Biology Major

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology

With a B.S. degree in Biology, you'll have a range of careers from which to choose after graduation. As an undergrad pursing a B.S., you have the opportunity to refine your plan of study by selecting elective courses from several STEM disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, or Public Health courses related to your specific career interests.

Learn more about our Department of Biology and faculty

What will you study?

To earn a B.S. in Biology at Marian, you will complete general education courses, biology core courses, and elective courses necessary to build foundational intellectual and knowledge acquisition skills.

Degree requirements include 60 credits in science and mathematics, including the Biology Core. A minimum of 22 credits must come from Biology courses at the 300-level or above, and students may apply up to three credits of internship or research coursework to that total. An additional 9 credits may come from interdisciplinary science or mathematics coursework.

Sample four-year plan and checklist

Why choose a B.S. in biology at Marian?

The field of biology is very interdisciplinary. Modern biologists study the human genome, climate change, human and agricultural diseases, global food supply, and conservation of natural resources, to name a few.

In general, biologists draw on their expertise in mathematics and the physical sciences to increase knowledge and solve problems in specific fields of biology. At Marian, we offer many electives, allowing students to tailor their degree to the emphasize the discipline of their interest, including

Cellular and molecular biology
Ecology
Environmental science
Genetics
Physiology

Regardless of the biology discipline you pursue, your courses will be challenging. However, you won’t be alone. Our biology exceptional faculty will work to guide, encourage, and support you. When you graduate, you’ll have accomplished more than you ever thought possible.

What are your career paths?

Regardless of whether you want a science-intensive or a technical career, upon graduation you'll be prepared for a huge number of job options in fields like healthcare, environmental science, research and development, or education. If working in one of these fields is your career goal, earning a B.S. in biology will help you get there.

Many students pursuing a B.S. in Biology will 1) enter a graduate programs, earning an M.S. or a Ph.D., 2) enter a professional program, including medical school or other health professional programs, or 3) enter directly into a laboratory or research position.

The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks a number of professions that have their roots in biology.

Occupation	Growth through 2026	2016 median salary
High school science teacher	8 percent	$58,030
Lawyer or attorney*	9 percent	$118,160
Environmental scientist and specialist	11 percent	$68,910
Science and technical writers	11 percent	$69,850
Physician	15 percent	$208,000
Biological science professor or instructor (post-secondary)*	16 percent	$75,320
Dentist*	17 percent	$159,770
Optometrist*	17 percent	$106,140
Medical and health services manager*	20 percent	$96,540
Genetic counselor*	28 percent	$74,120
Physician assistant*	37 percent	$101,480

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biology

Apply Now Professor and Student in biology lab

Are you interested in the biological systems of plants, animals, humans, and other living organisms? Love the liberal arts and humanities? Consider earning a B.A. in Biology, which offers the best of both worlds.

Biology is a broad field that branches into many different disciplines and a range of career paths. With this major, you’ll graduate with a firm foundation in both the sciences and humanities.

Learn more about our Department of Biology and faculty

Marian University’s Bachelor of Arts in Biology curriculum includes math and science courses that will give you a good understanding of biological concepts and theories.

The core of your coursework, however, will be built on a broad, traditional liberal arts platform, providing you with the subjects and skills that are essential to take an active role in civic life. This means you can take more courses in writing, art, language, psychology, communications, philosophy, global studies, and other humanities than students who pursue the B.S. in Biology.

The B.A. in biology is a great choice for careers that emphasize skills like managing people, collaborating and effective teamwork, and interacting with the public in advocacy, policy, or informal educational settings.

The Department of Biology at Marian is committed to advancing the understanding of the living world through excellence in education, research, and mentoring. Through a rigorous curriculum, bolstered by innovated research and internship opportunities, we empower students to be leaders within the field.

Our expert faculty care about you, your career goals, and your success, both in and out of the classroom. We will advise you academically and help you build a career path leading to a meaningful, rewarding profession in any aspect of biology.
Small class and lab sizes enable us to provide you with individual, one-on-one attention. You’ll engage in high-impact, hands-on learning and develop lifelong relationships with your peers and professors.
With faculty expertise encompassing diverse fields, including cancer biology, bioinformatics, plant biology, molecular biology, and ecology, students have a range of independent research opportunities to explore.
Through embedding inquiry-based projects into our labs, students learn the scientific process of discovery and develop their skills as researchers, including communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
With access to our 75-acre Nina Mason Pulliam Ecolab, students studying environmental sciences have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience exploring restoration biology in native wetlands, prairies, and forests of Indiana.

Internship Opportunities

As you near the end of the core curriculum, our biology careers course will enable you to explore your strengths, values, and career interests. You’ll select elective courses tailored to your career goals and prepare application materials for internships, jobs, and/or graduate study.

The internship and employment market in Indianapolis is thriving. You will be encouraged to pursue at least one internship, although many of our students complete two or more internship experiences.

If you are interested in the business of healthcare, the life sciences, and related fields, you’ll have excellent access to internship positions at top life science start-up enterprises, businesses, and corporations like Beckman Coulter, Cook Medical, Covance Laboratories, Dow Agrosciences, Eli Lilly and Company, Roche Diagnostics, and Zimmer.
On the other hand, if you are interested environmental or nonprofit work in fields like public advocacy, education, and policy, you can choose to pursue internships with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Forest Alliance, Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Children’s Museum, Cornea Research Foundation, and dozens of other agencies.