Biology
A few things set CBU’s bachelor degree in Biology apart from other biology programs:
- Small Labs, Real Access – CBU
Kkeeps lab class sizes to no more than 16 students, so biology majors get hands-on instructor attention and real time at the bench, not just a seat in a crowded lecture hall. - Research and Internships at Respected Institutions – Every biology major has the opportunity for an internship or a mentored research project, paired with a CBU faculty member or researcher at a well-known institution. Past students have conducted research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the University of Memphis and the Memphis Zoo.
- Breadth Across the Discipline – The Biology BS requirements span human and biomedical biology, organismal biology, evolutionary biology and ecology, and cell and molecular biology, giving students the flexibility to explore multiple paths without the life sciences before choosing a direction.
Why Choose CBU for Your Bachelor Degree in Biology?
A BS in biology from CBU is built to prepare you for what comes next, whether that’s medical school, veterinary school, physical therapy school, graduate research, or straight into the workforce. As a biology major, you’ll work in small, well-equipped labs, present research at CBU’s poster sessions and at a scientific meeting, and build relationships with faculty and outside researchers through personalized advising.
Skills You’ll Develop Earning a BS in Biology at CBU
Building more than subject-matter knowledge, Biology undergraduates have a thorough understanding on how hands-on learning directly translates into career opportunities. Throughout the program, students develop:
- Laboratory Technique – Hands-on proficiency with lab equipment and methods, developed in small classes capped at 16 students.
- Research Experience – The ability to design, conduct, and present original research, reinforced through mentored projects and CBU’s poster sessions and scientific meeting presentations.
- Scientific Collaboration – Experience working alongside CBU faculty and researchers at outside institutions like St. Jud and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
- Foundational Readiness for Professional School – Coursework and advising aligned with what medical, veterinary, dental, optometry, and other health-related graduate programs expect from incoming students.
Biology BS Requirements and Prerequisites
The Biology major requires 122 credit hours. Alongside CBU general education and liberal arts courses, biology prerequisites and classes needed for the biology major include:
- General Biology
- Genetics
- Research
- Mathematics
View Biology Course Requirements
Biology Minor
The CBU School of Sciences offers a minor in biology that requires 23 credit hours of upper level biology course work. This biology minor is for students majoring in another field who still want a strong foundation in the life sciences.
Career Opportunities in Biology
A bachelor of science in biology opens doors across a wide range of health, research, and environmental careers. Occupations for biology majors that CBU graduates are prepared to pursue include:
- Medicine – Biology is one of the most common pre-med majors, with coursework and advising aligned to medical school prerequisites.
- Veterinary Medicine – Strong preparation in organismal and molecular biology for veterinary school admission.
- Dentistry and Optometry – Foundational science coursework that supports competitive applications to dental and optometry schools.
- Nursing – A pathway into nursing programs built on a solid biology and health-sciences foundations.
- Physical Therapy – Preparation for physical therapy school through coursework in human and biomedical biology.
- Teaching – A route into secondary or higher education science teaching.
- Environmental Consulting – Career paths in environmental science and consulting, drawing on coursework in evolutionary biology and ecology.
Recent graduates in the CBU Biology program also have gone on to a range of master’s and doctoral programs.
Whether you’re asking what you can do with a biology degree or looking at career opportunities in biology specifically in clinical, research, or environmental settings, this program is built to prepare you for both immediate workforce entry and further professional or graduate study.
Is a Biology Major for You?
If you have interest in more than one or two of these skills and interests, a major in Biology may be for you:
- Health careers
- Teaching
- Physical therapy
- Research
- The environment
Meet the Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions – BS in Biology at CBU
What classes are needed for a biology major?
CBU’s biology major requires 122 credit hours, including general education and liberal arts coursework and major coursework in general biology, genetics, research, and mathematics.
What are the prerequisites for a biology degree?
Biology prerequisites at CBU include foundational coursework in general biology, genetics, research methods, and mathematics, alongside the university’s general education requirements.
What can you do with a biology degree?
Graduates are prepared for careers and further study in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, nursing, physical therapy, teaching, and environmental consulting, as well as master’s and doctoral programs.
What career opportunities are there for biology majors?
Occupations for biology majors span health professions (medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, nursing, physical therapy), education, environmental consulting, and graduate research.
Is a BS in biology good preparation for medical school?
Yes. CBU’s biology degree provides strong preparation for medical, veterinary, dental, and optometry schools, along with other health-related professional programs.
What makes CBU’s biology BS different from other programs?
CBU caps lab classes at 16 students, guarantees every biology major the opportunity for an internship or mentored research project at institutions like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, covering a wide breadth of the discipline, from molecular biology to ecology.
Does CBU offer a biology minor?
Yes. The CBU School of Sciences offers a biology minor requiring 23 credit hours of upper-level biology coursework.
Does CBU offer biology as a bachelor of science?
Yes. CBU’s Bachelor of Biology is a BS degree offered through the Department of Biology within the School of Sciences.
