Introduction
Life – what an interesting and rewarding time to study it!
Managing emerging pests and diseases as well as those becoming resistant to current controls, describing and utilizing and conserving biological diversity in the face of habitat loss and climate change, designing more effective treatments for traumatic injuries and degenerative conditions, and developing biofuels to help meet our growing energy needs while maintaining our capacity to produce food are just a few of the challenges facing our nation and our world.
That's where biology, the largest and fastest-growing scientific discipline, comes in. Advances in biology – in fields such as biotechnology, medical research, and genetic engineering – improve the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people and lead to the development of stress-tolerant crops, new chemotherapy drugs, more sensitive techniques in forensic science, and the use of bacteria and plants to clean up pollution. But there's still so much to learn and accomplish.
What makes the biology program at the University of Redlands special?
Our biology courses emphasize science as a way of learning through laboratory and field-based experiences. These experiences involve our students in practicing scientific thinking by posing testable questions, designing small-scale research projects, collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, and presenting findings. These experiences also allow our students to gain technical skills.
Significant research opportunities include paid summer internships and academic projects during the school year. Research projects span many subdisciplines of biology and take advantage of our state-of-the-art laboratories and wide array of habitats within easy reach of campus. Approximately half of our majors have significant research experience by graduation.
As a biology major at Redlands, you'll have the opportunity to build a solid foundation of scientific knowledge and research skills to help solve some of today's most challenging and rewarding problems.
The Major
There are five categories of courses within the biology curriculum, each designed for different needs.
The first group (BIOL 103 through 160) consists of courses for non-majors and may include consideration of scientific methodology as well as the subject matter of interest to non-scientists. These courses may not be taken for credit toward the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in biology.
The second category (BIOL 200 through BIOL 239) is part of both the major and minor requirements and consists of courses that introduce key aspects of biology.
Courses in the third group (BIOL 250 through 360) are designed to provide a firm foundation in basic sub-disciplines. By careful selection with a faculty advisor, students can tailor a program to fit individual career goals. Note that only Comparative Physiology (BIOL 334) or Human Physiology (BIOL 344) will count towards the biology degree. Similarly, only Vertebrate Anatomy (BIOL 337) or Human Anatomy (BIOL 317) will count towards the biology degree. Most of the courses in this category have prerequisites and are taken by majors, but non-majors who have the prerequisites often enroll.
The fourth category (BIOL 403 through 460) provides an opportunity for biology majors to take part in research under faculty supervision. A two-semester sequence is required of all B.S. majors except those taking departmental honors (BIOL 499).
In courses in the fifth category, the biology seminars (BIOL 394, BIOL 495, BIOL 496), junior and senior students learn about careers in biology, research methods, and present and share the results of their research.
Students entering the biology major must have successfully completed BIOL 200 and BIOL 201 or equivalent courses, achieved a major GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of declaration, and submit grades of each class.
The Minor
To earn a minor in biology, students must complete:
BIOL 200 and 201
BIOL 238 or 239
Three additional courses from BIOL 238–360 (except 341), of which a minimum of two must include a significant laboratory or field component, by contract with department faculty.
Next Steps
Recent Medical and Graduate School Acceptances
Whether you are interested in graduate studies or medical school, marine biology, conservation, cell and plant biology, physiology, neuroscience, or molecular and human genetics, our faculty have the expertise to guide you to your desired next steps.
The Ohio State University
Dartmouth Medical School
Loma Linda Medical University
University of Washington, Seattle
Kansas University
University of New Mexico
Albany Medical College
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Barry University
University of Colorado
St. Louis University
Azusa Pacific University
University of Arizona
Creighton University
Touro Medical University
University of Nevada
Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine
A.T. Still University
University of California Berkeley
Samuel Merritt College
Western University
University of Southern California
Harvard University
Careers in Biology
Whatever your interest, with a B.S or B.A. in biology or a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology, there are several career paths waiting for you:
Research
Discover new treatments for people who are paralyzed; learn about the effects of pollution on plants and animals.
Health Care
Prevent the spread of rare, deadly diseases; care for injured or sick animals.
Environmental Conservation
Protect state and national parks; design strategies to protect endangered plant and animal species.
Education
Educate the next generation of biologists; direct educational programs in science museums, zoos, and aquariums.
Latest Career Trends in Biology
Agricultural Scientist
Conservation Biologist
Environmental Scientist
Forensic Science/Entomology
Creative Careers in Biology
Have more than one passion? Combine your passions into the perfect career:
Animals
Zookeeper/Gamekeeper
Marine Mammal Trainer/Marine biologist
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Art
Medical Illustrator
Bio-animation and Films
Molecular Visualization
Business/Industry
Pharmaceutical Researcher
Drug Testing/Quality Control
Marketing/Sales/Public Relations
Government/Law
National Health (FDA, CDC)
City or Community Health Official
Bioterrorism Expert
Forensics and Criminal Investigation
Biotechnology Patent Law
Math/Engineering
Bioinformatics
Biomechanical Engineering
Biometrician/Statistician
Nanotechnology
Writing/Communication
Science Writer/Journalist
