91Ô­´´

Program Overview

The Biology Major cultivates a foundational knowledge of the living world from sub-cellular to ecological and global scales. Critical thinking skills necessary to design, collect, and interpret datasets will be a central part of the major coursework, preparing students to teach critical thinking to their own students or to apply those skills to health or allied health professions where analytical skills will be applied in the workplace. Students will acquire the foundational knowledge and mathematical skills to interpret published research in their ultimate professional areas. Graduates may pursue a variety of career paths as educators, researchers, laboratory technicians, and other professionals. Students will also be prepared for graduate school in a variety of health professional, life, or environmental science fields. Students choose a concentration in one of two areas: Bioscience or Pre-Professional study.

In addition to the core classes in the Biology degree, students can choose a concentration
in bioscience or pre-professional study.

  • The Bioscience Concentration focuses on building a broader and deeper range of knowledge and
    skills in biology and further strengthens the student™s foundational knowledge of chemistry and
    mathematics to support scientific analytical skills.
  •  The Pre-Professional Concentration allows room for further study in biology, health science,
    math or physical science to support student professional goals.

By adding just one more year to your undergraduate degree, you can also earn a Master of Arts in Teaching that credentials you to teach science at the high school level!

All four-year 91Ô­´´ students complete two majors: one in Bible and Theology and one in their chosen field, such as Biology. Transfer students with substantial prior coursework may complete a reduced set of Bible and Theology requirements instead of the major. Learn more about the Bible and Theology curriculum here.

Pre-Professional Preparation for the Following Programs:

  • Medicine (MD/DO)
  • Physician Assistant
  • Dentist (DDS)
  • Veterinarian (DVM)
  • Researcher (MS or PhD)
  • Zoologist/Wildlife Biologist (MS or PhD or post-graduate certification)
  • Public Health (MS or PhD)
  • Science Teacher (Check out our Master of Arts in Teaching “ by adding just one more
    year to your undergraduate degree, you can earn a master™s degree that credentials
    you to teach science at the high school level!)
Photo of Dean of the School of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, Sarah Cathey
Program Director
Dr. Sarah Cathey
Dean, School of Science, Technology, & Mathematics
865-251-2309
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Spotlight

Meet Gianni

Gianni brings curiosity, creativity, and passion into everything he does. As a Life Sciences senior, he™s spending hours in the lab and traveling to animal rehab centers to study stress in bats, research that helps determine future animal health.

At JU, he™s gaining hands-on experience that™s shaping both his scientific skills and his future path!

Curriculum

  • Foundational Science Skills*
  • Principles of Biology I
  • Principles of Biology II
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology or Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Ecology
  • Biology Ethics
  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry*
  • Math for Life Sciences or Calculus I
  • Elementary Statistics
  • Scientific Writing*

*These are new courses in Biology Curriculum that are different from Life Sciences in the 2026-27 Academic Catalog.

 

Career Outlook

  • Laboratory Technician
  • Conservationist
  • Environmental Scientist
  • Biotech Sales
  • Health Educator
  • Forensic Scientists
  • Clinical Research
  • Quality Assurance Analyst