Biology programs

Courses include evolution, ecology, and multiple labs. About the program: LIFE's online bachelor of science in biology prepares students core continued study in the discipline or for direct entry into healthcare and biological science professions. Students must earn quarter-credit hours. About the program: Logan's credit online bachelor of science in human biology includes accelerated options so students can complete basic science coursework in one academic year.

If you're asking, "What is a biology degree? Biology curricula are designed to prepare students for a broad range of careers and continuing education opportunities. Students will benefit from curiosity and active participation in class as they tackle each new topic. A bachelor's degree in biology includes four years of coursework.

Foundational classes and associated labs cover zoology, botany, ecology, and microbiology basics. These courses precede advanced coursework like organic evolution and biological research. Majors may also be required to take chemistry classes, including organic chemistry, which some students may find challenging.

Bachelor's degrees may culminate in a capstone requirement. Learners should expect to complete extensive take-home work throughout the degree. While individual programs vary in specific curricula, many core classes remain consistent across institutions. Introductory coursework accompanies labs and fieldwork requirements. The fundamentals of botany introduces students to plants, how they reproduce, and how they function in their surroundings.

Students also learn to identify plants, conduct experiments, and interpret results. This course introduces learners to the study of animals and the animal kingdom. Learners explore the diversity of animal life, animal evolution, and the form and functions of animal systems. Emphasizing scientific methods and processes, this class covers biological research, communication, and scientific literacy.

Learners develop critical thinking and analytical skills through projects, lab activities, and writing assignments. Coursework in ecology focuses on the relationships among living organisms in the environment. Learners study population ecology, community ecology, and physiological ecology and how organisms' relationships make the planet inhabitable. Our Peer Advisors can give information from a student perspective and no appointment is needed! Staff and faculty advisors are also available by appointment to answer your questions.

Note: Interested students should start the biology introductory sequence as soon as possible to get a feel for the biology program at Michigan. Once you have decided on what major or minor you wish to declare, you should make an appointment with a major advisor. You should have a major GPA of at least a 2. Be sure to meet with a major advisor or peer advisor early in your career to discuss the program and your plans.

You may declare before you finish all of the prerequisites , but an advisor may recommend that you take additional course work if you have not demonstrated an aptitude for the biological sciences. We strive to support our students and faculty on the front lines of learning and research and to steward our planet, our community, our campus.

To do this, Biology needs your support. Please email staff members with any questions or requests. Students can choose from an array of majors and minors and a wide spectrum of career opportunities! The Program in Biology receives announcements for volunteer opportunities, internships, employment, and much more. Online learners have access to benefits such as a student services portal, tutoring, technical assistance, health services, and support services. Online bachelor's degrees in biology are designed to prepare students for careers in the biological sciences by building a strong foundation in cellular, ecological, evolutionary, molecular, and organismal biology.

Many students choose to major in biology because they are planning to go into a medical field such as veterinary medicine, pharmacology, or nursing. Several different biology courses are included in the curriculum, and in some programs, students can choose to specialize in one particular area of biology. Prerequisites often include calculus, physics, and statistics.

There are also electives offered in various subject areas, such as psychology and physiology. Students can choose to structure their degree program in a way that leads to further medical and graduate study. Coursework covers topics such as anatomy and physiology, cell and molecular biology, and organic chemistry. Bachelor's programs usually also require completion of a capstone course. Students may increase their future job prospects by gaining laboratory experience through internships in a biological, medical, research, or other approved facility.

Online biology programs are designed to be completed in four years of full-time study , although many students take longer. Whether students are pursuing a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Biology, they will generally need to complete credit hours.

Typically, half of these credits are for general education courses and the other half are for biology courses. Students may find it helpful to look at the graduation rates at individual schools and programs to gauge how long it might take to earn their degree. These rates indicate how many students graduate within a given time frame. Many graduation rates measure how many students have completed their degree after 6 years of enrolling in a bachelor's program. You can look for this information on individual school websites or by using the National Center for Education Statistics' College Navigator tool.

