engage in teaching, research, administration, service work, or industrial production. If you become a biologist, you may specialize in one of these activities or a combination of two or more, or you may switch from one to another at various stages in your career. Your employer may be an educational institution, government installation, private research foundation, zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, arboretum, natural history museum, or a wide variety of industrial or business concerns.
English Language Proficiency
All applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. WVU accepts either the TOEFL or the IELTS for this purpose. Please see Office of Admissions - English Language Proficiency for more information.
Apply Now
Prospective students should apply online at:
apply.wvu.edu.
Accreditation
WVU is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
