Undergraduate Program
The Department of Biology offers courses and conducts research spanning the broad spectrum of contemporary biological sciences. Its award-winning faculty, advanced research facilities, and modern degree programs offer exciting opportunities for students with either general or more specialized interests in biology, as well as pre-professional students. With expertise ranging from molecular biology to ecology and evolution to the biomedical sciences, the Biology Department provides a dynamic environment in which to pursue both undergraduate and advanced degrees.
Biology is the science of life. It was born from inquiry into the growth and development of plants and animals, but its foundations were only recently established. Advances in genetics, coupled with Darwin’s concept of evolution by natural selection, provided the framework for advanced understanding of cellular mechanisms, physiological processes, behavior, and ecological interactions. Studying biology at Boston University encompasses the breadth of this wide-ranging discipline, with research interests spanning all levels of biological organization from the molecular and organismal to the ecology of populations and entire ecosystems. The department has unusual strengths in integrating across these levels of organization, providing students with a broad spectrum of coursework and opportunities for collaborative research.
The department offers undergraduate degree programs that can be tailored to individual interests. The BA in Biology combines breadth in the sciences with training in biology that allows focus on specific disciplines. Students may also choose one of several specializations that typically require up to three courses beyond the normal requirements for the major. Specializations are available in 1) Behavorial Biology; 2) Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Genetics; 3) Quantitative Biology; 4) Neurobiology; and 5) Ecology & Conservation Biology. Students can also follow the recommended pre-professional curricula for medicine and related fields. Many of our students, including those pursuing pre-medical studies, also take advantage of a semester-long international program in Tropical Ecology. Finally, the Marine Semester offers intensive, research-oriented courses in a unique block format.
Many opportunities exist for undergraduate research relating to one or more of the four main faculty research areas represented in the department: Cell & Molecular Biology; Neurobiology; Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; and Marine Biology. Our faculty also participate in interdepartmental undergraduate programs in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Marine Science as well a combined BA/MA program in Biotechnology.
The Biology Department is located on Boston University’s Charles River Campus near many of the major historical and cultural attractions of the city.
For more information on undergraduate admissions, visit the BU admissions website.
Our Undergrads
Erin McDougal works in Professor Jelle Atema's laboratory studying female American lobster mating preferences for healthy versus shell-diseased males.
Florencia Rago, a Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major, works with Dean Tolan on enzyme protein structure and function. She is a Beckman Scholar supported by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.
Verity Salmon is a senior who currently works in Professor Adrien Finzi's lab. Her project examines the role of tannins in soil nutrient cycling,
Peter Stetson works with Professors Phil Lobel and Les Kaufman on coral reef mapping technologies in Belize.
Beth Cimini works in Professor William Eldred’s laboratory on signaling pathways involving the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the retina.