BS Biological Sciences

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Cornell University

Program Overview

The BS in Biological Sciences at Cornell University gives students a broad foundation across biology while allowing them to tailor their studies through one of Cornell’s biology concentrations, supported by coursework in chemistry, physics, mathematics, genetics, and biochemistry. It suits students interested in areas ranging from medicine and biotechnology to research, ecology, microbiology, and other life-science careers, with access to more than 380 biology courses and extensive undergraduate research opportunities.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their biological-sciences foundation through the Introductory Biology Cluster, choosing courses such as BIOMG 1350 – Introductory Biology: Cell and Developmental Biology, BIOG 1440 – Introductory Biology: Comparative Physiology, or BIOEE 1610 – Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment. They also begin laboratory and scientific-investigation training through BIOG 1500 – Investigative Biology Laboratory and build supporting knowledge in chemistry and mathematics.

Year 2: Students deepen their understanding of biological systems through BIOEE 1780 – An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity and begin the major’s advanced core areas, including Genetics and Genomics and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Students can also begin developing their chosen concentration, creating a more focused academic pathway within the broad Biological Sciences curriculum.

Year 3: Coursework becomes increasingly advanced and concentration-focused, allowing students to explore specialized biological topics while completing the remaining core requirements in genetics, genomics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Students can also strengthen practical research skills through advanced laboratory courses or BIOG 4990 – Independent Undergraduate Research, depending on their concentration.

Year 4: Students complete advanced concentration coursework and bring together their knowledge of biological systems, scientific investigation, quantitative reasoning, and research. Those pursuing honors can undertake original research under the direct guidance of a Cornell faculty member and develop a thesis based on that research.

Focus Areas: Animal Physiology, Biochemistry, Biodiversity & Systematics, Computational Biology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Genetics & Development, Insect Biology, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular & Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Behavior, Nutrition, Plant Biology, and Immunology Health & Disease.

Learning Outcomes: Students learn to explain biological processes from molecules to ecosystems, apply quantitative and physical-science principles to biology, evaluate scientific hypotheses and evidence, interpret scientific literature, communicate scientific arguments clearly, and develop deeper expertise in one or more biological disciplines.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Cornell’s official program information identifies the BS as a Bachelor of Science offered through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; it does not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Biological Sciences BS. The curriculum nevertheless provides academic preparation for pathways including medicine, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, academic research, and science-related careers.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Cornell’s official sources report strong employer recognition at the university level; for example, Cornell reported that its QS World University Rankings position incorporated an employer reputation indicator, while the Biological Sciences program itself reports 300+ faculty, 380+ courses, and 70% of majors participating in undergraduate research before graduation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Cornell University’s Biological Sciences B.S. gives students substantial opportunities to build practical skills through laboratory courses, independent research, field-based study, and hands-on work across the biological sciences. Students can pursue research with faculty, use specialized laboratories and scientific facilities, and choose coursework spanning areas such as molecular biology, microbiology, ecology, evolution, and genetics. The program also allows students to tailor their studies through concentrations and gain experience with modern biological research methods and instrumentation.

Experiential Opportunities:

Independent Research: Students can undertake independent research with Cornell faculty, gaining experience designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating scientific findings.
Research Facilities: Biological Sciences students have access to Cornell’s extensive life-sciences research environment, including laboratories and research facilities across the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and other Cornell biological-science departments.
Laboratory Courses: Practical laboratory components allow students to develop skills in experimental biology, scientific observation, data analysis, and laboratory techniques.
Field-Based Learning: Students can gain field experience through courses and research involving ecology, evolution, biodiversity, environmental biology, and organismal biology.
Biological Collections: Cornell’s biological research resources include major scientific collections that support teaching and research in areas such as biodiversity, evolution, and organismal biology.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Students interested in ecology, evolution, animal biology, and conservation can engage with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a major research and education center with extensive scientific collections and field-based research opportunities.
Boyce Thompson Institute: Cornell’s Ithaca research environment includes the Boyce Thompson Institute, where research focuses on plant biology and related areas of life-science research.
Computational & Data Skills: Biological Sciences students can develop quantitative and computational skills through coursework and research involving biological data, statistics, and modern approaches to biological analysis.
Libraries & Research Resources: Students have access to Cornell University Library resources and specialized scientific information services to support laboratory work, research projects, literature reviews, and independent study.
Faculty Research: The program connects students with Cornell’s broad research community, allowing undergraduates to participate in faculty-led research and explore biological questions beyond the classroom.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Cornell University BS in Biological Sciences provides a broad foundation in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics while allowing students to specialize through one of multiple concentrations, including microbiology. Graduates can move directly into research, biotechnology, healthcare and other life-science careers or continue into graduate, medical, veterinary or other professional education.

Typical Job Roles: Research Associate, Clinical Research Coordinator, Bioinformatics Programmer, Associate Scientist.

Career Support & Employment Services:

Office of Undergraduate Biology: Provides comprehensive academic, career and research advising, helping students plan their studies, research experiences and career goals.
Undergraduate Research: More than 70% of Biological Sciences majors participate in undergraduate research before graduation, while more than 500 students earn academic credit for research each year.
Career Outcomes Dashboard: Cornell CALS provides information on graduate programs, employers, job titles, industries and the relationship between majors and employment.
Career Network: Cornell's University Career Development provides career data and employment resources, including full-time U.S. salary information where sufficient survey responses are available.

Employment Statistics & Salary:

Cornell A&S Class of 2025: 66.6% of graduates were employed and 28.8% were attending graduate school; the reported median salary was $85,500 and average salary was $88,426. These figures cover the College of Arts & Sciences overall, not Biological Sciences specifically.
Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals/Life Sciences: 2% of Cornell A&S Class of 2025 employed graduates entered this sector.
CALS Salary Reference: Cornell's published CALS 2019 outcomes reported a $63,000 median starting salary and $62,030 average starting salary across CALS graduates; Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals had a reported $47,846 average salary.

University–Industry Partnerships: Cornell's Center for Life Science Enterprise, housed within the Cornell Institute of Biotechnology, supports collaborations between Cornell researchers and New York State life-science companies, including commercialization projects and industry-supported research. In 2026, Cornell reported seven biotechnology partnerships receiving CAT grants, with more than $1.2 million in combined project support and $643,000 in matching industry contributions.

Industry Exposure: The Cornell Institute of Biotechnology connects the university's life-science ecosystem with industry, investors, government and external organizations, while its Biotechnology Resource Center supports research users from corporations and public agencies.

Accreditation Value: Cornell University has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1921 and was most recently reaffirmed in 2021; Cornell's current university-wide accreditation process is pursuing re-accreditation for 2028–2029. The university's official sources do not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Biological Sciences BS.

Graduation Outcomes: Biological Sciences graduates have documented pathways into employment and advanced education. Cornell reports that, in a 2022 first-destination survey of Biological Sciences majors, 32% pursued graduate school, with graduate fields including medicine, neuroscience/neurobiology, and biochemistry, molecular and cell biology; students continued at institutions including Duke, Harvard, MIT, Columbia and Caltech.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS, students can progress to MS or PhD programs in biological sciences and related research fields, as well as medical, veterinary and dental schools. Cornell specifically recommends undergraduate research as important preparation for research-based MS/PhD programs, while its Biological Sciences curriculum identifies graduate, medical and veterinary education as established progression routes.