Biological Sciences (Biology and Society), BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Arizona State University Tempe

Program Overview

The Biological Sciences (Biology and Society), BS at Arizona State University explores how biology intersects with ethics, policy, culture, history and philosophy, helping students understand how scientific knowledge is created, interpreted and applied in society. It suits students interested in the social impact of science, health care, public policy, bioethics and science communication, with opportunities for individualized study and independent research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with a strong scientific foundation through BIO 181 General Biology I and BIO 182 General Biology II, while also developing the mathematical and chemical background needed for biological study through courses such as MAT 251 Calculus for Life Sciences and CHM 113 General Chemistry I. This stage establishes core knowledge of living systems and scientific thinking.

Year 2: Students progress into more advanced biological concepts, including BIO 340 General Genetics and BIO 345 Evolution, while beginning to connect biological knowledge with broader social and scientific questions. The curriculum also introduces the program's distinctive Science and Society component, encouraging students to consider how scientific knowledge interacts with society.

Year 3: Students move further into the Biology and Society concentration through BIO 311 Biology and Society or HPS 340 Biology and Society, alongside upper-division biology and related electives. Coursework explores ethics, history and philosophy of the life sciences and medicine, science policy and science communication, allowing students to examine how biological research influences social priorities and decision-making.

Year 4: In the final stage, students complete advanced major electives and can pursue independent study and research projects examining the ethical, historical, philosophical and policy dimensions of science, technology and medicine. The program emphasizes communicating complex scientific ideas with evidence and preparing students for employment or graduate and professional education.

Focus Areas

Biology and society, bioethics, history and philosophy of science, science policy, science communication, health care, environmental policy, biodiversity, public decision-making and the societal impact of science and technology.

Learning Outcomes

Scientific thinking, analysis of scientific explanations, communication of complex scientific concepts, evidence-based reasoning, critical thinking, understanding of biological research in social contexts, and preparation for graduate/professional programs or employment.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation: Arizona State University states that all of its undergraduate and graduate academic programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, providing institutional accreditation for the degree. The program is also STEM-OPT extension eligible for qualifying F-1 international students studying in person, allowing an eligible student to extend U.S. work experience by 24 months.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

ASU ranks No. 2 in the U.S. among public universities for employability for the fourth consecutive year in the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey (GEURS), with the 2026 results placing ASU No. 14 among all U.S. institutions and No. 37 globally.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Biological Sciences (Biology and Society), BS gain practical scientific and analytical skills through core biology coursework, statistics, genetics, evolution, and specialized study of bioethics, the history of science, philosophy of biology and medicine, and science’s role in society. At ASU’s Tempe campus, students can also explore internships and undergraduate research through courses such as BIO 307, BIO 314, BIO 414, BIO 484, BIO 492, and BIO 495, while accessing advanced life-science research facilities and interdisciplinary centers.

Experiential opportunities and facilities include:

Undergraduate research: Students are encouraged to explore research through BIO 307, BIO 314, BIO 414, BIO 484, BIO 492, and BIO 495, providing routes into faculty-guided research and independent study.
Biology and Society projects: Courses such as BIO 311 Biology and Society connect biological knowledge with human systems, while BIO 312 Bioethics and BIO 416 Biomedical Research Ethics develop skills for examining ethical issues in scientific and biomedical research.
Research imaging: The W. M. Keck Bioimaging Laboratory in the Life Sciences Center provides access to advanced bioimaging technology and supports undergraduate curriculum and research activities.
Genomics and bioinformatics: ASU’s Desert Southwest Genomics Center provides sequencing expertise and technologies including single-cell RNA sequencing and microbial metagenomic sequencing, while the biosciences core also supports bioinformatics research.
Advanced microscopy: The Advanced Light Microscopy Facility provides technologies including fluorescence, confocal, light-sheet, TIRF, FLIM, and super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (SIM), giving students working in research environments exposure to sophisticated biological imaging.
Flow cytometry: ASU’s Flow Cytometry Facility supports cell analysis, FACS cell sorting, panel design, laboratory assistance, and data analysis, providing tools relevant to modern biological research.
Mass spectrometry: The Mass Spectrometry Facility supports environmental, clinical, pharmaceutical, chemical, and biological research and provides access to mass-spectrometry analysis.
Interdisciplinary research: The Center for Biology and Society specifically focuses on the connections between life sciences and society, closely matching the intellectual focus of this concentration.
Biodesign research environment: Biodesign Institute Building C contains flexible wet-lab space supporting biological sciences research, while ASU’s Biodesign ecosystem includes research centers covering areas such as environmental biotechnology, microbiomics, evolution, bioenergy, and health.
Planetary health facilities: The Rob and Melani Walton Center for Planetary Health includes research laboratories for biological sciences, life sciences, engineering, and sustainability, plus computing, robotics, and engineering-design spaces.
Internships and career preparation: ASU’s major map specifically encourages students to explore or pursue internship opportunities and meet with the Career & Professional Development Center to develop professional skills.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biological Sciences (Biology and Society), BS at Arizona State University combines biological science with ethics, policy, history, philosophy, and communication, preparing graduates to address the social and public implications of scientific developments. The degree can lead toward careers in public health, environmental policy, science communication, law, education, medicine, and research, while also providing a foundation for advanced study.

Typical job roles: Science Policy Advisor, Public Health Program Coordinator, Environmental Policy Analyst, Science Communicator.

Career progression and opportunities:

Career services: ASU Career Services provides ASU CareerLink, where students can search jobs and internships, register for career events, connect with employers, and schedule career appointments; ASU also recommends research and internships as important ways to build practical experience and strengthen employability.
Research opportunities: Students can undertake independent research projects examining the ethical, historical, philosophical, and policy dimensions of science, technology, and medicine, with support from the Center for Biology and Society and opportunities for individual faculty engagement.
Employment and salary figures: ASU lists Medical Scientist at a median salary of $103,410, Environmental Protection Specialist at $82,220, Bioinformatics Scientist at $98,920, and Medical and Health Services Manager at $123,860. ASU notes that these are occupation-level figures, not guaranteed starting salaries, and that some careers require advanced degrees or certifications.
Industry and research partnerships: ASU Science collaborates with organizations including NASA and Mayo Clinic, while the Biodesign Institute works with external organizations such as Mayo Clinic, Banner Health and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) on research and health-related innovation.
Industry exposure: ASU's Phoenix Bioscience Core brings together research institutions, academic medical centers and private-sector organizations, creating an environment for collaboration, research and corporate engagement in life sciences.
Long-term accreditation value: The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and ASU states that accreditation supports continuous academic improvement and recognition of its degrees by employers and graduate schools.
Graduation outcomes: Program learning outcomes include scientific thinking, effective communication of complex scientific concepts, and preparation for graduate/professional programs or employment. Graduates are positioned for pathways in medicine, law, public health, public policy, education, science communication and academia.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS, students can progress to ASU's Biology and Society MS, which prepares graduates for careers in research, government, industry, nonprofit organizations, science communication and policy. Students can also pursue the Biology and Society PhD, with specialized tracks including Bioethics, Policy and Law; History and Philosophy of Science; Ecology, Economics and Ethics of the Environment; and Science Education. ASU also offers an accelerated 4+1 bachelor's-to-master's pathway, allowing eligible students to combine undergraduate and graduate study.