Biology

Students in anatomy class taking notes as they review models of blood cells

Program Type

Major, Minor
Degrees Offered

B.S.
School

School of Arts & Sciences

Prepare for a career as a professional biologist. Gain the background you need for medical, dental, or chiropractic school.

What You’ll Learn

The biology major provides a broad foundation in the biological sciences. In addition to gaining communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills, you will gain an understanding of the role that individuals and society play in improving our natural environment.

Prepare for professional school.: Combine your biology major with study in our pre-medicine, pre-physician assistant, pre-dental, pre-optometry, or pre-chiropractic.
Prepare for a career in wildlife or conservation.: Combine your biology major with a wildlife management & conservation concentration and develop the skills for an entry-level biologist position with a government agency, non-governmental organization (NGO), or private company. This concentration will also prepare you for a graduate program in wildlife biology, conservation, ecology, and other related fields.
Develop technical proficiency in the lab.: In addition to general lab work, laboratory courses include anatomy, genetics, botany, organic and inorganic chemistry, physiology, and physics.
Strengthen research skills.: Most upper-level courses incorporate student-led research projects. Students also have the opportunity to participate in our SURVE program and conduct independent research with biology faculty.
Get your bachelor’s degree in 2.6 years or your bachelor’s and master’s in four years.: You can earn your biology bachelor’s in 2.6 years or complete your bachelor’s and a Master of Science in Bioethics in four years through Mary’s innovative Year-Round Campus program.

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Careers & Outcomes

Employment Trends

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for secondary school teachers to grow by 8% from 2020 to 2030. A bachelor’s in biology is a versatile degree, as students graduate with strong critical thinking skills that are in demand across a wide range of fields including health care, biomedical research, and industry. Many University of Mary biology majors enter professional school — including medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, physician assistant, or chiropractic school — or pursue graduate studies.

Career Paths

Wildlife or Conservation Biologist
Health Care Professional
Educator
Research Scientist
Ecologist
Science Journalist
Genetic Counselor

Featured Faculty

Joseph Biggane, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biology

Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, I have called North Dakota home since 2010. I am driven by my passion for finding unconventional solutions for difficult puzzles. I started at Mary upon completing my PhD in Biomedical Sciences, where my dissertation focused on cell signaling in epilepsy. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Dr. Emily Biggane, and daughters, Eleanor and Winnie, and our dogs, Jack and Jill.

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John Boyle, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biology, Fellow in Catholic Studies

I am a biologist with an interest in using big data sets, both molecular and ecological, to understand the natural world and the relationships among different species.

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