Program Overview

Program Overview

The Department of Biological Sciences at Marshall University is committed to teaching students about the science of life. The program offers specializations in three areas of emphasis:

• Biological Sciences
• Cell, Molecular, and Medical Biology
• Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology These specializations are designed to prepare students for careers in the life sciences or for attendance at graduate school or medical, dental, or other health professions programs.

Program Details

The program provides a challenging curriculum to enhance educational opportunities for students and offers individual and collaborative research projects. Faculty members welcome undergraduate students into their labs to begin training as fully functioning research team members as early as the freshman year. Students in the program are immersed in a diverse classroom setting, ranging from larger lecture environments to small-group discussions and intensive laboratory-oriented courses.

Featured Courses

Some of the courses offered in the program include:

• BSC 121 - Principles of Biology: A continuation of the study of core biological principles common to all organisms.
• CHM 327 - Intro Organic Chemistry: A one-semester introduction to organic chemistry emphasizing structure, nomenclature, and reactivity.
• BSC 332 - Principles of Human Anatomy: An overview of the major anatomical regions and functional systems, with a focus on human anatomy in a comparative and evolutionary context.

Accelerated Program Options

Marshall University offers an accelerated path for students in the Biological Sciences, B.S. degree program to its two Master's degree programs:

• Biological Sciences, M.A.
• Biological Sciences, M.S. Undergraduates accepted to an Accelerated Master's Degree (AMD) program can begin taking graduate coursework while still in the B.S. program. These graduate credits can be taken in their senior year up to a maximum of 12 hours in place of electives.

Eligibility Requirements for the Accelerated Master's Degree Program

To be eligible for the Accelerated Master's Degree program, students must:

• Have completed at least 90 hours toward the bachelor's degree
• Have at least a 3.30 overall undergraduate GPA
• Have at least a 3.30 GPA in the major
• Have minimum composite verbal and quantitative GRE test scores of 300
• Provide three strong letters of recommendation

Career Opportunities

A bachelor's degree in biology prepares undergraduate students for a variety of jobs requiring a broad background in the biological sciences. Some potential career paths include:

• Doctor
• Dentist
• Optometrist
• Pharmacist
• Teacher
• Veterinarian
• Lab Technician
• Army Corps of Engineers Specialist

The Value of a Marshall Education

At Marshall University, students pay less on average each year than the state average, and graduates earn more, faster. The average annual cost is $8,327, and the earnings ratio is 1.32, meaning that for every $1 spent on a Marshall degree, $1.32 is returned in future earnings.