Biology
Ready to take the next step?
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.
Your classes, labs, and hands-on learning experiences will help you:
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.
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.
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 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).
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:
Learn more about the Department of Natural Sciences
As a biology major, you will have opportunities to complete research, internships, or other activities that will prepare you for your next steps. If you will continue your studies with a graduate or professional program, discuss your goals with your advisor and see what opportunities will best meet those future requirements.
Work at a hospital, medical office, veterinary clinic, pharmacy, or other care provider. Find a role in business, academic research, and environmental science. You also may serve as a lab assistant, gaining valuable experience that other schools typically reserve for graduate-level students!
Conduct one-on-one research with your professor. Under the guidance of your faculty mentor, you’ll select a research topic and learn the scientific process of discovery. Become a subject matter expert and present your work through research posters or oral presentations at local and regional science conferences.
We mentor our students at every step of the way, from course selection to applications for internships and undergraduate research experiences to searching and applying for graduate and professional schools. Your professors will provide assistance and advice with mock interviews to help you prepare for graduate and professional school interviews or job interviews.
Start your college career. Once you've found the program that's right for you, learn how to apply and become one of the approximately 96% of our students that receive financial aid.
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