Biology, BS (Boston)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Northeastern University

Program Overview

The Biology, BS (Boston) at Northeastern University provides broad scientific training across biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and statistics, allowing students to study life from the molecular and cellular level through organisms, ecosystems, and evolution. It suits students interested in biological research, biotechnology, health, environmental science, or further graduate study, with advanced electives allowing focused study in areas such as developmental biology, stem cell biology, microbiology, and physiology.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific foundation through Biology at Northeastern, Foundations of Biology and Lab, General Chemistry for Science Majors, and Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering. They also begin developing scientific communication through First-Year Writing and progress into Inquiries in Biological Sciences.

Year 2: Students deepen their biological and quantitative knowledge through Genetics and Molecular Biology, Biology Project Lab, Biostatistics and Lab, and Physics for Life Sciences 1. Coursework in Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 further strengthens the chemical understanding needed for advanced biological study.

Year 3: Students move toward advanced biological science through Biochemistry and Lab, organismal and evolutionary electives such as Microbial Evolution, Ecology and Lab, Conservation Biology, or Animal Behavior, while additional intermediate or advanced biology courses allow them to develop a specialized academic direction.

Year 4: Students consolidate their knowledge through advanced biology electives and complete a Biology Capstone, Biology Research Capstone, or Junior/Senior Honors Project 2. Students undertaking research can also use Research or Internship as an intermediate/advanced biology elective, creating a direct bridge between academic study and professional or research experience.

Focus areas: Developmental biology, stem cell biology, microbiology, physiology, organismal biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, ecology, conservation biology, marine biology, and animal behavior.

Learning outcomes: Students learn to analyze genetic and biological mechanisms, evaluate structure-function relationships, explain energy transformations and cellular communication, analyze scientific literature, apply quantitative reasoning, design and conduct biological experiments, communicate scientific data, and connect biological science with society.

Professional alignment: The official Northeastern program information does not state a specific professional or industry accreditation for the Biology, BS; therefore, no program-specific accreditation is claimed here. The curriculum instead emphasizes scientific training, laboratory work, research, experiential learning, and professional preparation through Professional Development for Co-op.

Reputation: Northeastern reports that 96% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within nine months, based on its latest university-wide career-outcomes data, with the university highlighting its experience-driven education and co-op model as key elements of career preparation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biology, BS (Boston) at Northeastern University gives students substantial hands-on experience through laboratory courses, inquiry-based learning, project work, research and Northeastern’s signature co-op model. Students progress from Foundations of Biology with Lab and Genetics and Molecular Biology with Lab to Biology Project Lab or Computational Project Lab, allowing them to build practical skills in experimental biology, molecular techniques, data analysis and scientific problem-solving. The program also includes Professional Development for Co-op, while advanced students can pursue research, internships and honors projects.

Key experiential opportunities include:

Laboratory training: Foundations of Biology, Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry all include dedicated laboratory components, giving students repeated practical experience alongside their theoretical studies.
Project-based learning: BIOL 2309 Biology Project Lab allows students to develop practical biological research and project skills; students may alternatively take BIOL 2407 Computational Project Lab for a computational approach.
Research opportunities: The curriculum provides routes into BIOL 4991 Research, allowing students to participate in research as part of their advanced biology studies.
Internships: BIOL 4994 Internship is an available biology course option, providing a formal route for students to integrate internship experience into their academic program.
Co-op preparation: EESC 2000 Professional Development for Co-op is built into the Biology BS curriculum, preparing students for Northeastern's experiential co-op pathway.
Computational tools: Students choosing Computational Project Lab can develop computational approaches to biological problems; the Biology BS therefore offers both laboratory-based and computational project pathways.
Advanced imaging: The Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems (CILS) provides access to microscopy, flow cytometry and preclinical imaging technologies, including Zeiss confocal microscopes, cell analyzers and cell sorters.
Electron microscopy: The Boston Electron Microscopy Center is a shared research and educational facility with three electron microscopes and a biological sample-preparation laboratory; SEM and TEM training is available for students and research groups.
Research centers and facilities: The College of Science provides shared facilities including the Biomedical Imaging Center, Boston Electron Microscopy Center, and Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems, giving biology students exposure to advanced research infrastructure.
Honors research: Students pursuing advanced biology work can undertake Junior/Senior Honors Projects, providing an additional pathway for independent research and project development.
Library resources: Northeastern's Boston campus includes Snell Library, which supports student research and academic projects alongside the university's laboratories and research facilities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biology at Northeastern University gives graduates a broad foundation across molecular, cellular, organismal, ecological, and evolutionary biology, with advanced electives allowing students to develop a more focused scientific pathway. The program is designed for both direct entry into life-science careers and progression to graduate, medical, veterinary, dental, law, or business school, with co-op opportunities connecting students to biotechnology companies, hospitals, and research institutions.

Career roles: Biological Research Assistant, Clinical Research Assistant, Laboratory Technician, Biotechnology Research Associate.
Career services: Northeastern's College of Science provides advising for course selection, co-op planning, and study-abroad planning, while its co-op program connects students with more than 3,800 employers across the United States and 136 countries.
Employment outcomes: For the Class of 2025, 78.0% of reporting Northeastern graduates were employed full-time, 13.2% pursued additional education, and 92% of full-time employed undergraduates reported jobs related to their major within nine months of graduation. These figures are university-wide rather than Biology-specific.
Salary information: Northeastern's official career-outcomes data reports salary information for its recent graduates, but the university does not publish a Biology BS-specific median salary on the program page. The university reports that 13.9% of graduates in its salary dataset earned $120,000 or more; this is a university-wide figure rather than a Biology-specific salary outcome.
Industry connections: Biology students can pursue co-ops with organizations including Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Tufts Medical Center, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Biotechnology exposure: Northeastern specifically identifies Boston-area biotechnology companies, hospitals, and research institutions as sources of co-op opportunities for Biology students, extending to opportunities elsewhere in the U.S. and internationally.
Professional preparation: Most College of Science co-ops are full-time paid positions, and students can complete up to three co-ops while remaining on track for a four-year graduation plan, potentially gaining up to 18 months of professional experience.
Accreditation value: Not stated: The official Biology BS program and department pages reviewed do not identify a separate professional accreditation for the Biology degree, so no program-specific accreditation should be assumed.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can enter industrial or clinical research, teaching, government agencies, and health-care-related professions, or continue into graduate, medical, veterinary, dental, law, or business education.

Further Academic Progression: After the B.S. in Biology, students can pursue Northeastern's M.S. in Bioinformatics, M.S. in Biotechnology, M.S. in Cell and Gene Therapies, or Ph.D. in Biology through the university's accelerated graduate pathways where eligible. The Biology department also identifies medical, veterinary, dental, law, and business school as possible postgraduate directions.