Bachelor’s Degree in Biology

Grow your knowledge of the living world and prepare for a future career in healthcare, research, teaching and other biological science fields with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hilbert College. With lessons and laboratory experiences built to provide a broad foundation in the natural sciences, our biology program offers you the option to pursue a minor in one of three areas—pre-health, biotechnology and biochemistry—and guides you to a career path that values strengthening communities through service.

Why Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree in Biology?

If you have an interest in science, nature and the intricate structures and functions of living things, then a career in biology may be a great choice for you. At Hilbert College, students in our Bachelor of Arts in Biology program gain a foundational knowledge of core biology subjects such as microbiology, cell biology, genetics, biochemistry and human anatomy as well as biology-related fields that include chemistry, physics and mathematics.

Through rigorous coursework and hands-on laboratory experiences, our biology program graduates become well positioned for careers in the fields of health and research. You may choose to work your entire career in these fields having earned a bachelor’s degree, or you may opt to pursue a master’s degree or doctorate to advance to the most prestigious positions—and highest salaries—these fields have to offer.

What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s in Biology?

Hilbert’s bachelor’s degree in biology can be the credential you need to get your start in a broad range of potential career paths, including teaching, research and medical positions in fields such as health care, agriculture, environmental preservation, veterinary medicine and forensics. Whether you aspire to enter a professional field directly or use your bachelor’s in biology as the foundation for advanced study leading to an MS or PhD, our Bachelor of Arts in Biology program can serve you well.

Think you might like to take your education further and pursue an advanced degree? Our bachelor’s in biology can prepare you for that with Pre-Health Professional programs designed to support your progress toward a career in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dental, optometry and veterinary medicine as well as advanced degrees in fields such as genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, biotechnology and neuroscience.

• Health care careers in medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine
• Graduate study opportunities in microbiology, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, toxicology, neuroscience, neurobiology, cancer biology, immunology and more
• Teaching roles in elementary, middle and high schools
• Research technician roles in biotechnology companies, university research labs and government agencies such as the NIH, CDC, FDA, USDA, EPA, etc.
• Entry-level laboratory assistant/technician roles in medical schools, forensic science labs, environmental science labs, pharmaceutical industries and the biotech industry
• Pharmacy assistant/technician roles in pharmacies or drug stores
• Pharmaceutical and medical equipment sales roles
• Science writer for a health journal or magazine Health communication roles at hospitals and health care companies

• State-of-the-art science labs built to provide real-world learning experiences Internship and research opportunities to grow in your interests
• Expert faculty with years of experience in their fields
• An 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio
• Academic skills workshops, one-on-one tutoring, learning strategies instruction and academic counseling to help you perform your best
• A dedicated Office of Career Development providing resources, knowledge and strategies to help you achieve your career potential
• More than 30 student organizations, clubs and honor societies, plus intramural and club sports
• Opportunities to give back to the community through service learning

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology program at Hilbert College combines lectures and laboratory learning experiences in both its core and elective courses. Typically, the program requires 39 credits of biology-related coursework and 33 credits of physics, chemistry and mathematics. The required courses offered within the major cover various biological fields, allowing you to study areas of personal interest more thoroughly.

You will also have the opportunity to complete an honors project or perform independent research with a faculty member in the Natural Sciences and Math Department, which will help you develop additional skills and provide other opportunities to apply the acquired knowledge to your chosen career path. Our program also offers several other biology courses to non-majors that relate to biological concepts in the context of issues that society is facing today, such as global warming, climate change, GMOs, etc.