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About the BA and BS in Biology Degree

Why Study Biology at Cedarville?

Do you have a passion to worship your Creator through studying and applying the sciences? Cedarville’s distinctly Christian biology major can help you do just that.

You can choose from two options:

  • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology — The BS in biology offers you broad preparation in the biological sciences, including zoology, plant sciences, premedical, and pre-health professions. In this program, you'll complete the course requirements prescribed to enter the nation's leading graduate-level biology degree programs.  This major will enhance your depth of knowledge in biology and increase your skills in chemistry, calculus, and physics. If biology fascinates you, especially living organisms, then this is the major for you!
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology — The BA in biology offers you wide preparation in the biological sciences while allowing space to pursue additional courses and minors of interest. If you're pursuing a double major (BA in chemistry or life science education), choosing a pre-health emphasis with a minor (typically psychology or Spanish), or even choosing an emphasis in environmental biology, agriculture, or history, the BA in biology offers the perfect avenue for this customization.
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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Biology Program Highlights

Excellent Preparation — Since 2011 each graduating class has completed the ETS Majors’ Field Test in Biology. As a group they have ranked at, or above, the 85th percentile when compared to other institutions.

Biblical — Your biology coursework will be balanced well with a liberal arts curriculum and Cedarville’s Bible minor. Our biology faculty members are distinctive in their commitment to biblical integration in the sciences and seek to help you understand your Creator more richly by studying the creation.

Customizable — You will tailor your major based on your professional interests and goals by working with your faculty academic adviser. Each of our 10 biology faculty teach upper-level electives in their field of expertise. Adding a customized focus allows you to go deeper in your areas of interest, which will give you an edge in graduate — or medical — school, or in your vocation. You can choose to focus on environmental biology, agriculture, premedical, or one of our prehealth specializations (predental, preoptometric, preosteopathic, prephysical therapy, prephysician assistant, or preveterinary).

Hands-on Experiences — You will benefit from dedicated labs for each specialty area including a dedicated tissue culture workroom and a cutting-edge human anatomy and physiology laboratory. You’ll learn molecular techniques commonly used in research laboratories today, such as fluorescence microscopy, RT-PCR, Western blotting, and many others. We also have easy access to a wide variety of "field labs," including a 40-acre Prairie Restoration, Wetland Restoration, Cedar Lake, the Campus Arboretum, and the Columbus and Cincinnati Zoos. Our strong emphasis on laboratory and field experience ensures that you will be able to enter the workforce, or your graduate studies, with confidence.

What Can You Do With a Biology Degree?

What can you do with a biology degree? Each year we see our graduates enter top graduate, medical, dental, optometry, and veterinary schools. Many directly enter the “science” professions as biological technicians, zoo and wildlife biologists, healthcare workers, and experts in the agricultural fields. Chances are, if you are interested in any type of career in “biology,” we have had a student pursue it! Just ask!

Biology

Pathway to Medical School

Training for a medical profession at Cedarville University involves intentional preparation academically, personally, and spiritually. Preparation for medical school at Cedarville equips students to be competent as well as service-focused in the name of the Great Physician. Cedarville University has a strong history of preparing students for medical school.

Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 98.1% of recent graduates from the School of Science and Mathematics were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Check out Cedarville's other placement rates.

Graduate and professional programs and employers welcome Cedarville University graduates each year. It is important to note that some professional career fields you may pursue require additional education, experience, and/or licensure beyond the completion of your Cedarville University undergraduate degree.

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

Internships — You’ll have an opportunity to complete a summer internship in academic and industrial laboratories across the nation.

Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies — You can spend a semester or summer taking advanced, field-based courses in one of Au Sable’s four locations.

Research — You will have a wide variety of opportunities to work with our biology research faculty on cutting-edge research projects.

Global Outreach (GO) — You can take part in a medical missions trip during spring or summer breaks.

Student Organizations — Student organizations allow you to meet with like-minded fellow students and professionals. Here are some examples:

  • Chi Theta Pi: A student-run organization designed for networking among Cedarville students studying premed, predental, and preoptometry.
  • Pro Terra Forma: A campus-wide group for students interested in environmental stewardship.
  • Omega Tau Kappa: For students interested in biology education.
  • Great and Small is for students who are interested in veterinary medicine. This student-run organization helps students prepare for training in the veterinary field.
  • Biology Club is for students interested in any aspect of biology. This student-run organization emphasizes networking and community service.

Program Curriculum

Building on your core liberal arts and Bible minor courses, you will take your core biology courses. This sequence is shared among our biology programs.

This allows for some flexibility in program selection as well as preparing you for your upper-division elective courses. It is often these courses that will set you apart in terms of preparing to make that next step in your career path. The BA in biology is offered with either a three-year or four-year completion plan. Most students take four years to complete the BS in biology major.

This major offers an accelerated bachelor's-to-master's pathway for students interested in pursuing their MBA.

Sample courses:

  • Biological Research
  • Human Structure and Function 1 and 2

Start Your Degree in High School!

Save time and money in college by taking dual enrollment courses now. Discover how you can complete your biology degree in just three years with the Dual Enrollment 3-Year Pathway.

Explore the Dual Enrollment Pathway

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers both graduate and undergraduate programs, with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you consider the degree or program that is a best fit for you.

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From Our Students:

Job and Grad School Placement

Program Faculty

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Tracy Collins, PhD

Associate Professor of Biology

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Mark Gathany, PhD

Professor of Biology

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Photo of Bob Paris

Bob Paris, PhD

Professor of Biology

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