Bachelor of Science Biology

The Bachelor of Science in Biology at Oregon State University gives students opportunities to develop practical skills through laboratory courses, undergraduate research, field-based learning, internships, and work with biological specimens and scientific equipment. Students can pursue research with faculty across biological disciplines, while OSU’s location provides opportunities to study organisms and ecosystems in diverse natural environments. These experiences connect classroom biology with laboratory investigation, field observation, scientific communication, and career preparation:

• Undergraduate research: Biology students can participate in faculty-led research through the Department of Integrative Biology, gaining experience in developing research questions, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating scientific findings. Students can receive academic credit for undergraduate research.
• Research laboratories: Students can work in faculty laboratories covering areas such as ecology, evolution, organismal biology, conservation biology, physiology, and molecular biology, depending on their selected area of study and research mentor.
• Field-based learning: OSU’s location in Oregon provides access to diverse ecosystems and natural environments for field-oriented biology learning, including opportunities associated with forests, rivers, coastal environments, and other natural systems.
• Laboratory experience: The biology curriculum includes laboratory-based coursework that develops practical skills in areas such as organismal biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and cellular and molecular biology.
• Internships and career experience: Biology students can pursue internships and experiential learning opportunities through OSU’s career resources and biological science organizations, allowing them to apply their academic knowledge in professional settings.
• Scientific equipment and techniques: Research experiences can expose students to discipline-specific laboratory and field methods, including biological sampling, microscopy, molecular techniques, ecological data collection, and quantitative analysis, depending on the research area.
• Research presentation: Undergraduate researchers have opportunities to communicate their findings through research presentations and other scholarly activities, helping students develop scientific communication skills.
• Hatfield Marine Science Center: Students interested in marine biology and related areas can benefit from OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, which provides research, education, laboratory, and field-learning opportunities in marine and coastal science.
• OSU Research Forests: The university’s McDonald-Dunn Research Forests provide a living laboratory for studying forests, ecology, wildlife, conservation, and environmental systems.
• Libraries and scientific resources: The Valley Library provides students with access to scientific literature, research databases, study spaces, and research support that can complement laboratory and field-based coursework.

A B.S. in Biology at Oregon State University prepares graduates with a broad foundation in biological sciences that can support careers in research, environmental and natural-resource organizations, healthcare, education, and biotechnology. Students can also use the degree as preparation for professional programs or graduate study in biology and related life-science fields.

Career roles: Biological Technician, Laboratory Technician, Environmental Scientist, Wildlife or Conservation Biologist:

• Career services: OSU’s Career Development Center supports students with career exploration, resume and cover-letter development, interview preparation, career fairs, internships, and connections with employers. Biology students can also work with advisors to connect their coursework and experiences with their intended career path.
• Employment and salary information: OSU publishes career information through its Career Development Center and College of Science, while specific salary figures can vary substantially by occupation and location. OSU does not publish a program-specific median salary for B.S. Biology graduates on the official program page, so a biology-specific figure is not stated.
• University–industry and research connections: Biology students can gain exposure to research through OSU’s College of Science, where faculty research covers areas including ecology, evolution, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, and organismal biology. OSU also operates extensive research partnerships and facilities across the life sciences, providing opportunities to connect undergraduate study with active scientific research.
• Experiential career preparation: Students can pursue internships, undergraduate research, field experiences, and other experiential opportunities that build practical skills and professional connections before graduation.
• Accreditation value: Oregon State University is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). This institutional accreditation provides continuing academic recognition for OSU degrees and is particularly relevant when graduates pursue further education.
• Graduation outcomes: OSU provides graduate-outcome information through its university career resources, including employment and continuing-education destinations. Biology graduates can use these outcomes to explore pathways into employment, professional schools, and graduate programs.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Biology, students can continue into graduate-level study in biology and related life-science disciplines, including master's and doctoral programs. The degree can also provide the academic foundation for professional pathways such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and other health professions, depending on the student's chosen prerequisites and career plan.