Undergraduate Biology Programs

Life and living things

The Gardner-Webb biology program prepares you for service in life science. You’ll study living systems of the world side-by-side with passionate faculty mentors and take part in real-life scenarios, in the classroom and out in the field, with your peers. Our faculty will know your name, as well as your career aspirations, and personally invest in your success. 

Our small class sizes give you the unique opportunity to engage in hands-on undergraduate research and labs from the start. During your program, you’ll master lab and field techniques, from applying the scientific method to natural phenomena and information to using key mathematical and statistical procedures and analyses. We also equip you with lifelong skills you’ll need no matter what science-oriented career you choose, like strong problem solving techniques and written and verbal communication abilities.

Curriculum

What You’ll Learn

Your classes, labs, and hands-on learning experiences will help you:

  • Balance your scientific knowledge with the values of faith, stewardship, ethics, and social responsibility
  • Assess sources and make informed decisions about issues such as healthcare, public policy, and stewardship of creation
  • Own research projects from start to finish
  • Gain fundamental lab practices and field research methods, including documentation and safety
  • Apply the scientific method to natural phenomena and information
  • Identify, analyze, and apply key biological terms and concepts from molecules to cells to organisms to ecological systems, including evolutionary processes
  • Understand use of mathematical and statistical procedures and analyses
  • Analyze and communicate biological information in written, visual, and oral formats

Available Programs

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Choose between the biomedical concentration, which emphasizes anatomy, physiology, cell biology, biochemistry, microbiology, and other topics needed for a career in health or veterinary fields or a general biology curriculum that has more biodiversity, ecology, and other areas of biology.

   For more information about courses recommended for health and veterinary careers, see Gardner-Webb’s Pre-Professional Pathways.

In addition to the Gardner-Webb University general education requirements, you’ll complete a minimum of 34 hours of biology coursework in the major.

For a more in-depth look at program requirements, visit our Academic Catalog.

Second Major in Biology

A student seeking a second major in any field of study offered by the Department of Natural Sciences must meet all of the criteria for the primary major.

Minor in Biology

Students pursuing a Minor in Biology will take a general biology course, as well as an animal or plant science course, a molecular science course, and a biology elective, for a total of 16 credit hours.

For a more in-depth look at minor requirements, visit our Academic Catalog.

Additional Minors

Additional minors available in the Department of Natural Sciences include the Chemistry Minor (20 hours), the Environmental Science Minor (20 hours), the Forensic Science Minor (15 hours), the Health Science Minor (16–17 hours), the Physical Science Minor (16 hours), and the General Science Minor (20 hours).

Outcomes

What You’ll Do

Whether you pursue professional or graduate studies or directly enter environmental services, biological fields, human medicine and health, or education, our biology program will prepare you to meet your goals. 

You may pursue a wide range of health-related professions with additional education, including becoming the following:

  • General Doctor
  • Physician Assistant
  • Physical Therapist
  • Dentist
  • Pharmacist
  • Researcher
  • Veterinarian

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Admissions & Aid

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