The right choice depends on what the career goals and interests of individual students are. While focused on biology, a BA also includes liberal arts classes. A BS is more focused on science and math classes, and will be good preparation for a technical or specified career path.

Most biology programs encompass a wide range of fields and disciplines, from humanities courses, such as speech communications and world literature, to math courses, including calculus and statistics. Students might enroll in a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts.

BS programs often involve more science labs and math courses, while BA programs typically entail a more diverse set of liberal arts courses. In addition to a core set of biology courses in these programs, most feature electives such as microbiology, botany, or zoology.

Students graduate with a number of valuable skills in communication, research, and analysis. Among the most common core courses required for an online biology degree are:. The admission requirements and application process for bachelor's in biology programs are the same whether a student plans to take on-campus or online courses or some combination of the two.

Some colleges require applicants to have completed a few prerequisite courses before enrolling in the biology program. The prerequisites vary by school, but may include natural sciences, calculus, physics, English, and history.

Students are often required to have a minimum 2. Additionally, some schools require new enrollees to take placement exams before registering for courses. To apply to an online biology program, applicants must submit an application form and may be charged an application fee. The following items may also be requested:. Students pursuing online degrees in biology should ensure the schools they're considering are accredited.

For an institution of higher education as a whole, accreditation occurs when all of the college's programs, faculty, and student resources are evaluated and approved by an independent agency sanctioned by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U. Individual programs within a school can also be accredited by other approved agencies, and some biology programs have earned this additional programmatic accreditation from the American Society for Microchemistry and Molecular Biology.

Choosing an accredited program offers several key benefits. Perhaps most important, accreditation assures students they're enrolled in a credible online degree program that meets high standards for quality and academic rigor. Enrollment in an accredited school is also a requirement to qualify for financial aid and for acceptance into most graduate programs. Finally, depending on a student's career path, it may be a requirement for obtaining licensure.

Students planning to enroll in accredited, online biology degree programs may be eligible for financial aid from a variety of sources. Representatives of both the federal government and the schools review all applications and notify students of their eligibility. Qualifying students are typically offered financial aid packages, which may include more than one type of aid. Offers may include scholarships or grants , which can come from the federal government, the state government, or the college s the students have applied to.

These types of aid are preferred because grant and scholarship money does not have to be repaid. Offers may also include some type of student loan , and applicants should examine the loan terms with care.

Private student loans from banks or lenders typically feature higher interest rates and more stringent repayment plans than federal and state student loans. If students have any questions about financial aid, they should contact the financial aid officers at each college where they've applied. Online biology majors may also be eligible for private scholarships , which require separate applications from the FAFSA.

Some of the scholarships available to biology students include:. Award amounts vary with this scholarship designed to support high school seniors from underrepresented groups who have shown academic achievement with a minimum 3.

Second-year minority STEM students maintaining a 3. Although biology is a flexible major that can lead in a number of different directions, many students opt for careers in the health and medical field or in education. After earning bachelor's degrees, graduates can move directly into the workforce or continue working toward advanced degrees, such as a Master of Science in Biology or a Master of Education with a biology focus.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a wealth of information on biology careers , and we list a few of the most popular jobs below:. These professionals, who typically hold bachelor's degrees, can be found working in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Using specialized equipment, they analyze and conduct tests on samples of body fluids or tissue to help determine patients' health status. A bachelor's degree in biology qualifies graduates to become elementary school teachers, although some go on to earn a master's in elementary education or teaching. In elementary school, teachers create lesson plans and provide instruction in all basic subjects. Biology graduates who go on to complete a doctoral program in one of the sciences can become medical scientists.

These professionals find work in research facilities within corporations, universities, and hospitals where they conduct various types of research projects designed to improve human health. Over the next decade, demand for Ph. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products.

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