Program Contact: Dr. David Merwine
If you want to do more than just live life, become a biologist and study it.
Biologists have exciting and rewarding careers in areas such as medicine, biotechnology, and environmental conservation and management. Biologists study living things to understand how they function, survive, and evolve. They may study bacteria and viruses that threaten human health or larger organisms such as red-spotted newts or brown bears. Whatever the scale, biological research increases our understanding of health and wellness and the threats to our environment.
You will learn how life works by asking questions, making observations, and evaluating evidence. Besides lectures, your classes will include hands-on activities in the laboratory and outdoors. Because of our location, you will have unique outdoor learning opportunities. We have an ongoing research project with our environmental studies program in the Allegheny National Forest.
Some of your college credits may come from internships: You can shadow local doctors or conduct undergraduate research with a faculty mentor.
With your biology degree you could become a physician or a veterinarian. A research biologist, a biotechnology patent attorney or a high school science teacher. These are just a few of the possibilities.
Future doctors may streamline their acceptance into medical school via our Freshman Guarantee at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. Future doctors, dentists, and optometrists may be able save a year of study and tuition by enrolling in our special 3 + 4 programs with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pitt's Dental School, or the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
Watch what some of our biology students do in the program. Take a look at our Biology program website.
What you can do with a degree in Biology. Suggested 4-year plan of study