Biology - Major (B.S.)

Major: Biology
Degree awarded: Bachelor of Science
Total credit hours: 60-61
Internship/Practicum opportunities: Visit the Career Development Center for internship information.

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Online Academic Catalog Details / Required Courses

About the Biology Major

If you’re charting a course to graduate study in medicine or science or a career in a lab or research, you can reach your goal through the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology degree program from Thiel College.

Our Biology major is designed for studying the science of life. That is a broad description that covers the endless directions this degree can take you. You might:

Become a physician or veterinarian,
Explore the boundaries of biotechnology
Discover a breakthrough drug for a pharmaceutical company, or
Monitor and protect the planet as an environmental biologist or conservation expert.

Here, you have the chance to work closely with caring faculty in small classes as you gain professional skills through lab-based learning and conducting research. But you will also be able to pursue your own interests in a culminating capstone project that can result in a publication-quality scientific research paper.

Bachelor of Science in Biology Program Curriculum

The Biology major at Thiel provides a comprehensive study of the sciences that govern life. You will begin with foundational courses in biology and chemistry, and then move on to a deeper exploration of the discipline through courses such as Cell Biology: A Molecular Approach, General Ecology, Genetics, and Biostatistics and Research Methods.

In all, you take 60 or 61 credits of math and science-based classes, compared to 44 in the B.A. in Biology program.

What’s more, a Thiel education has always been built on the premise that the liberal arts unlock deeper problem-solving, communication and critical thinking skills that are vital to every career. As a scientist, you will use your imagination and creativity to overcome challenges — abilities you develop through classes in disciplines including the humanities, sociopolitical studies, foreign languages and religion.

Explore the curriculum in the Academic Catalog.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Biology does not happen in textbooks: It is all around us. Working in labs and the field as a Thiel student, you’ll get the kind of hands-on experience that brings classroom lessons to life.

Past Thiel students have explored the genetic makeup of newly discovered viruses through our SEA-PHAGES program, collaborated with the Greenville Neuromodulation Center to study how the immune system protects the body against listeria and conducted field studies in the Caribbean, all under the guidance of expert faculty dedicated to their success.

That research does not just sit on a shelf; often, Thiel biology students present their findings at regional and national conferences.

Transition Into Graduate Programs

Many science careers, such as medicine, require advanced degrees in order to practice. Thiel’s B.S. in Biology program will prepare you for a wide range of graduate programs, providing foundational knowledge that you can specialize in a master’s or doctoral degree program.

Our students can be found in programs across the country. Thiel graduates have studied:

Microbiology and immunology at Georgetown University
Biotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania
Science biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Medicine at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Biology Major Objectives

A Bachelor of Science in Biology degree is a toolkit for understanding life in all its forms, from the simplest single-cell organisms to complex plants, animals and fungi. While you learn to recognize processes governing everything from cell function to genetic manipulation, you also develop the insight needed to create new knowledge.

Biology students at Thiel will:

Explore, analyze experimentally and interpret biological problems, including modeling and simulation, quantitative reasoning and the generation of lab reports that reflect the methodology.
Understand biological principles and their implications, including evolution, structure and function, transformation of energy and matter and biological systems.
Communicate effectively about biological and ecological matters and demonstrate effective communication in oral and written forms in the field.
Cultivate interpersonal skills and learn to be a valuable member of a team.
Network with distinguished Biology alumni.

Alumni & Careers

The biology major can lead in countless directions. You could pursue a healthcare career, treating and curing disease. You might study our oceans, forests or atmosphere. You could go into research for pharmaceuticals to identify new, life-saving drugs.

Earning a degree from Thiel prepares you for success — but you also have a team on your side as you prepare for life after college. In addition to the support you gain from our 15,000-strong alumni network, our Career Development Center, open to both undergraduates and alumni, can help you prepare for interviews, polish your resume, and find internships and job openings.

Our graduates work in places including:

Fish hatchery, Alaska
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium
PPG Industries, laboratory technician
United States Department of Agriculture
WIL Research (Ashland, OH), Radiobiologist
Willow Valley Communities

Student Life Experiences

Make connections, meet friends, gain experience and discover new interests when you get involved in any of the dozens of clubs and activities offered at Thiel. As a Biology major, you might join the Beta Beta Beta national biology honor society, work in the lab with the Sigma Xi scientific research society or head into the field with the Environmental Club.

Explore all the ways you can connect with the community through Thiel’s campus life opportunities.

Scholarship Opportunities

A Thiel education opens doors, and our Financial Aid Office can open doors to Thiel. Approximately 99% of our students received some kind of financial aid assistance.

Biology students who have demonstrated academic excellence, community service or involvement may be eligible for specific scholarships, including:

Marion G. Resch Science Scholarship at Thiel College
Dr. Florence West Tribute to Dr. Bly
Ruth and Sheridan Brown Allied Health Scholarship
The Dr. Judith A Crissman '64 Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Maenpa Family Biotechnology Endowed Scholarship Fund at Thiel College
Elizabeth McElhaney Scholarship
J. Scott Morrison Endowment for Science and Religion
Arthur E. Smith Scholarship Fund
TWC Amelia Earhart Scholarship
The Ethel Smith Vierheller Award Fund
Irene Wintersteen Memorial Science Scholarship

Learn More About Thiel College’s Biology Major

If you’re focused on pursuing a career in the sciences, a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Thiel College will help you get there. As a biology major, you’ll experience an intensive, lab-based curriculum, independent research opportunities and guidance from faculty who know what it takes to succeed in the field or graduate school.