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Degrees and Certificates
Biology – B.A.
College of Sciences
Applying Your Scientific Knowledge to Improve the Community
Bachelor of Arts in Biology
The Bachelor of Arts in Biology degree at AUM was designed to mirror its Bachelor of Science counterpart, but with several differences. The BA in Biology is for those students whose career plans include:
For those planning to teach, this degree is perfectly paired with the innovative AUMTeach program, which was designed to help relieve the vast teacher shortage in Alabama and beyond. AUMTeach is a minor in Education for those majoring in Biology (and other STEM-related fields), but with some attractive benefits including an automatic scholarship for the Education minor and an Alabama teaching certificate.
AUM students in the BA in Biology program are not required to take part in AUMTeach (and, in fact, can choose any minor), but if you do, you’ll have an opportunity to serve others, earn more money, owe less debt, and get a leg-up to attending a graduate or professional school, should you pursue that option.
If your degree focus is in one of the S.T.E.M. fields—science, pre-engineering, computer science or mathematics—AUM provides an automatic scholarship to minor in Education and earn an Alabama teaching certificate. This unique program is called “AUMTeach.”
Get Your Degree
The Know How
What you will know with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology degree from AUM
We Offer You A Chance To Assist With Research
At most universities, research opportunities are limited to graduate students. At AUM, however, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct and document research under faculty supervision.
We Help You Succeed
With small class and lab sizes, you’ll get to know your professors in a way that you couldn’t at larger universities. Plus, AUM offers tutoring, peer mentoring, and other support to help you succeed.
We Prepare You For A Rewarding Career
Many students in the BA in Biology program choose to teach K-12. But you’ll also have the knowledge and skills to seek jobs in the private sector or government.
We Encourage You To Be Hands On
You’ll get plenty of lab time in classes such as Biology I and II, General and Organic Chemistry, and several electives.
Points of Pride
Soaring Warhawks
Customize Your Degree
We Have the Answers
Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth
The Bachelor of Science in Biology prepares students for a wide range of jobs, including research positions and post-graduate options such as graduate school and health-related professional schools. The Bachelor of Arts in Biology is mainly for those who want to go directly into the workforce or into K-12 education. There are several curriculum differences between the programs; for instance, BA majors have fewer mathematics requirements and don’t have to take Biochemistry, Microbiology, or Physics.
It helps to have a solid background in high school science topics, but don’t worry. Your interest in biology is more important than your previous class load. Besides, AUM has free tutoring and our professors are known to spend extra time on any student who needs it.
AUMTeach is a special minor in Education that provides an automatic scholarship to participants as well as an Alabama teaching certificate. It is specially focused on AUM students who are majoring in STEM-related fields–which is where the current teacher shortage is the most acute.
Graduates in STEM fields are a high priority for all employers but with a teaching certificate, you’ll have access to a new job market (even if you don’t plan a long-term teaching career), a solid resume-builder to enhance your graduate or professional school applications, and other benefits.
Due to the fact that demand for teachers of STEM subjects is high in Alabama, you can earn up to an additional $20,000 a year compared to those who teach other subject matter. As far as non-teaching jobs, factors that determine your income include experience, personal initiative, and your geographical location. See sample salaries on this page, under Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth.
Degree Options
Is a Bachelor of Arts in Biology right for me?
With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.
| Career/Job Title | Entry-level Education Requirements | Job Growth 2020-2030 | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation Scientist and Forester | Bachelor's degree | 7% (As fast as average) | $64,010 |
| Microbiologist | Bachelor's degree | 5% (Slower than average) | $84,400 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | Bachelor's degree (Master?s preferred) | 6% (As fast as average) | $137,940 |
| High School Teacher | Bachelor’s Degree | % (Little or no change) | $65,220 |
| Biology Technician | Bachelor's degree | 5% (Faster than average) | $51,430 |
| Agricultural and Food Scientist | Bachelor's degree | 6% (Faster than average) | $76,400 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologist | Bachelor's degree | 3% (As fast as average) | $70,600 |
Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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In-Class
Quick Facts
College of Sciences
At AUM’s College of Sciences, you will have hands-on learning experiences, working side by side with scholars and researchers using state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.
Our academic departments include Biology and Environmental Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Psychology. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.
Official Name of this Biology Degree
Bachelor of Arts in Biology
Modality
This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
Bachelor of Arts in Biology
Required Courses
You will need to complete courses in the university core, biology, related science areas, and electives. Contact the Biology and Environmental Sciences Department for a current listing of courses required to complete the Biology Health Sciences concentration.
The course listings below are only a few of the classes this concentration requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.
| Course Number | Course Name | What you will know… |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1020 | Organisms, Adaptations, and the Environment | Get acquainted with the unifying principles of biology: biological diversity, evolution, and ecology. |
| BIOL 1010/1011 | Cellular and Molecular Basis of Life | You’ll design your own experiment, perform it, analyze the data and then present the work to your peers. |
| CHEM 1100 | General Chemistry | A detailed study of atomic theory, chemical bonding, states of matter, solutions and acid-base theory. Corequisite CHEM 1101. |
| BIOL 2200 | Biostatistics | This course introduces students to statistical techniques commonly used in research and includes estimation and hypothesis testing. ANOVA, linear and non-linear regression, and non-parametric statistics. |
| BIOL 3300 | Genetics | The study of basic principles, concepts and problems relative to gene inheritance in animals and plants. The course includes topics that cover both classical and modern genetics. |
| BIOL 4200 | Cell Biology | The dynamics of the environment, accenting the description of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of local ecosystems, giving special attention to integrative and homeostatic processes, energy flow, nutrient cycles, and disruptive phenomena. |
