Program Overview

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Biology Major

Kickstart your career with biology

Your future is bright with a biology degree from Bridgewater College. Whether you want to become a researcher, environmental expert or educator, you’ll benefit from our smaller class sizes, hands-on experience and close faculty mentorship designed to help you succeed.

What to Expect from the Biology Degree Program

• 43 credit hours of courses in biology, chemistry, and mathematics that can be flexible and tailored to your career goals.
• Gain real-world experience through faculty-mentored research, summer fieldwork and internships.
• Thanks to tight-knit class structure, students get a high degree of interaction with knowledgeable faculty.

Biology Major Courses

You’ll start with a foundation of core biology courses covering organismal biology, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, ecology and evolution. As you progress, you’ll have the flexibility to specialize through upper-level courses and faculty-mentored research, allowing you to shape your biology degree around your career goals.

Principles of Biology I

BIOL-110

Introduction to the biological sciences, covering biological chemistry, cell/tissue structure and function, genetics and microevolution.

Genetics

BIOL-309

Introduction to both classical, Mendelian inheritance and molecular genetics with one lab per week.

Evolution

BIOL-430

Examination of the mechanisms of biological evolution including mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and the genetic structure of species populations.

Interested in teaching biology?

You can also earn a teaching endorsement in biology in conjunction with the teacher education program.

Program Highlight

CONDUCT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH

Perform independent research projects during the semester or the summer to apply what you’ve learned hands-on, with guidance from faculty mentors. Start almost immediately.

Careers You Can Pursue with a Biology Degree

A biology degree from Bridgewater College opens the door to a wide range of career paths in healthcare, research, education and industry. Our alumni have landed careers at the FBI, US Department of Energy, Novant Health and Merck pharmaceuticals among others. Their career paths include:

• Medicine and Healthcare
• Nursing and Clinical Lab Sciences
• Veterinary Medicine
• Pharmacy and Pharmacology
• Genetics and Genomics
• Laboratory Research
• Marine Biology
• Quality Assurance in Biotech
• Teaching and Education
• Hospital Administration

Get Involved: Biology and Science Clubs

Get involved in clubs that build professional knowledge, communication and leadership skills such as the Pre-Health Society and TriBeta, the national biological honor society. Be active in club administration, fundraising and event planning.

Pre-Health Society

As a Pre-Health Society member, you’ll have access to information and opportunities to explore a variety of careers in healthcare. Pursue your interest in fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, clinical lab sciences, dental hygiene, and physical and occupational therapy.

Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society

Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta) National Biological Honor Society

TriBeta (Beta Beta Beta) is a national biological honor society represented at Bridgewater by the Nu Upsilon chapter. It emphasizes scholarship and service through research and education. Potential members must be biology majors with a 3.0 GPA in their major coursework.

Biology Facilities

The biology department is located on the first floor of the McKinney Center, which is Bridgewater’s comprehensive teaching center for science and mathematics.