Biology (BS)

Why Study Biology?

Some of the most in-demand and rewarding professions today are rooted in the life sciences: biotechnology, healthcare, renewable energy, agriculture, and conservation, to name a few. Majoring in biology gives you the knowledge and transferable skills for careers in these fields and more, and it also can lay the foundation for graduate or medical school for those wishing to become a physician or physician assistant.

Why Saint Francis for a Biology Major?

Labs don’t always have walls. 

Live off the grid in the Appalachians. Look for wildlife in the Rockies. Work alongside physicians in Haiti to provide healthcare services to the poor. Your experience as a biology major at the University of Saint Francis will give you plenty of opportunities to put learning into practice and the flexibility to focus on what you love most about the life sciences. Our supportive professors get to know you, your passions and career interests to ensure you’re taking courses and participating in real-world learning experiences that align with your goals.

A comprehensive, personalized curriculum gives you a strong foundation in the biological sciences;  and lab work, research, and team projects build your communication and collaboration skills. Rooted in Franciscan values, your entire Saint Francis academic experience will shape you into an ethical, compassionate professional ready to make a difference in the medical or scientific communities.

Hands-On Learning and Travel Opportunities

When you become a biology major at Saint Francis, you can:

Explore and Experience the World Through Travel Opportunities

Travel with your professor and peers to places like Costa Rica, Haiti, Colorado, Utah and the Appalachian Mountains, where you will gain a deeper understanding of ecology, geology, marine biology, wildlife, and community health.

Engage with Experts at Weekly Science Seminars

Hear from and be inspired by local scientists, researchers, medical professionals, and other experts at weekly seminars open to all students.

Get Into the Field with Internships & Activities

Gain professional experience through internships with healthcare, veterinary, environmental, and other companies. And many of your classes will take you outdoors to prairies and other natural areas near campus.

Faculty and Facilities

Inside the Achatz Hall of Science, you will learn in state-of-the-art labs that mirror those you’ll find in professional settings, such as:

• Human cadaver lab
• Microscope imaging lab with anatomage table
• Ecology lab

Our biology professors have expertise in every imaginable area of the life sciences, from genetics and geology to invertebrates and immunology.

Campus and Community

Be active. Be purposeful. Participate in the Eco Club, a student organization that focuses on environmental issues on campus and in the local community. You’ll be part of a close-knit group of students who organize education and awareness activities like Earth Day, build brush piles for wildlife or work in our campus greenhouse.

As a biology major at Saint Francis, you might also have an interest in these campus groups:

• Pre-Professional Healthcare Honor Society
• Kinesiology and Nutrition Club
• Formula for Life

What You Can Do With a Degree in Biology?

With a biology degree, jobs and career options are varied and plentiful. Saint Francis biology majors are prepared for positions in healthcare, education, agriculture, environmental agencies, recreation, social services and more.

Many biology students pursue graduate and medical school to ultimately work as physicians, dentists, veterinarians, physician assistants, wildlife biologists, educators, clinical laboratory scientists, conservation biologists and other science professionals.

Where You’ll Find Our Graduates

You will find Saint Francis biology majors at companies and organizations such as:

• A&L Great Lakes Laboratories
• Action Environmental, Inc.
• Astbury Water Technology
• Chicago Botanical Garden
• Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
• Goebel Chiropractic
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources
• Little River Wetlands Project
• Lutheran Health Network
• Parkview Health

Graduate and Medical School

Our biology majors have been accepted to medical, professional, or graduate school programs at institutions such as: