Get a Hands-On Perspective in Preparation for Multiple Career Paths
Biology is the study of life — from the simplest, one-celled organism to complex ecosystems. But that simple definition only hints at where the field can lead you. With a bachelor's degree in biology from Clarkson, you could pursue a career in healthcare, develop new drugs, protect vulnerable habitats, go on to teach or continue your education in graduate school.
Why Study Biology at Clarkson?
When you study the sciences at Clarkson, doing and learning go hand in hand.
You'll focus on the fundamental concepts of the field, building a foundation in health and biomedical science (human and animal), biotechnology and environmental science.
Through it all, you'll put the concepts you learn to work, both in the lab and Clarkson's rich natural surroundings.
Those are research opportunities you'd typically find at a large university. The best part: we combine them with the small classes and personal attention from faculty that you find at a small college.
What You'll Learn
Your classes will give you an overview of the field while allowing the flexibility to focus on the topics that excite you the most — such as cellular and molecular biology, biotechnology or environmental biology.
If you're interested in the health sciences, the pre-health advising track can guide you to graduate work in veterinary science, medicine or physical or occupational therapy.
You'll take classes including:
Conservation Biology
Genetics
Medical Microbiology
Molecular and Genome Evolution
Pharmacology
Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
The biology program consists of 40 credit hours in biology, 16-17 credit hours in chemistry, 8 credit hours in physics, and 9 credit hours in mathematics and computer science. 24 credit hours are in free electives, which is enough to complete a minor or second major if you so choose.
All courses are 3 credits unless noted.
Clarkson Common Experience
The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson. FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit) UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)
Biology Core Requirements
Students are required to complete the following courses:
Students are required to complete one of the following Professional Experience (0 credits):
BY405
BY410
BY495
BY498
BY499
Chemistry and Physics Courses for Biology
Students must complete the following courses:
CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
or CM103 Structure & Bonding
and CM105 Chemistry Laboratory I (2 credits)
CM132 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
or CM104 Chemical Equilibrium & Dynamics
and CM106 Chemistry Laboratory II (2 credits)
CM241 Organic Chemistry I
CM242 Organic Chemistry II
CM244 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
PH141 Physics for Life Sciences I (4 credits)
or PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
PH142 Physics for Life Sciences II (4 credits)
or PH132 Physics II (4 credits)
Mathematics and Computer Science Courses for Biology
Students must complete the following three courses:
MA131 Calculus I or MA132 Calculus II
A Statistics and Probability (STAT) course
Mathematics (MA) or Computer Science (CS) courses at 100-level or higher
Biology Core Electives
Lab Elective
Students must complete two biology lab courses at the 200-level or higher (excluding BY405 and BY410).
Knowledge Area/University Course Electives
Students will have at least 18 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.
Free Electives
Students will have approximately 24 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.
Whether you're interested in healthcare, biomedicine, environmental biology or another discipline, we'll help you find a co-op or internship where you can put your skills to work. Pre-health students often work in local clinics and hospitals, while our Career Center can connect you to opportunities at places like Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
Every faculty member in the Biology department has an active research lab, and many collaborate across disciplines. And, each of those labs relies on undergraduate research assistants. In the past, Clarkson students have studied the development of the digestive tract using a zebrafish model, ways to control invasive Eurasian watermilfoil and the regeneration of the spinal disc.
Sophisticated research demands sophisticated tools. You'll have the chance to use the same instrumentation our faculty and grad students rely on. Learn techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Other instruments available for teaching and research include:
Electron microscopes
Mass spectrometers
Particle sizers
Thermal and mechanical analyzers
UV/visible, fluorescence and atomic adsorption spectrometers
X-ray diffractometers
Biology students can join the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society, where they can discuss recent breakthroughs, participate in seminars and perform community service. Or, join any of more than 200 clubs and organizations, including ones devoted to sports, gaming and more.
Students pursuing other majors at Clarkson also have the option to minor in biology. The minor in biology is composed of 20 of the 120 required credits for a bachelor's degree.
BY214 Genetics or BY222 Ecology or BY320 Microbiology or BY360 Physiology
Laboratory:
BY224 General Ecology Laboratory (2 credits) or BY142 Biology I Laboratory (2 credits) or BY162 Biology II Laboratory (2 credits) or BY322 Microbiology Laboratory (2 credits) or BY362 Physiology Laboratory (2 credits)
Elective Courses (9 credits)
Students must take at least 9 credits of biology courses numbered 300 or above.
Medicine and Healthcare
The best healthcare practitioners are more than technically proficient. They're also keenly aware of ethics, history and other perspectives on their profession. Get insights that will prepare you for what awaits in the field while gaining invaluable hands-on experience. Learn more about the medicine and healthcare minor.
A biology degree from Clarkson is flexible — it gives you the chance to explore multiple career paths while you seek your passion. And, many of those jobs are in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers see a growing need for nurses, doctors, wildlife biologists, technicians and other specialists.
Some of the careers you can pursue include:
Biomedical researcher
Environmental scientist
Dentist
Physical or occupational therapist
Physician
Teacher or professor
Veterinarian
Wildlife biologist
Recent Employers
Graduates have started industry careers through:
Achievement First
Albany Medical Center
Banfield Pet Hospital
Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital, members of Beth Israel Lahey Health
Cornell University
Global Football Connect
Middlesex Hospital
NorDx
NYS Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation
Price Waterhouse Coopers
Procter & Gamble
Randstad Corporate Services
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Sandstone Care
Saratoga Hospital
Saratoga Veterinary Hospital
Striker
The Manor
Trudeau Institute
UVM Medical Center
WellNow Urgent Care
Graduate Schools
Biology majors have gone on to graduate work at institutions such as:
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Bangor University
Case Western Reserve University
Cornell University
Pace University
SUNY Upstate Medical University
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
The University of Texas at Austin
University of Vermont
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Get a Head Start on Your Healthcare Career
If you're interested in becoming a physical therapist (PT), occupational therapist (OT) or physician assistant (PA), our Direct Entry Healthcare program can make it easier to reach your goal.
After completing your BS in Biology, you'll jump right into a master's or doctorate degree program in your chosen field at Clarkson.
You won't need to complete a second application — as long as you keep up your grades and satisfy other requirements, Direct Entry participants get a guaranteed spot in one of these programs:
