Step Toward your Career in Biology
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE OR ARTS
Dive deeper into all areas of biology, from the molecular basis of life to the interactions of living systems. At Stevenson, choose electives and tailor your degree to your specific interests and career aspirations, including Pre-Health, Molecular Biology, Animal Science, or Ecology.
Stevenson’s School of Sciences allows you to work in and collaborate with multiple labs on campus and prepare for an interdisciplinary science career. All labs are designed to fit 20 students, emphasizing small class sizes and focused faculty-student interaction.
Want to go the extra mile? Our Bachelor’s to Master’s Option allows you to graduate with a master’s in as little as five years.
Graduates of the Biology program will:
- ¶ºÄÌÊÓƵ knowledge of fundamental biological principles to the description and analysis of living systems.
- ¶ºÄÌÊÓƵ research skills and techniques to the investigation of biological questions.
- Evaluate scientific issues and findings using appropriate sources.
- Communicate scientific findings in written and oral formats appropriate to the audience.
- Conduct oneself in a manner consistent with the professional and ethical standards of the discipline.
- ¶ºÄÌÊÓƵ academic preparation to professional experiences outside the classroom.
Engage in Authentic Research
There are many ways for biology majors to participate in authentic research experiences, such as:
- Isolating and identifying new virus species in General Biology II as part of the SEA-PHAGE national research program.
- Exploring the microbiome in Human Physiology classes.
- Analyzing genomes in a genetics lab.
- Identifying new antibiotics in microbiology classes as part of the Tiny Earth national research program.
- Participating in one-on-one mentored research opportunities with biology faculty.
- Engaging in a research-based internship with our off-campus partners.
Hands-on Science: Tree Canopy Research
Biology students study campus plant life from a whole new level!
Salamanders and the Health of the Forest
Students and faculty from ¶ºÄÌÊÓƵ’s bachelor of science programs in Biology and Environmental Science examine the region’s salamander population to gauge the local environment’s health.
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Summer Research Opportunities
If you are looking for even more applied learning experience, each summer the School of the Sciences offers one-on-one research opportunities with our dynamic faculty members. Past projects have included new anti-cancer medications, reducing air pollution, forest habitats, and identifying fall injury risks.
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Specialized Elective Courses
Tailor your electives according to your own interest and career pathway.
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Designated Biology Labs and Research Centers
This includes two research labs, a molecular biology lab, a darkroom, a cell culture research lab, a research greenhouse, Sims Terrarium-Aquaria Room, an environmental research lab, and the Reynolds Microbiology Laboratory.
Tour our Laboratories
20
Students per Lab
Small class sizes create focused faculty-student interactions for our labs.
100%
of Students Complete a Senior Research or Internship Experience
Study what you are interested in! Research and internship experiences can be tailored to your specific career interests.
Stevenson Biology
Career Connections
Internship Placements
- Falls Road Animal Hospital
- Centers for Disease Control
- Cosmetic and Advanced Dentistry
- National Aquarium
- ThermoFisher Scientific
Top Employers
- Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Irvine Nature Center
- National Aquarium
- MedStar Health Physical Therapy
- Maryland State Police Forensic Lab
- MDSPCA
Graduate Opportunities
- Auburn University
- Carnegie Mellon
University - Harvard University
- Cornell University
- University of
Pennsylvania - University of Virginia
Career Pathways
- Veterinarian
- Physical Therapist
- Marine Biologist
- Neuroscientist
- Physician
- Wildlife Biologist
Your Career, Our Priority
Expert Pre-Professional Guidance to Achieve Your Goals
With pre-professional advising available from day one, our program maintains a high success rate for students applying to graduate and professional programs. Our graduates are well-prepared for careers or research in biological and other related fields, including human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, and more.
Study Biology at Stevenson
Courses
The courses in the preview below are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree in Biology. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).
Course Preview
| BIO 113 | General Biology: Cell Biology and Genetics | 3 credits |
| BIO 114 | General Biology II | 3 credits |
| BIO 218 | Career Connections in the Life Sciences | 3 credits |
| BIO 230 | Genetics | 4 credits |
| BIO 235L | Diversity of Life | 1 credit |
| CHEM 115 | General Chemistry I | 3 credits |
| CHEM 210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 credits |
| MATH 136 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 credits |
| SCI 215 | Writing in the Sciences | 3 credits |
Academic Catalog
Explore our academic catalog for a full listing of courses, course descriptions, and suggested course sequence for Stevenson’s Biology program.
