Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Biology

The major program in biology provides students with a broad background in various areas of biology and prepares students to understand and use biological principles and methods. The relevance of biology to other disciplines is emphasized. The program promotes participation in laboratory and field studies. Students are prepared upon graduation to enter graduate school, professional school or careers in biologically-related areas.

Thiel's biology program allows students to explore the wide range of subdisciplines found in contemporary biology, from the cell and molecular to the ecosystem level of organization. Our laboratory and field based courses encourage students to study, analyze experimentally, and interpret biological problems, and to communicate effectively about biological matters.

Organized in three tracks, the biology program serves students with a variety of interests and prepares them for a wide diversity of graduate and professional education programs as well as some entry level careers. For more information about a particular track, click on your selection in the table below.

Biology Major with Two Tracks
A major in biology can be satisfied by completing the requirements for one of two tracks, traditional biology or conservation biology. The standard biology track is a traditional balance of requirements in molecular, organisms and population biology. (Drs. Cuff and Despo advise students in the traditional track.)

Conservation biology places more emphasis on biological diversity, population biology, environmental biology and conservation strategies. This discipline is international and global in perspective and requires an interdisciplinary perspective. (Drs. Balas and Palé advise conservation biology students.)