BS in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Iowa State University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biology at Iowa State University is a four-year, 120-credit program that builds a broad foundation across the life sciences while allowing students to develop interests in areas such as cellular and molecular biology, ecology and conservation, biodiversity and evolution, human medicine, veterinary medicine, and teaching. Students study core biology alongside chemistry, mathematics, statistics and physics, with advanced biology coursework providing opportunities to develop more specialized knowledge and prepare for graduate or professional education.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with BIOL 1100 Biology Major Orientation and BIOL 1110 Opportunities in Biology, which introduce the discipline, degree planning and professional opportunities. The foundation continues with BIOL 2110 Principles of Biology I, BIOL 2110L Principles of Biology Laboratory I, and supporting science coursework.

Year 2: Students build on their introductory knowledge through BIOL 2120 Principles of Biology II and BIOL 2120L Principles of Biology Laboratory II, while beginning the advanced core of the major. Coursework also develops supporting knowledge through chemistry, mathematics/statistics and other science requirements.

Year 3: The curriculum moves deeper into biological systems through BIOL 3120 Ecology, BIOL 3130 Principles of Genetics with BIOL 3130L Genetics Laboratory, and advanced biology options. Students can also explore areas such as human biology, molecular biology, ecology or organismal biology through approved upper-level courses.

Year 4: Students complete the major with additional Advanced Biology courses and BIOL 3150 Biological Evolution, consolidating their understanding of biological systems and specialized areas of interest. The final year also provides flexibility for electives and preparation for graduate or professional pathways such as medicine, veterinary medicine, physician assistant programs and physical therapy.

Focus areas: Human Medicine & Pre-Med, Veterinary Medicine & Pre-Vet, Cellular and Molecular, Biodiversity and Evolution, Ecology and Conservation, and Teaching and Education.

Learning outcomes: Graduates are expected to explain and apply core concepts in evolution, structure and function, information flow, energy and matter, and interconnected biological systems; apply scientific methods, quantitative reasoning, modeling and simulation; communicate and collaborate across disciplines; and understand the relationship between science and society.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The official Iowa State University Biology program and catalog do not state a specialized professional accreditation for the B.S. in Biology; therefore, no specific program accreditation is stated.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Iowa State University describes itself as a major center for research and education in the biological sciences, with more than 200 faculty in the life sciences and opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in meaningful biological research. The official Biology program pages do not state a specific QS or Guardian employability ranking for the B.S. in Biology.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the B.S. in Biology at Iowa State University gain practical experience through undergraduate research, laboratory and field-based learning, internships, and international field trips. The Biology Program is supported by more than 50 biology faculty members across the Departments of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology and Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, giving students access to a broad range of research laboratories and biological science projects. Research can be completed for academic credit, while internships and field trips can also count toward Biology degree requirements.

Students can build their practical experience through:

Undergraduate Research: Students can work directly on laboratory or field research projects through BIOL 2990 Undergraduate Research Experience and BIOL 4990 Undergraduate Research Experience, with research potentially counting toward Biology degree requirements.
Research Laboratories: Students can seek research opportunities with faculty in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) and Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (GDCB), where many faculty members operate research laboratories.
Laboratory & Field Projects: BIOL 2990/4990 students participate in genuine biological research rather than routine laboratory tasks, with projects conducted under faculty or designated research supervision.
Research Presentations: Students completing undergraduate research can present their findings through written reports, oral presentations or research posters and are encouraged to share their work at local, regional and national conferences.
Internships: Biology students can complete biology-focused internships through BIOL 4940 Biology Internship, earning advanced Biology credit for professional experiences with government agencies, nonprofits, businesses and other organizations.
Field Trips: BIOL 3930 North American Field Trips in Biology and BIOL 3940 International Field Trips in Biology provide hands-on biological learning through locations such as the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Valencia, Spain; previous opportunities have also included Honduras and Belize.
Summer Field Stations: Students can take courses at biological field stations through BIOL 481 Summer Field Studies, gaining field-based experience in environments designed for studying plant and animal adaptations.
Teaching Experience: Students can gain instructional experience through BIOL 4910 Undergraduate Teaching Experience, which allows qualified students to serve as undergraduate teaching assistants.
Graduate & Research Preparation: BIOL 4920 Preparing for Graduate School in the Biological Sciences introduces students to graduate programs, research internships, field stations and independent research opportunities.
Career & Internship Support: Biology students can use CyHire, university career fairs, and career services within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to identify internships and career opportunities.
Experiential Learning Support: An Experiential Learning Coordinator specifically assists Biology students with finding suitable campus research opportunities and outside internships.
Collaborative Learning: The Biology Program offers opportunities to work alongside faculty researchers and participate in biological research projects across areas including human health, cellular and molecular biology, biodiversity, evolution, ecology and conservation.
Specialized Software/Digital Tools: The official Biology program sources reviewed do not specify particular software or digital tools required for the B.S. in Biology, so no specific software should be assumed.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biology at Iowa State University provides broad preparation for careers across biological research, healthcare, biotechnology, conservation and environmental science. Graduates can enter laboratory and research positions directly or use the degree as preparation for graduate and professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy and physician assistant programs.

Career roles: Research Assistant, Laboratory Technician, Conservation Biologist, Environmental Biologist.
Career services: LAS Career Services supports Biology students with résumé/CV and cover-letter development, internship and job searches, interview preparation, offer evaluation and negotiation; students can also use CyHire for full-time and internship opportunities.
Career fairs: Biology students can participate in the People to People Career Fair, Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Day, and Business, Industry and Technology Career Fair, providing opportunities to connect with employers.
Employment outcomes: Iowa State's Biology career database records recent graduates entering roles such as Research and Development Specialist at Bayer, Wildlife Monitoring Technician at Iowa State, Medical Assistant, and Retina Doctor Assistant, as well as continuing into MD, DDS, DVM, PharmD, MS and other professional or graduate programs.
Salary figures: A Biology-specific salary figure is not stated on the official Undergraduate Biology Program career-planning page; Iowa State instead provides broader graduate salary and career-outcome resources through its career-services offices.
Internship opportunities: Biology students can complete biology-focused internships and arrange BIOL 4940 for 1–2 credits, allowing relevant paid or unpaid internship experience to count toward advanced biology credit.
Research opportunities: The Biology Program has more than 50 faculty members across its two departments, most with research laboratories, and undergraduate research with Iowa State faculty can count toward Biology degree requirements through BIOL 2990 or BIOL 4990.
Industry connections: Iowa State's Biology career resources connect students with employers and opportunities in biotechnology, healthcare, environmental organizations and research; the official Biology employment database specifically documents Biology graduates working at organizations including Bayer, Allina Health, Wolfe Eye Clinic and Polk County Conservation.
Accreditation value: Iowa State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), with accreditation reaffirmed through the 2035–2036 academic year; no separate specialized accreditation is stated for the B.S. in Biology on the university's official program pages.
Graduation outcomes: The degree supports both direct employment and further education, with Iowa State documenting Biology graduates progressing into research, healthcare, environmental and biotechnology roles as well as graduate and professional programs including medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Biology, students can continue into graduate study in biology and related life-science disciplines or pursue professional programs such as MD/DO, DDS, DVM, PharmD, DPT and physician assistant programs. Iowa State's Biology Program also highlights graduate and professional-school preparation as a key pathway, while its career database shows Biology graduates progressing into programs including Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Ecology, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy and Physical Therapy.