- Biology majors explore and compare the biology of plants, animals, and humans, preparing students for a wide range of careers.
- Biology majors are highly competitive applicants for acceptance into veterinary school, medical and dental school, and into graduate programs in health care professions.
- Pursue your interests in animal science through unique courses such as Ornithology and via a Seneca Park Zoo Internship.
- The Genomics Lab includes an Illumina MiSeq where undergraduate students sequence and annotate the whole-genomes of a variety of organisms.
Biology encompasses all of the processes and patterns that characterize living cells, organisms, and ecosystems. Building on recent advances in the molecular, cellular, and ecological disciplines, modern biological science offers students a rich framework that can launch a career with a wide variety of skills for discoveries within cells, organ systems, species, and even ecosystems in which we live. Scientific knowledge is based on research, and students are encouraged to undertake significant research projects to enhance their educational experience and prepare them for graduate school or full-time employment.
Biologists may investigate the conservation of animals and plants, study interactions between living organisms with the changing environment, uncover evolutionary relationships between different organisms, learn how living systems work or even work with the public to increase awareness of important health and environmental issues.
In the College of Science, biology is something that students do, rather than something they merely learn. Courses present biology and the hands-on laboratory work and field experiences as it is done by career biologists, and hands-on laboratory and field experience is emphasized.
The major includes all of the course work and support services to prepare you to pursue advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, and chiropractic medicine, as well as a wide range of graduate programs in the life sciences.
Course of Study
You'll start with foundation courses in biology, math, chemistry, and liberal arts and then immerse yourself in the biological sciences, studying animals, micro-organisms, and plants at the level of molecules, cells, tissues, organisms, populations, and the environment. You will acquire a comprehensive set of practical skills, from the proper way to prepare cultures in the lab to the proper way to gather and analyze ecological data in the field.
Nature of Work
Biologists answer important questions about the world by making observations in the natural environment and in the laboratory, collecting and evaluating data and integrating evidence to help solve problems.
Premedical and Health Professions Advisory Program
Medical schools and graduate programs in the health professions (such as physician assistants, physical therapy, and occupational therapy) welcome applications from students majoring in a wide range of academic programs. Acceptance into these programs requires the completion of pre-med requirements such as course work in biological and physical sciences, a strong academic record, pertinent experiences in the field, and key intrapersonal and interpersonal capabilities. Learn more about how RIT's Premedical and Health Professions Advisory Program can help you become a competitive candidate for admission to graduate programs in the medical and health professions.
Pre-Vet Advising Program
Occupations in veterinary medicine are expected to grow three times faster than all other occupations between 2016 and 2026. If you're interested in caring for animals, conducting research related to animal illnesses, or working with livestock in university or government settings, the Pre-Vet Advising Program can help you reach your career goals. Learn more about RIT's personalized Pre-Vet Advising Program and how it can help you maximize your candidacy for admission to veterinary schools.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Today's careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT's Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
+1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor's degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.