The department offers courses leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Systems Biology, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. Cooperative programs between the Department of Biology and the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the Holden Arboretum, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and other departments in Case Western Reserve University significantly extend the range of resources available to biology students. 

The undergraduate programs in biology provide excellent preparation for graduate or professional schools, including medical, dental, and veterinary schools and the many specialized graduate programs in the biological sciences. A biology degree also prepares students for careers in industry and government. For students interested in biotechnology—a field with growing career opportunities—the department offers elective sequences within the BA and BS degrees.