The NC State Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology is designed for students who want to combine studies in the life sciences with studies in a second discipline of interest (chosen from outside of the life sciences). Students in the B.A. are required to take just as much biology (through their Life Science Electives) as students in the B.S. in Biological Sciences, but requirements in the supporting sciences (chemistry, physics, and calculus) are reduced. Instead, Biology B.A. students identify a second area of interest outside the life sciences and create a focal area of study in that area (e.g., psychology, social work, communication, international studies, political science, anthropology, gender studies, education, mathematics, statistics). Their proposed list of Cross Discipline Electives is reviewed and approved by their academic advisor and the program director.
At the end of their undergraduate studies, students in this degree program complete a Senior Capstone Project through which they draw on both the life sciences (or a sub-discipline within the life sciences) and their chosen Cross Discipline to address a problem or issue that they identify. Experiential learning (related to their academic and/or career interests) is also required of all students in this program.
Students who graduate with a B.A. in Biology will benefit from training in scientific thinking and from gaining a broader perspective through their Cross Disciplinary studies. In choosing courses, students are encouraged to consider the course pre-requisites of graduate or professional programs to which they are interested in applying. Depending on their course choices, students will be prepared for a wide range of careers or further studies. This is a relatively new program, but so far our Biology B.A. graduates are employed or pursuing advanced study in bioethics, bioinformatics, law, health analytics, health care (nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy), clinical research, public health, science communication and informal education, neurobiology and psychology.