Home / Academics / Programs / Major / Biology
Biology
Explore the science of life with a Biology major that prepares you for exciting careers and future studies in medicine, research, environmental science, and more. From understanding cells to exploring entire ecosystems, you’ll develop the skills to ask big questions—and find the answers.
Hands-on learning starts in your first year, with labs and faculty-led research projects that let you dive deep into scientific discovery. Whether you’re analyzing DNA, studying wildlife, or investigating medical breakthroughs, this major gives you the knowledge and experience to make an impact in the world of science.
Experiential Learning
Faculty-led research – Conduct research for course credit alongside expert faculty in areas such as genetics, microbiology, and ecology.
Senior capstone project – Apply skills to independent research, lab studies, or fieldwork in a culminating academic experience.
Professional networking – Engage with peers and professionals through Tri-Beta (Biological Honor Society) and the Biology Undergraduate Society, gaining leadership and career connections.
Program Details
Degree Concentrations
Take your career any way you want! Explore the different degree concentrations that we offer for you to personalize your education.
This concentration will prepare you for the State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License in High School (Secondary) Education. As a biology education major, you’ll gain hands-on field experience starting in your first year, with more opportunities in your sophomore and junior years, preparing you for a senior year student-teaching experience. Bradley faculty and supervising teachers will mentor you throughout the process, helping you build a strong foundation in biology and natural sciences.
The teacher education department is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and its high school education program is nationally recognized by multiple professional associations including the National Science Teachers Association.
Explore cells and molecules to build a full understanding of an organism’s structure and function. The cell and molecular biology concentration is ideal for lab technicians or as a stepping stone to careers in chiropractic, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science.
Many graduates are employed at zuChem, DuPont Pioneer, Eli Lilly, ParkLands Foundation, and Endotronix.
Build a strong foundation in understanding how organisms interact with and adapt to their environments. From your first year, you’ll engage in research methods and gain hands-on experience through labs, independent projects, and summer research opportunities. By graduation, you’ll have personalized mentorship from faculty with expertise in ecology and evolutionary biology, opportunities to publish and present your research and a senior research capstone project.
Career Opportunities
A degree in biology can open doors to a wide range of exciting careers. Whether you’re interested in research, healthcare, or the environment, there’s a path for you.
Research & Innovation – Work in biotech, pharmacology, agronomy, conservation, sustainability, and medicine.
Healthcare & Medicine – Become a pharmacist, neurologist, pediatrician, surgeon, veterinarian, or genetic counselor.
Wildlife & Environmental Science – Explore careers as a zoologist, wildlife rehabilitator, fisheries biologist, or forest manager.
Education & Museums – Share your knowledge as a teacher, professor, or museum curator.
Law & Policy – Specialize in environmental law, work as a patent lawyer, or become an EPA inspector.
Laboratory & Forensic Science – Take on roles like lab technician, pathologist, or forensic scientist.
Minors
The biology minor, available to all students, provides a foundation in biological processes and their practical applications. It includes biology courses and requires statistics coursework.
The biology minor pairs nicely with other science degrees, offering you the opportunity to gain more experience in biology while at Bradley.
The neuroscience minor combines biology and psychology to help you understand behavior. You’ll explore topics like addiction, genetics, learning, and perception. This minor is ideal for careers in medicine, research, marketing, or pharmaceuticals.
While open to all students, space is limited. To apply, take PSY 201 Brain and Behavior as a first-year student and apply by fall of your sophomore year.
Bradley’s sustainability minor, open to all students, provides you with knowledge and skills to live more sustainably, inspire others to do the same, and tackle sustainability challenges in your career. You can tailor the minor to your interests through optional tracks in policy and socioeconomics, science and technology, or art and humanities.
In this interdisciplinary minor, courses cover the intersection of sustainability with engineering, natural sciences, economics, politics, and more, helping you to develop problem-solving skills necessary to address complex social, environmental, and economic challenges.
Student and alumni stories
Stories from the Biology Department
-
environmental sciences
A Career Dedicated to Wildlife and Learning
June 2026
Patrick Menke turned his natural sciences education into a mission to connect people and nature.
-
environmental sciences
Teaching the Next Generation to Care for the Natural World
February 2026
Blending her passions for conservation and teaching, Annalee Anderson has found her calling as an environmental educator.
-
Biology Department
Shadowing Italian Surgeons and Soaking Up Sun
September 2024
This student traveled to the southern coast of Italy to experience surgery settings and set herself apart for med school.