Biology is the study of living organisms and life, and their origin, structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. There are many specialty areas that students can major in within biology. Biologists can find careers in research, healthcare, teaching, science writing, administration and management, government, and industry. Studying biology teaches students to ask questions, make observations, evaluate evidence, and solve problems.
The Biology Department offers courses that fulfill the majority of graduate program prerequisites for students hoping to go on to health professions careers following their undergraduate degree. Students who receive health professions advising from USU can be in any major.USU medical school and dental school applicants have a consistently high acceptance rate. USUs health profession students have the opportunity to receive advanced education in human anatomy and physiology, and the human dissection course offered by the department gives students hands-on preparation not available at most other universities.
Biology majors at USU have the unique opportunity to work with faculty mentors on research projects. Faculty is also involved in multiple USTAR (Utah Science Technology and Research) groups and in national and international collaborative research efforts.
Students will receive a BS by completing all required courses in their major. To receive a BA, students must also gain proficiency in one or more foreign languages.
Emphases:
- Biology: This emphasis is a flexible option for students wishing to customize their education in biology. Students choose electives and conduct research in a variety of different topics, such as botany, entomology, biotechnology, synthetic biology, neurobiology, physiology, toxicology, microbiology, virology, herpetology, mammalogy, ornithology, behavioral biology, and more.
- Cellular/Molecular: This emphasis deals with the formation, structure, and function of macromolecules essential to life, such as nucleic acids and proteins. It also deals with cellular and developmental biology.
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: This emphasis focuses on both ecology, the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, and biodiversity, the varieties of life on earth at all its levels and the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain it.
- Human Biology: This emphahsis is designed to fulfill the academic course requirements for entrance to most medical or dental schools in the United States and Canada.