Biological Science, B.A.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Mississippi

Program Overview

The B.A. in Biological Science at the University of Mississippi gives students a flexible foundation in the study of living organisms, combining laboratory science with opportunities to explore ecology, evolution, molecular biology, microbiology, organismal biology or pre-health studies. It is particularly suited to students who want to combine biology with a minor or second major while preparing for careers or further study in healthcare, research, education, conservation and related fields.

Curriculum structure

Year 1: Students begin with the fundamentals of biological science through BISC 160: Biological Sciences I and BISC 161: Biological Sciences I Laboratory, followed by BISC 162: Biological Sciences II and BISC 163: Biological Sciences II Laboratory. Chemistry also begins with CHEM 105: General Chemistry I and CHEM 115: General Chemistry I Laboratory, giving students practical laboratory experience alongside their introductory biology studies.

Year 2: Students progress into the core areas of the major, including BISC 322: General Ecology and BISC 336: Genetics, developing an understanding of how organisms interact with their environments and how biological characteristics are inherited. Chemistry continues through CHEM 106: General Chemistry II and CHEM 116: General Chemistry II Laboratory, while mathematics requirements can be completed through options such as MATH 115: Elementary Statistics, MATH 123: Trigonometry or MATH 261: Calculus I.

Year 3: At the advanced level, students select biology courses at the 300 level or above and complete a physiology course such as BISC 330: Principles of Physiology, BISC 438: Microbial Physiology or BISC 516: Plant Physiology. Their biology electives can also be used to develop one of the program's optional emphases in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Microbiology, Organismal Biology or Pre-Health Biological Sciences.

Year 4: Students complete additional upper-level biology electives and finish the major with BISC 498: Major Field Achievement Test. Because the B.A. requires a minor or double major, the final stage can be tailored toward a student's intended career or further study, whether that means combining biology with environmental studies, neuroscience, mathematics, education or another complementary field.

Focus areas: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Cellular and Microbiology, Organismal Biology, Pre-Health Biological Sciences, Genetics, Physiology, General Ecology, Conservation Biology, Laboratory Biology

Learning outcomes: Students develop an understanding of living systems, experimental design, laboratory methods, scientific data interpretation, critical thinking and scientific communication, with opportunities to apply these skills to biological, environmental and health-related questions.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The B.A. in Biological Science is an academic biology degree offered through the College of Liberal Arts; the official program information does not identify a separate professional accreditation for the B.A. Biology majors are prepared for professional and graduate pathways including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, education, cell and molecular biology, ecology and conservation biology.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of Mississippi is classified as an R1: Doctoral University – Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production, providing students with access to a strong research environment. The Biology Department supports undergraduate research, field studies, faculty mentorship and opportunities to participate in scientific conferences and study-abroad experiences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.A. in Biological Science gives students opportunities to learn biology beyond the traditional classroom through laboratory work, faculty-mentored research and field studies. Students can work in laboratories with biology faculty and explore ecosystems at the University of Mississippi Field Station, while the department's Imaging Core, Molecular Core and Pullen Herbarium provide additional resources for biological research and teaching.

Students can build practical experience through several program-specific opportunities:

BISC 161 and BISC 163 laboratories: The introductory biology sequence includes dedicated laboratory courses alongside Biological Sciences I and II.
CURE courses: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences allow students to complete an original research project during a semester-long course under faculty guidance.
BISC 200 – Research Experience: The department provides a dedicated course for undergraduate research experience.
BISC 491/492 – Directed Study in Biological Sciences I & II: Students can pursue focused biological study under faculty supervision.
BISC 493 – Capstone Directed Study: Students can undertake advanced directed study as part of their undergraduate biology experience.
University of Mississippi Field Station: The field station provides a natural laboratory with forests, wetlands, grasslands, experimental ponds and streams for hands-on biological and ecological research.
Imaging Core: Students and researchers have access to shared microscopy resources supporting research from molecular and cell biology through ecosystem ecology.
Molecular Biology Core: The facility provides advanced instrumentation for analyzing metabolites, proteins and nucleic acids.
Pullen Herbarium: The herbarium contains more than 80,000 plant specimens, supporting teaching and research into plant distributions and biodiversity.
Field research sites: Biology research uses locations including Holly Springs National Forest, Tallahatchie Experimental Forest, Strawberry Plains Audubon Center and the Mississippi River, providing opportunities for ecological and environmental fieldwork.
Travel courses: Students can explore biological environments through travel courses to destinations including Arizona, the California coast, Hawaii and the Caribbean.
Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Research: Students can engage with research and conservation activities involving university researchers, governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Study abroad and conference travel: The Biology Department supports students participating in study-abroad experiences and conference travel.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.A. in Biological Science provides a flexible foundation for careers and advanced study across healthcare, biological research, education, ecology and conservation. The program's optional emphases and required minor or double major allow students to shape the degree around their intended professional direction, while the department's research environment provides preparation for graduate and professional programs.

Typical career roles include Biological Researcher, Conservation Specialist, Environmental Analyst and Biology Educator.

Students can build their career pathway through:

Career and alumni connections: The Biology Department provides career and alumni information and highlights graduates working as research scientists, environmental analysts, rehabilitation specialists, educators, microbiologists, medical professionals and other professionals.
Research experience: Faculty-mentored research, CURE courses, BISC 200 Research Experience and directed-study opportunities allow students to develop practical research skills before graduation.
Professional-school preparation: The official program identifies medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine among the possible graduate and professional pathways.
Industry and government relevance: Biology graduates are prepared for areas including conservation organizations, business, government, environmental law, urban planning, research and development, and science or technical writing.
Research partnerships: The Department of Biology collaborates with organizations and research sites including the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, USDA National Sedimentation Laboratory, Strawberry Plains Audubon Center and the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
Research-intensive environment: Ole Miss holds R1 research classification, and biology students can work within an active research department spanning biodiversity, ecology, microbiology, molecular biology and other areas.
Graduate outcomes: The university's Biology Department offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs, providing a direct route for students who want to continue into advanced biological research.
Accelerated master's pathway: Undergraduate biology majors who have completed 90 credits with a GPA of 3.0 or greater can begin earning credit toward the M.S. in Biological Science through the accelerated master's option.
Employment and salary statistics: The official program and department pages reviewed do not publish a current B.A.-specific employment rate or starting-salary figure, so no unsupported statistic is included.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into the University of Mississippi's M.S. in Biological Science, which prepares graduates for academic, industrial and government positions in areas including freshwater biology, medicine, education, molecular genetics, ecology and conservation biology. Students seeking research-intensive careers can progress to the Ph.D. in Biological Science, while the B.A. also provides preparation for professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.