Biology is the study of living organisms — what they are, where they live, how they evolve, and how they reproduce, grown and develop. The biology program is designed to give you both the breadth and depth of knowledge you'll need to understand current biology at all levels of integration. As a freshman and sophomore, you will complete the same rigorous requirements as other science students, including calculus, inorganic and organic chemistry, and four core biology courses. In your junior and senior years, you will focus on an area of biology that reflects your academic interests and goals.
The Penn State Harrisburg biology program aims to provide students with an overview of the general principles of biology, including molecular, cellular, genetic, organismal, community and evolutionary perspectives. With this broad goal in mind, biology graduates will:
- understand the dynamic nature of biology
- see how the scientific principles of nature further the understanding of life
- appreciate how these principles provide an essential pillar of knowledge for society
Graduates of the Penn State Biology program will have acquired diversified knowledge appropriate to their individual goals and understand formal experimental design through laboratory experiences and authentic research opportunities. They will have the ability to analyze interpret and summarize data in order to solve problems relevant to the discipline. Graduates will be effective in communicating biological concepts and ideas using both oral and written formats with the highest academic integrity. Finally, they will have a foundation to pursue career paths in professional schools, graduate schools, or entry into the workforce.
In order to be eligible for entrance to the biology major, a student at any location must have:
- Attained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average
- Completed BIOL 110, CHEM 110, AND MATH 140 with a graduate of C or better
- Completed either BIOL 220W or 230W or 240W with a graduate of C or better
For the B.S. degree in biology, a minimum of 124 credit is required.