BS in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

American University

Program Overview

American University’s BS in Biology is a 120-credit, four-year program that builds a strong foundation in biological science while integrating chemistry, physics, mathematics, and statistics, making it well suited to students interested in research, healthcare, graduate study, or professional schools. Students progress from foundational biology into upper-level study while gaining opportunities for faculty-mentored research, internships, study abroad, teaching experience, and an honors pathway focused on supervised individual research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with BIO-110 General Biology I and BIO-210 General Biology II, developing the core biological knowledge needed for advanced study, alongside mathematics, College Writing, and American University’s general education requirements. These courses establish a foundation in biological concepts while students also develop quantitative and communication skills.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into more specialized biological study with BIO-320 Cell Biology with Laboratory and BIO-356 Genetics, complemented by CHEM-110 General Chemistry I and CHEM-210 General Chemistry II. This stage strengthens students’ understanding of cellular processes, heredity, and the chemical principles underlying biological systems.

Year 3: Students take BIO-466 and additional BIO-32x upper-level biology electives, while continuing advanced chemistry through CHEM-310/312 Organic Chemistry I and CHEM-320/322 Organic Chemistry II. American University notes that many biology students use this year to participate in study abroad, while electives allow them to develop interests within the broader biological sciences.

Year 4: Students complete the program with BIO-499 Capstone, advanced BIO-32x coursework, and PHYS-105/PHYS-205 physics courses, with options such as BIO-497H or BIO-498H for eligible honors students. The capstone and advanced coursework bring together the scientific knowledge developed throughout the degree and provide preparation for graduate, professional, or research pathways.

Focus areas

Cell biology, genetics, microbiology, human anatomy and physiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biological research, and interdisciplinary life sciences.

Learning outcomes

Build a strong foundation in biological science, apply knowledge across biology and related sciences, develop scientific research experience, analyze biological information, communicate scientific findings, and prepare for graduate, professional-school, or industry pathways. The program specifically emphasizes research experience through faculty mentoring and advanced study through the Biology Honors program.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

American University does not state a program-specific professional accreditation for the BS in Biology on its official program page. The degree is instead structured to prepare students for graduate school, medical, dental, and veterinary school, as well as research positions in industry.

Reputation (employability rankings)

American University reports that 90% of BS Biology graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. The university also identifies recent Biology graduates progressing to institutions and employers including the National Institutes of Health, Naval Medical Research Center, NYU Langone Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Peloton Interactive.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS in Biology at American University gives students opportunities to move beyond classroom learning through faculty-mentored research, laboratory work, fieldwork, internships, and independent projects. Biology majors are encouraged to gain research experience by working one-on-one with faculty mentors in campus research laboratories, while the Honors in Biology pathway can involve an in-depth literature review, hands-on laboratory work, and/or fieldwork. The program also encourages students to pursue study abroad, off-campus internships, and teaching experience as student instructors.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Faculty-mentored research: Biology students can work directly with faculty mentors in research laboratories, gaining experience with the process of conducting scientific research and addressing research questions.
Hands-on laboratory research: The Hall of Science brings together Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Neuroscience research facilities, teaching laboratories, microscopy resources, and collaboration spaces. Biology research laboratories include spaces where students work with faculty on areas such as biological and environmental research.
Specialized scientific equipment: Students involved in research can encounter advanced instrumentation available within AU's science research environment, including microscopy equipment and specialized research instruments used by faculty and students.
Honors research: The Honors in Biology program provides an opportunity for supervised individual research, which may involve a literature review, laboratory work, or fieldwork depending on the student's research interests and faculty supervision.
Internships: The Biology program specifically encourages students to participate in off-campus internships, allowing them to apply biological knowledge in professional settings.
Funded research experience: Through AU's AU Ready Research Pledge, the university states that it will provide every undergraduate with an opportunity for a funded internship or research experience beginning sophomore year over the next five years.
Fieldwork: Biology research opportunities can include fieldwork, particularly through Honors research and faculty-supervised projects where the research topic and availability of faculty supervisors support this type of experience.
Study abroad: Biology majors are encouraged to participate in study-abroad programs, providing opportunities to extend their academic experience beyond the Washington, DC campus.
Teaching experience: Students can gain instructional experience by working as student instructors, adding a practical teaching dimension to their biology education.
Scientific collaboration: The Hall of Science's shared research and teaching environment supports collaboration across Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Neuroscience, giving students exposure to an interdisciplinary scientific setting.
Research presentation and project development: AU's undergraduate research environment supports students in developing research projects with faculty mentors and progressing from initial research experiences toward presentations and other scholarly work.
Libraries and research resources: AU's research pledge identifies libraries, field sites, laboratories, clinics, and digital environments among the settings in which undergraduate research and project-based learning can take place.

Progression & Future Opportunities

American University’s BS in Biology prepares graduates for research positions in industry, graduate study, and professional programs such as medical, dental, and veterinary school. The program combines biological science with chemistry, physics, and statistics, while encouraging faculty-mentored research and internships that can help students build experience for careers in life science and healthcare settings.

Career roles: Biological Laboratory Technician, Research Assistant, Wildlife Biologist, Microbiologist.

Career services: The AU Career Center supports students through Handshake, where students can apply for jobs and internships, receive position alerts, and register for employer events. The Career Center also organizes Job & Internship Fairs, employer information sessions, networking receptions, and employer meet-ups.
Employment and salary: 90% of BS Biology graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. American University does not publish a specific salary figure for BS Biology graduates on the program page, so a program-specific salary figure is not stated.
University–industry and research connections: Biology students have opportunities to visit and intern at major scientific institutions including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The program also lists graduates working with organizations including the Broad Institute, Naval Medical Research Center, NIH, Mount Sinai Health System, NYU Langone Medical Center, and Weill Cornell Medicine.
Internship access: More than 91% of AU undergraduates have completed at least one internship before graduation according to the university's current recruiting information. AU also allows eligible internships to earn academic credit and provides access to professional micro-internships through its partnership with Parker Dewey.
Long-term accreditation value: American University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a US Department of Education-recognized institutional accreditor. This provides continuing institutional quality assurance and supports the academic recognition of an AU degree.
Graduation outcomes: Recent AU Biology graduates have progressed to medical schools at the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, Connecticut, Albert Einstein, and Vanderbilt, as well as PhD programs including Genomics & Genetics at Duke, Neuroscience at Tulane, and Bioinformatics & Genomics at Penn State. Others have entered teaching and research-oriented careers.

Further Academic Progression: After the BS in Biology, students can continue into American University’s MS in Biology, which offers Cell and Molecular Biology or Ecology and Evolutionary Biology concentrations with thesis and non-thesis options. The department also reports that biology graduates progress to PhD programs and medical degrees; AU’s biology department specifically lists PhD progression to institutions such as Harvard, Cornell, and Georgetown.