Bachelor of Science in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Purdue University West Lafayette

Program Overview

Purdue University’s Biology, BS gives students a strong foundation in the life sciences while allowing them to explore areas that match their interests, such as genetics, ecology, cell biology and neuroscience. The program is a great fit for students interested in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, research or environmental science, as well as those considering medical, dental, veterinary or graduate school.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students start by building a solid understanding of biology through courses such as BIOL 12100 – Biology I: Diversity, Ecology and Behavior and BIOL 13100 – Biology II: Development, Structure, and Function of Organisms. They also gain practical experience through BIOL 13500 – First Year Biology Lab, while developing their foundations in chemistry, mathematics and general education.

Year 2: Students move into more detailed areas of biological science, studying BIOL 23100 – Biology III: Cell Structure & Function and BIOL 24100 – Biology IV: Genetics & Molecular Biology. Laboratory courses including BIOL 23200 – Lab in Cell Structure & Function and BIOL 24200 – Lab in Genetics & Molecular Biology help students develop practical skills alongside their classroom learning.

Year 3: Students begin exploring biology at broader levels through courses such as BIOL 28600 – Introduction to Ecology & Evolution. They can also choose from a wide range of Biology courses, allowing them to develop stronger interests in areas such as genetics, evolution, physiology, molecular biology, ecology or neuroscience.

Year 4: In their final year, students take advanced Biology coursework, including a 500-level Biology Selective, along with upper-level laboratory selectives. These advanced courses allow students to develop deeper knowledge in their preferred area while using electives to prepare for professional school, research or careers in biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and other biological-science fields.

Focus Areas

Genetics and molecular biology, cell biology, ecology and evolution, organismal biology, physiology, neuroscience, microbiology, biotechnology, environmental biology, health and disease, and biological research.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop a broad understanding of biological systems and learn how to investigate biological questions using scientific reasoning, laboratory techniques and quantitative approaches. The program also helps students build specialized knowledge and practical skills that can support further study or careers in healthcare, research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental science and education.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Biology, BS is a flexible biological sciences degree designed to prepare students for a variety of professional and academic pathways rather than a specific licensed profession. Purdue identifies opportunities for graduates to pursue academic and industrial research as well as professional education in areas such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, with additional career possibilities in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental science and education.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Purdue University has a strong reputation for science, research and career preparation. The university highlights its extensive research environment, including more than 400 research laboratories, and its Biology admissions information reports Purdue as #7 among U.S. public universities for interdisciplinary sciences in the Times Higher Education 2025 ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Purdue’s Biology, BS gives students plenty of opportunities to take biology beyond the classroom and develop practical scientific skills. Laboratory courses, undergraduate research, internships and access to specialized research facilities allow students to work with modern equipment, investigate real biological questions and gain experience that can prepare them for graduate study or careers in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and research. Students can also work alongside faculty and other researchers, giving them a valuable insight into how professional biological research is carried out. These opportunities include:

Hands-on biology laboratories: Laboratory components are built into the core Biology curriculum, giving students direct experience with biological investigation and laboratory techniques.
Advanced laboratory experience: Students can gain practical experience across areas such as microbiology, neuroscience, physiology, molecular biology and ecology, depending on the courses they choose.
Undergraduate research: Students can participate in faculty-led research through courses such as BIOL 29400RES, BIOL 49400RES and BIOL 49900HONRES. Depending on the project, students may take part in laboratory work, literature reviews, laboratory meetings, animal care and preparation of research materials.
Authentic research projects: Purdue offers Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), giving students the chance to participate in genuine research projects and experience the research process at an early stage of their degree.
Research presentations: Students involved in undergraduate research can present their findings at scientific meetings or the Purdue Undergraduate Research Symposium, helping them develop confidence in communicating scientific results.
Specialized research facilities: Biology students benefit from Purdue’s wider research infrastructure, including resources such as the Cryo-EM Facility and facilities supporting biological mass spectrometry, proteomics, metabolomics and computational life sciences.
Digital and data skills: Students can develop experience working with biological data through coursework such as Data Science for Biologists, while Purdue’s research environment also supports computational and informatics-based life-science research.
Internship opportunities: Biology students can gain workplace experience through internships, giving them an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in professional settings and explore potential career directions.
Collaborative research environment: Undergraduate researchers work alongside faculty members, graduate students and other undergraduate researchers, providing experience of teamwork and collaboration in a professional scientific environment.

Facilities and research resources: Purdue Department of Biological Sciences provides access to a range of teaching, laboratory and research facilities that support undergraduate learning and biological research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Purdue’s Biology, BS gives graduates a strong foundation for a wide range of careers and further study in the life sciences. Students can move directly into employment in areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, research and environmental science, or continue into advanced study and professional programs such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine.

Typical career directions include:

Biologist
Laboratory or Research Technician
Microbiologist
Biotechnology or Pharmaceutical Professional

Students can build their career prospects through the following opportunities:

Career support: Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities provides career advising, career fairs, workshops, employer events, job-search resources, interview preparation and online tools to help students identify opportunities and prepare for the workplace.
Professional experience: Purdue’s latest university-wide outcomes data shows that 83.2% of undergraduate students had completed at least one professional experience before graduation, demonstrating the university’s strong focus on practical career preparation.
Employment opportunities: Biology graduates can pursue roles in biological and industrial research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, government agencies, education, environmental organizations, zoos and parks.
Salary prospects: Purdue’s published Biological Sciences salary information for 2023–24 reported average starting salaries of approximately $52,010 for Biologists, $50,000 for Microbiologists, $44,070 for Laboratory/Research Technicians and $41,220 for Public Health Specialists. The reported average across the listed Biological Sciences employment outcomes was $44,126.
Research and industry connections: Purdue offers a major research environment with 400+ research laboratories and 139 research centers and institutes. Students can benefit from this wider research ecosystem and explore opportunities that connect biological science with applied research, innovation and industry.
Graduate and professional pathways: The Biology degree is particularly well suited to students planning to continue their education. Purdue identifies graduate study as well as professional programs in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine as important progression routes for Biology students.
Graduation outcomes: Purdue’s May 2026 university-wide data reports 90.3% of graduates achieved successful career outcomes, while 25.9% pursued higher education. These figures apply across the university rather than specifically to Biology graduates.
Long-term value: While the Biology, BS is not a professional licensure degree, its broad scientific foundation can support long-term progression into graduate research, healthcare professional programs, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental science and other life-science careers.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biology, BS, students can continue into graduate programs in biology and related life-science disciplines or apply to professional programs such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. Students can also use their undergraduate foundation to specialize further in areas such as genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, ecology, neuroscience, biotechnology or other biological sciences.