College	Arts and Sciences
Academic Award	Bachelor of Science
Credits Required	122 semester credits
Faculty Lead	Charlotte Easterling
CIP Code	26.0101

Degree Requirements

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The study of biology strives to understand the natural world we live in, including the human body. The Biology major focuses on how living things work, how they interact with each other and the non-living world, as well as how our actions influence nature, including human health. Studying biology causes us to ask questions, make observations, describe potential answers, design studies, collect evidence, evaluate data and solve problems. This field covers a broad range of disciplines including anatomy, biochemistry, biotechnology, cellular biology, ecology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, physiology, and zoology. Career options with a Biology degree include biotechnology, research technician, pharmaceutical development, ecological restoration, wildlife management, forensics, teaching, graduate school (MS or PhD), and other health professional schools (MD, DO, DVM, PA, DDS).

Graduates with a degree in Biology will be able to:

1. Effectively communicate scientific research.
2. Demonstrate a strong knowledge base in the biological sciences.
3. Analyze primary scientific literature.
4. Apply the scientific method to answer scientific questions.
5. Demonstrate competency in basic scientific laboratory techniques.
6. Articulate a Christian worldview that integrates faith and science.

Students majoring in biology have a wide range of interesting and challenging career opportunities. Accordingly, the major is designed to enable a student to choose a track that supports his or her chosen career path. Following the completion of the Foundations phase of the biology curriculum, a student, in consultation with a science advisor, chooses the track that provides the basis for further education or chosen career path. The tracks from which a student may select are: Health Science or General Science. 

The Pre-Professional Committee is tasked with writing letters of recommendation for professional schools. The procedure for obtaining a letter of recommendation is as follows:

1. Prepare the formal application and submit it to the Science Department Chair. All materials should be submitted three months before the application deadlines as a single PDF.
   1. On the cover page include your name, overall GPA as of the last semester before application, your science GPA, and your standardized exam score (MCAT, DAT, or GRE). A minimum science GPA of 3.0 is recommended.
   2. Attach unofficial transcripts documenting all your previous collegiate academic work.
   3. Submit a (one page maximum) typed statement of personal and professional interest.
   4. Submit two professional reference letters speaking to the applicant’s character, leadership activities, and service commitment so that an assessment of the applicant’s potential for success can be made. Northwest University science professors or members of your family may not be used for reference letters.
   5. Include a well-organized list of medical related volunteering, shadowing, jobs, and other life experiences with brief descriptions of each. Letters from people you worked with may be attached to this page. Students are encouraged to have completed some level of experience prior to applying for a letter of recommendation from the pre-professional committee.
   6. Submit a list of all schools that you are considering attending. Include their requirements for admission, specifically average GPA, average MCAT, and total volunteering hours.
2. Once the application is complete and submitted, the applicant will set up an interview with the Pre-Professional Committee through the Science Department Chair. At the end of the interview, the committee will notify the applicant if a letter will be written.

Health Science Track

The Health Science track develops students as scholarly professionals who are dedicated to pursuing advanced studies in medicine and who are qualified for admission to professional schools. Professional schools include Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDS), Doctor of Optometry (DO), Physician’s Assistant (PA), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Naturopathy, and more.

General Science Track

The General Science track develops students who can apply their scientific training in a wide variety of career paths, or who are prepared to pursue graduate studies in the sciences.