Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Boston College

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biology at Boston College provides a rigorous foundation in biological science alongside substantial study in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and quantitative methods, making it particularly suited to students interested in medicine, dentistry, research, biotechnology, or other science-intensive careers. Students explore biological systems from molecules and cells through organisms and ecosystems while gaining laboratory, research, data-analysis, and scientific communication experience.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with the core biology courses BIOL2000: Molecules and Cells and BIOL2010: Ecology and Evolution, developing an understanding of cellular processes, biological organization, evolution, and ecological systems. The B.S. also requires students to begin the chemistry and quantitative foundation with CHEM1109/CHEM1110: General Chemistry I and II and MATH1100: Calculus I.

Second Year: Students develop practical and experimental skills through BIOL2040: Investigations in Molecular Cell Biology Lab, while continuing the chemistry sequence through CHEM2231/2232: Organic Chemistry I with Lab. They can also begin upper-level biology through courses such as BIOL3050: Genetics or BIOL3030: Comparative Vertebrate Physiology, depending on their interests and academic plan.

Third Year: Students move into advanced biological study through courses selected from areas such as genetics and genomics, physiology and organismal biology, and cellular sciences. Options include BIOL3040: Cell Biology, BIOL3090: Foundations of Microbiology, and BIOL4330: Human Physiology with Lab, while the B.S. continues its strong quantitative and physical-science component through physics, statistics, and related coursework.

Fourth Year: The final year allows students to deepen their specialization through 3000-level and higher biology electives and complete an Advanced Experience involving undergraduate research, research laboratory courses, or small classes centered on primary literature and data analysis. Students can focus their remaining studies in areas such as Microbiology, Cell Biology and Development, Genetics and Genomics, or Physiology and Organismal Biology.

Focus areas: Microbiology, Cell Biology and Development, Genetics and Genomics, Physiology and Organismal Biology, General Biology, and Bioinformatics.

Learning outcomes: Students develop knowledge of evolution, cellular structure and function, information transfer and gene expression, energy transformation, and systems and organismal biology; apply observation, experimentation and hypothesis testing; use quantitative reasoning and bioinformatics databases; and understand the ethical responsibilities associated with scientific research.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The official Boston College Biology pages do not state a separate professional or disciplinary accreditation for the B.S. in Biology; therefore, no specific program accreditation is stated. The B.S. is structured to provide the chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology preparation required for students pursuing pre-medical and pre-dental pathways.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): The official Boston College Biology sources reviewed do not publish a program-specific QS, Guardian, or other employability ranking for the B.S. in Biology. The department does document graduate and career pathways including research, biotechnology, healthcare, and advanced study in areas such as medicine, biomedical engineering, biology, and pharmacology.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Biology at Boston College places research and experimentation at the center of undergraduate training, giving students practical experience through laboratory courses, advanced research labs, and faculty-guided research. Students can work on biological research questions, design experiments, analyze data, develop technical skills, and communicate findings, with access to dedicated laboratory space and Boston College’s research infrastructure in Higgins Hall.

Key hands-on opportunities include:

Advanced Research Labs: Small, junior- and senior-level laboratory courses are capped at 12 students and involve developing research proposals, designing experiments, testing hypotheses, analyzing results, and presenting findings as a team.
Research Laboratory Courses: Students can take courses such as BIOL 4830: Research in Molecular Biology Lab, BIOL 4870: Research in Molecular Genetics Lab, BIOL 4890: Investigations in Cellular Re-Programming, and BIOL 5450: Advanced Lab in Cell Imaging.
Independent Research: Students can conduct research with a Biology faculty member on campus or, with departmental approval, in an off-campus laboratory; research can be completed for 3 credits per semester.
Undergraduate Research Day: Students participating in research can present their experimental data at the department’s Undergraduate Research Day, gaining experience communicating scientific work to an academic audience.
Imaging Facility: The Biology Department has access to a 712-square-foot Imaging Facility in Higgins Hall, with dedicated microscope spaces, workstations for image analysis, experimental bench space, and equipment including the Thermo Fisher EVOS M7000 inverted microscope.
Flow Cytometry: Students involved in research can work within a research environment supported by flow cytometry, which uses fluorescent probes to characterize cells, nuclei, chromosomes, and other particles.
Bioinformatics: The department’s research infrastructure includes a Bioinformatics Server with 26 Dell PowerEdge compute nodes, 136 aggregate CPU cores, and 7 TB of usable cluster file-server space, supporting computational biological research.
Scientific Instrumentation: Boston College’s Shared Instrumentation Core includes equipment such as the Agilent 4150 TapeStation for nucleic-acid quality control and the Agilent 6230 Accurate-Mass TOF LC/MS for precise analysis of small molecules and biomolecules.
Research Areas: Undergraduate research can connect students with faculty work in cell and developmental biology, microbiology and immunobiology, and bioinformatics, providing opportunities to explore different biological research environments.
Off-Campus Research: Students may pursue approved research opportunities in laboratories throughout the Boston area, extending practical experience beyond Boston College’s campus.
Advanced Cell Imaging: BIOL 5450: Advanced Lab in Cell Imaging combines lectures with hands-on laboratory exercises and culminates in a student-selected project and presentation using the department’s imaging instrumentation.
No Dedicated Internship Stated: The official Biology Department pages specifically document on-campus and approved off-campus research opportunities rather than identifying a separate internship requirement for the B.S. in Biology.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biology at Boston College can prepare graduates for laboratory, healthcare, public-health, science education, and research-related careers, while also providing a strong foundation for professional and graduate study. Boston College specifically notes that Biology and Biochemistry alumni have progressed into health professions, public health, science teaching, business, law, and graduate programs.

Career roles: Biological Laboratory Technician, Research Assistant, Public Health Specialist, Science Educator.

Career services: Boston College's Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, career exploration, alumni networking, career fairs, employer recruiting events, internship searches, résumé and interview support, and guidance for graduate-school applications.
Employment outcomes: For the Boston College Class of 2025, 96.6% were employed, enrolled in graduate school, or involved in service/fellowship activities; 76% were employed and the university reported a $74,000 median starting salary. These figures are university-wide rather than specific to Biology graduates.
Internship experience: 81% of the Class of 2025 participated in internships, while Boston College's Career Center provides internship listings, a Summer Internship Database, and individualized support for developing an internship search plan.
Research partnerships: Biology students can undertake research both on campus and at external institutions across the Boston area, including research hospitals associated with local medical schools. The department specifically highlights opportunities involving Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Research preparation: Students can earn Biology degree credit through faculty-supervised research, off-campus research, or Advanced Experience Laboratory courses using techniques applied in academic, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical laboratories.
Industry connections: Boston College organizes industry-specific career fairs and networking events that connect students with alumni and employers, with opportunities listed through Handshake.
Professional accreditation: The official Boston College Biology pages do not state a separate professional accreditation for the B.S. in Biology. The degree's long-term value instead includes preparation for health professions, graduate study, research, public health, and other biology-related careers.
Graduation outcomes: Biology graduates can move directly into employment or continue toward medical and other health professions, graduate or professional school, science education, public health, business, and law. Qualified Biology majors may also enter Boston College's five-year B.S./M.S. program, while the department offers a Ph.D. pathway for advanced biological research.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can pursue medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, physical therapy, genetic counseling, optometry, graduate biology, or other professional programs. Boston College also provides a direct five-year B.S./M.S. pathway for eligible students involved in undergraduate research, while students seeking advanced research careers can progress toward doctoral study.