| First Year Seminar | 1 credit | |
| Principles of General Biology | 3 credits | |
| or | ||
| General Biology I: Cell Biology and Genetics | 3 credits | |
| General Biology I Laboratory: Cell Biology and Genetics | 1 credit | |
| or | ||
| Honors – General Biology I Laboratory | 1 credit | |
| General Biology II: Structure and Function of Organisms | 3 credits | |
| General Biology II Laboratory: Structure and Function of Organisms | 1 credit | |
| General Biology III: Ecology and Evolution | 3 credits | |
| General Biology III Laboratory: Ecology and Evolution | 1 credit | |
| Career Connections in the Life Sciences | 1 credit | |
| Genetics | 4 credits | |
| Diversity of Life | 1 credit | |
| Capstone Internship | 3 credits | |
| or | ||
| Capstone Internship | 6 credits | |
| Capstone Seminar | 3 credits | |
| General Chemistry I with Problem Solving | 3 credits | |
| or | ||
| General Chemistry I | 3 credits | |
| General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 credit | |
| General Chemistry I SoLVE | 0 credits | |
| General Chemistry II | 3 credits | |
| General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 credit | |
| General Chemistry II SoLVE | 0 credits | |
| Organic Chemistry I | 3 credits | |
| Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 credit | |
| Introduction to Statistics | 4 credits | |
| Writing in the Sciences | 3 credits |
Minors and Other Options
Minor in Biology
The minor in biology requires successful completion of a minimum of six courses and 18 credits with a BIO prefix. For biology courses with a separate lab co-requisite, both the lab and lecture for the course must be taken; however, the lab does not count as a separate course toward the minor.
Please see the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences for further information regarding this minor. General guidelines regarding minors may be found in the minors section of the catalog.
Add a Professional Minor
Open yourself up to additional career paths with one of our professional minors. Each minor is designed to pair with students’ majors to give them additional career options, a competitive edge in the job market, and an opportunity to shape their Stevenson experience to meet their specific career goals.
BA Option
Students also have the option of completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. The student must fulfill all SEE requirements, program requirements, and complete two semesters of a foreign language from the point of placement or completion of 202 level.
BS/MS Option
BS/MS options are available for students majoring in Biology who wish to combine their bachelor’s coursework while working toward a ¶ºÄÌÊÓƵ Master’s Degree in one of the following:
- Community-Based Education and Leadership
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Forensic Science
- Healthcare Management
- Masters of Arts in Teaching
Explore More Bachelor’s to Master’s Options
Service-Learning Options
Service learning options are offered periodically with some biology courses. Please consult the course instructor or the department chair if you have any questions.
Biology Honors
Eligible students majoring in biology may elect to pursue honors within the Department of Biological Sciences. The intention to pursue department honors must be declared before the start of their last semester before graduation. To declare the intent to pursue department honors, a student must have earned a science/math GPA of 3.50 or higher and a plan to finish the honors requirements outlined below.
Students graduating with Department of Biological Sciences honors will have this distinction noted on their official university transcript. In order to graduate with department honors, the following requirements must be met:
- Completion of one research experience.
- Completion of a second research experience or a 300-400 level BIO elective that is not being used to fulfill a degree requirement in the major.
- An oral presentation of the research experience to the department.
- A science/math GPA of 3.5 or higher at graduation.
Biology Laboratory Tours
Stevenson’s School of Sciences allows you to work in and collaborate with multiple labs on campus and prepare for an interdisciplinary science career. All 27 on-campus labs are designed to fit 20 students, emphasizing small class sizes and focused faculty-student interaction.
Featured Equipment
- Binocular Light Microscopes
- PCR Machines
- Temperature-controlled Incubators
- Microcentrifuges
- Gel Electrophoresis Apparatus
Explore our Spaces
Meet Our Students & Alumni
On the Honorable Path
Jaibyn Hull
Biology Major / Pre-Medicine Track
After reading books like the “One Last Wish” series by Lurlene McDaniel as an adolescent, Jaibyn dreamed of one day becoming a physician. “Finding the perfect college for me was a priority,” she says. With that determination, Jaibyn toured over 10 colleges but always found herself drawn back to her first campus visit: ¶ºÄÌÊÓƵ.
Biology News
The essay identifies how a scientific society can catalyze representational, structural, and interactional diversity to achieve greater inclusion. This requires intentional commitment to capacity building, community engagement, and supporting anti-racist policies/actions. The paper offers a framework for increased diversity through recruitment, but more broadly aims to create a culture of inclusion and systemic change in […]
Students enjoyed a “Biology Brain Break” outdoors on OMN! Each week the biology department is hosting a different event to give students the opportunity to take a break and socialize with fellow students, faculty, and staff. This one was an outdoor event featuring a campfire, smores, and yard games. All are welcome! Upcoming events include […]
Congratulations to SU biology student, Tiana Marshall, on acceptance to Veterinary School! Tiana was recently accepted to Virginia – Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Tiana stated, “Stevenson has prepared me for my future career by giving me the tools I need to succeed both academically and professionally.” Way to go, Tiana!
Have a Question?
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Undergraduate Admissions
Owings Mills Campus
Garrison Student Union
North Entrance, Second Floor
1-877-468-6852