All programs in the Department of Biology combine a strong core of fundamentals followed by advanced training in upper-level courses. The department emphasizes hands-on experience in laboratory and field settings. Students pursuing the B.S. in biology may choose to concentrate in one of three areas: general, ecology, or physiology and behavior. Students in the biotechnology program complete courses that emphasize biology at the molecular and cellular levels and the application of this knowledge to medicine, agriculture, and other developing industries.

Students majoring in biology or biotechnology may continue their education in medical, dental, and veterinary schools, or pursue graduate study in such diverse fields as animal physiology, molecular biology, botany, biochemistry, genetics, behavior genetics, ecology, microbiology, and neuroscience. Graduates not electing advanced study may obtain employment as technicians or research assistants in pharmaceutical industries, in hospital, clinical, and government laboratories, or at environmental firms. There are also many career opportunities for teachers with good training in the sciences. Certification is available for students interested in teaching science at the elementary or secondary level.