BS Biological Sciences

Biological science is the study of life and living organisms, their life cycles, and their adaptations and environment. The field can provide you with the scientific foundations to go on to further scholarly studies in graduate school, to attain professional school admission or to move into the workforce where skills such as technical writing, problem-solving, biological knowledge and strategic planning are necessary.

Students in the Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences program at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, can choose from the following three areas of emphasis:

At Marshall University, our Department of Biological Sciences is committed to teaching students about the science of life. Specializations in three areas of emphasis are offered, designed to prepare students who are seeking careers in the life sciences or those who wish to attend graduate school or medical, dental or other health professions programs.

Marshall’s biology programs in our School of Biological and Environmental Sciences are led by the finest academic leaders who share distinct research interests in the field. Our course professors offer a challenging curriculum to enhance educational opportunities for students and take great pride in individual and collaborative research projects available for those who pursue a Biological Sciences degree.

Faculty are willing and prepared to welcome undergraduate students into their labs to begin their training as fully functioning research team members as early as your freshman year. It is common for some faculty to ask their undergraduate research students to present data at national and international meetings. Some students are also included as co-authors on peer-reviewed scientific papers, which are published in some of the leading scientific journals in the world. These real-life research opportunities rarely happen at other universities until students are much more advanced in their academic careers.

Students in the Biological Sciences program at Marshall are submersed in a diverse classroom setting, ranging from larger lecture environments to small-group discussions and intensive laboratory-oriented courses. Many of the teaching labs are outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, which gives you the opportunity to learn on the same type of apparatuses you would use in research laboratories.

A bachelor’s degree in biology prepares undergraduate students for a variety of jobs requiring a broad background in the biological sciences. Our program also provides an excellent background for graduate studies in life sciences or medicine.

The types of jobs held by graduates with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences include:

Due to networks Marshall faculty members have created, many of our students find internship placement in short- and long-term positions with organizations such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.

Students in our Biological Sciences program who choose to do a shadowing capstone also have opportunities to work with mentors near our campus in Huntington, West Virginia.

The Department of Biological Sciences engages in many outreach activities aimed at giving you opportunities to interact with the public and enhance communication skills, which are important when applying to graduate schools or for jobs in the field.

Students in Biological Sciences are also strongly encouraged to join campus groups, which help with networking and career preparation. These groups include MedLife, Neuroscience Club, Pediatric Entertainment Program, Biology Club, Pre-Dental Club and Pre-Veterinary Club.