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Degrees and Certificates
Biology – B.S.
College of Sciences
Excellence in the Field and the Lab
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Isn’t choosing a career all about discovering your passions and blazing a trail toward putting those passions to work? Fortunately, there are many possible trails you can blaze while getting a solid biology education from AUM.
You might find yourself taking a marine biology course at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab on the Gulf of Mexico. Or spending a semester abroad with other students in Costa Rica, South Africa, or the Galapagos Islands. Or, you might stay on campus and assist one of your professors working on a research project funded by the National Science Foundation or the U.S. Department of Energy. You might even be recognized for making an ecological discovery while working in AUM’s roughly 250 acres of ancient woodlands and wetlands.
The Bachelor of Science in Biology prepares students for a wide range of jobs and post-graduate options, including graduate school, health professions and others.
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 General Biology degree from AUM
We Prepare You For A Career Working Inside Or Outside
Know how to conduct yourself professionally in a lab (maybe as a microbiologist) and in the field, working as a zoologist or a wildlife biologist.
We Offer You The Chance To Assist With Research
Know how to conduct and document research by working with a faculty member. Or build your network traveling to professional conferences.
We Prepare You For A Rewarding Career
Know how (and why) careers in biology can be financially rewarding.
We Encourage You To Be Hands On
Know how to be hands-on by conducting research in the department’s Bioprocessing and Biofuels Research Lab or the Geospatial Research Institute.
Points of Pride
Soaring Warhawks
Customize Your Degree
We Have the Answers
Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth
There is a wide variety of job opportunities either in the lab, in the field, or a combination. Microbiologists, biochemists and agricultural scientists are employed in the private, nonprofit and government sectors. Some graduates go on to earn a master’s degree before taking the career plunge. Check out our Career Discovery Board, below on this page.
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!
Students in the General Biology program work with an expert advisor who will help you choose the right undergraduate classes and help you prepare for grad school applications.
It depends on several factors, including whether you have gone on to earn a master’s degree. Your experience, seniority and personal initiative also have a big impact on your income. See sample salaries on this page, under Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth.
Students seeking to continue their education in Medical, Veterinary, or Dental school are given dedicated resources that provide class schedule advising focused on career choice, assistance with graduate school applications, and more.
Degree Options
Is a Bachelor of Science in Biology Degree 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 |
| Biochemist | Master?s degree (Ph.D. preferred) | 5% (Slower than average) | $94,270 |
| Biology Technician | Bachelor's degree | 7% (As fast as average) | $46,340 |
| Agricultural and Food Scientist | Bachelor's degree | 9% (As fast as average) | $68,830 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologist | Bachelor's degree | 5% (Slower than average) | $66,350ÿ |
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.
Learn More
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 Science 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 Science 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. |
| BIOL 2010/2011 | Fundamentals of Microbiology/Lab | Basic aspects of microbiology including control of microbes, infection, and immunity selected infectious agents. |
| BIOL 2100/2101 | Anatomy and Physiology/Lab | Structure and function of the tissues, as well as the integumentary, skeletal, articular, muscular, nervous, and sensory systems. |
