The Biology program is part of the Department of Biological Sciences in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.

  • Bachelors Available
  • Bachelors Available

Biology

The BGSU Department of Biological Sciences develops critical thinking in future scientists by engaging students in active learning, individual research experiences and interdisciplinary collaborations. 

The department offers degrees in biology, microbiology and neuroscience. Additionally, students may choose a specialization in ecology and conservation biology, forensic biology, marine and aquatic biology or pre-health biology.

Through high-quality teaching and exposure to research projects, students can become inquisitive scientists and informed citizens responsive to economic and societal issues.

Study the mechanics of life

Biology is a foundational science and opens up avenues to studying life and how it works. Careers in science, health and environmental fields await. BGSU offers an impressive array of biological science programs that prepare students for success in any field that requires critical thinking.

Undergraduates in biological sciences have hands-on experience, including research projects, field research studies and internships that only graduate-level students at other institutions may enjoy. 

Departmental facilities include herpetology and microbiology laboratories, an electron and light microscopy center, an ecological research station, greenhouse facilities and a 20,000-specimen herbarium.

Stand Out in courses like

  • Genetics
  • Evolution
  • Population and Community Ecology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Ichthyology
  • Genomics
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The marine and aquatic biology program, unique to the state, houses the BGSU Marine Laboratory, which contains over 3,000 gallons of seawater in over 40 aquaria offering students even more hands-on experience.

Ranked No. 9 in Ohio, the biology program received high rankings for teaching, curriculum and value in 2018.

Curriculum

Bowling Green State University students who choose a biology-related major will graduate understanding the basic principles of living systems at the molecular, cellular and organismal level and how these principles are unified through evolution. 

You will explore the methods of acquiring scientific evidence and their limitations and participate in the process of evidence-based scientific inquiry. Graduates will be able to apply biological science knowledge and skills to address a wide variety of problems in your career.

The BGSU Biological Sciences Department offers degrees in biology, microbiology and neuroscience. The Bachelor of Science in biology degree requires mathematics through calculus, organic chemistry and at least one physics course. Additionally, students may choose a specialization in ecology and conservation biology, marine and aquatic biology or pre-health biology, all of which are available at the Ohio campus. A specialization in forensic biology, a rapidly growing sub-discipline of biological sciences dealing with the analyses of biological/genetic properties of evidence in legal matters, is also offered at BGSU.

Go Far in your career

  • Microbiologist
  • Ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) researcher
  • Public Health specialist
  • Biotechnologist
  • Behavioral neuroscientist
  • Pharmaceutical sales
  • Agricultural and food scientist
  • Environmental scientist
  • Conservation scientist

Career

Biology is at the center of some of the most urgent challenges facing society. Biological sciences are a gateway to many careers that require an understanding of the mechanisms and systems that life depends on. Whether you choose a professional career or use a bachelor's in biological science as a foundation for further study, be that a pre-med track or another graduate course, the building blocks you explore will be essential. 

Graduates of the BGSU biology major work in hospitals, governments and business. As an example, a recent BGSU biology graduate is employed as an environmental scientist to analyze sites for rare and sensitive species ahead of construction.

The rapidly rising field of genomics and bioinformatics has created new jobs like genetic counseling or computational genomics, careers that are forecasted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow rapidly in the future

Natural Health and Science Learning Community

Students have the opportunity to participate in discovery- and course-based research, individual research under faculty supervision, field experiences, and internships. Graduates of the biology program will be competitive for employment in a variety of fields with private industry and non-governmental and governmental agencies. The biology program also prepares students for requirements of health care professional programs at the graduate level.

Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate

$29,515* — BGSU Biology graduates average starting salary

95% of Biology graduates report they're employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

* BGSU was ranked 4.5/5 stars for teaching and top 20% of biology colleges in the nation, and No. 9 in Ohio in 2018 by BiologyColleges.com.

(BGSU data compiled from students who completed the related questions on the graduation survey.)

BGSU Arts and Sciences white

The Biology program is part of the Department of Biological Sciences in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.

A Public University for the Public Good

The Department of Biological Sciences at BGSU is dedicated to scientific research and training that contribute to the near and long-term prosperity of society. The department serves the public good by conducting innovative research that provides society with advances in health, medicine, environmental issues, agriculture, climate change and sustainability.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in biology are expected to:

  • Understand the basic principles of living systems at the molecular, cellular and organismal level and how these principles are unified through evolution;
  • Understand the nature, methods of acquiring and limitations of scientific evidence and be able to participate in the process of scientific inquiry;
  • Value the importance of living systems, natural science in general and specifically biological science, basic research and scientific thinking to society;
  • Communicate scientific information and reasoning in writing, orally and in other presentation formats;
  • Apply and extrapolate biological science knowledge and skills to address local/global needs and problems.

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012-2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Biology program will undergo its next Program/Cluster Review during the Academic Year 2019-2020.

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The biology program does not lead to professional licensure.

  • Ecology and conservation biology
  • Forensic biology
  • Marine and aquatic biology
  • Pre-health biology

More information, specializations, career prospects and course requirements of these specializations are available.



* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 02/11/2021 11:52AM