Bachelor of Arts Biological Sciences

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Program Overview

The BA in Biological Sciences at Missouri S&T provides a broad foundation in the study of living organisms, combining core biology with chemistry, mathematics, physical sciences, humanities, social sciences and foreign-language study. It is well suited to students interested in pre-medicine, secondary education, graduate study or biological-science careers, with opportunities to tailor the degree through the Pre-Medicine or Secondary Education emphasis areas.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with BIO SCI 1201 Biological Sciences First Year Seminar, BIO SCI 1113 General Biology or BIO SCI 1213 Principles of Biology, and BIO SCI 1219 General Biology Lab, establishing foundational knowledge and laboratory skills. They also begin the BA's supporting curriculum, including CHEM 1310 General Chemistry I, CHEM 1319 General Chemistry Laboratory, mathematics and general-education coursework.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into greater biological breadth through BIO SCI 1223 Biodiversity, BIO SCI 1229 Biodiversity Lab, and BIO SCI 2213 Cell Biology, supported by BIO SCI 2219 Cell Biology Laboratory. Students also progress through General Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry, while completing humanities, social sciences and language requirements that distinguish the BA structure.

Year 3: Students develop a deeper understanding of biological mechanisms through BIO SCI 2223 General Genetics, BIO SCI 2263 Ecology, and BIO SCI 3233 Evolution, connecting inheritance, organisms and ecosystems. Students can also begin advanced coursework aligned with their interests, while those pursuing the Pre-Medicine emphasis add courses such as Organic Chemistry I and II laboratories and physics.

Year 4: Students consolidate their biological-science knowledge through advanced coursework and complete BIO SCI 4020 Senior Service Project, providing a capstone-style experience within the BA curriculum. Depending on their chosen emphasis, students can complete student teaching for Secondary Education or additional preparation for professional health programs through the Pre-Medicine pathway.

Focus areas: Pre-Medicine, Secondary Education, Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology/Environment/Conservation, Health Sciences. The BA specifically offers Pre-Medicine and Secondary Education emphasis areas, while the department's broader biological-sciences curriculum includes cell and molecular biology, ecology/environment/conservation and health sciences.

Learning outcomes: Develop foundational knowledge of biological systems; apply biological concepts through laboratory and advanced coursework; build scientific communication and research skills; prepare for professional health programs, graduate study, teaching or biological-science careers.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Secondary Education emphasis is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and includes student teaching in public schools, while the Pre-Medicine emphasis is designed to support preparation for medical, dental, veterinary and other health-profession programs.

Reputation (employability rankings): Missouri S&T reports that Princeton Review ranked it No. 3 among public universities for career placement and No. 5 for internships in 2025. The university also reports that the Wall Street Journal placed Missouri S&T among the top 10 universities nationally for salary impact, providing broader institutional evidence of graduate career outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Missouri S&T’s BA in Biological Sciences program combines classroom learning with practical laboratory work, research, and opportunities to apply biological concepts in real-world settings. Students can develop hands-on skills through laboratory-based coursework and undergraduate research, supported by the university’s science and engineering facilities and faculty research environment. These opportunities include:

Laboratory experience: Biological Sciences coursework includes hands-on laboratory components where students practice biological techniques, conduct experiments, collect data, and interpret scientific results.
Undergraduate research: Students can participate in faculty-led research in areas such as cell and molecular biology, ecology, environmental biology, microbiology, and organismal biology, gaining experience with scientific investigation and research methods.
Environmental and field experience: The program’s biological sciences curriculum supports practical study of organisms and ecosystems, allowing students to connect biological concepts with environmental and field-based applications.
Research facilities: Students benefit from Missouri S&T’s broader laboratory and research infrastructure, including facilities supporting biology, chemistry, environmental research, and molecular-level investigation.
Collaborative learning: As a science and technology-focused university, Missouri S&T provides opportunities to work across biological sciences and related STEM disciplines, particularly where biology intersects with environmental science, chemistry, and technology.
Scientific resources: Students have access to Missouri S&T’s Curtis Wilson Law Library and Library and Learning Resources, including research materials and academic resources that support laboratory and research projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA in Biological Sciences at Missouri S&T provides a broad life-science foundation that can support careers in health sciences, environmental biology, research, education, and related STEM fields. The program also offers a strong pathway into professional and graduate education, with Missouri S&T reporting successful progression of biology students into medicine, physician assistant programs, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and graduate programs.

Career roles: Research Technician, Environmental Specialist, Laboratory Technician, Biology Teacher:

Career support: Missouri S&T's Career Opportunities and Employer Relations (COER) provides personalized career coaching, Handshake access, hands-on career experiences, employer connections, and career fairs.
Employment and salary: Missouri S&T's official career-outcomes page provides graduate outcome data through its anonymized reporting system, but a BA Biological Sciences-specific employment rate or salary figure is not stated on the official pages reviewed. The university reports that its overall undergraduate salary reached $74,308 for 2022–23 graduates; this is university-wide and should not be treated as a Biological Sciences-specific figure.
University–industry and professional connections: Biological Sciences students can gain employment and internship experience through local offices of the Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Forest Service. Students pursuing health-science careers can also receive professional mentoring and employment opportunities with health-care professionals at Phelps Health.
Research and career preparation: Approximately two-thirds of Biological Sciences students engage in original research, with projects often leading to presentations at local, regional, or national conferences and, in some cases, student authorship.
Long-term accreditation value: Missouri S&T is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), whose accreditation covers all Missouri S&T departments and programs.
Graduation outcomes: Missouri S&T tracks graduates' employment, graduate-school enrollment, continuing employment, and other post-graduation plans through its official outcomes survey. The university also reports strong outcomes for students applying to professional programs, including medicine, physician assistant, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and graduate study.
University reputation: Missouri S&T reports that the 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings placed the university 8th nationally for Best Salaries, based on salary impact and related financial-success measures; this is an institutional ranking rather than a Biological Sciences-specific ranking.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BA, students can continue into Missouri S&T's Master of Science in Biological Sciences or PhD in Biological Sciences. The university's Grad Track Pathway offers exceptional Biological Sciences undergraduates provisional admission to the non-thesis MS and allows nine credits of 5000- or 6000-level coursework to count toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees.