BS in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Tufts University

Program Overview

The BS in Biology at Tufts University provides a broad, interdisciplinary foundation in biology, combining laboratory, lecture and seminar-based learning across molecular, cellular, organismal, population and ecosystem levels. It suits students interested in medicine, biotechnology, conservation, education, consulting, law, and basic or applied research, while developing practical laboratory, data-analysis, scientific communication and research skills.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their biological and scientific foundation through Biology 13: Cells and Organisms, Biology 15: Cells and Organisms Lab, and Biology 14: Organisms and Populations, alongside the required chemistry or physics sequence. This stage introduces cellular biology, organisms, populations and hands-on laboratory work.

Year 2: Students move into more advanced biological concepts with courses such as Biology 41: General Genetics, while beginning to select courses from the major's areas of cellular, organismal, population and quantitative biology. Options include Bio 46: Cell Biology, Bio 75: Comparative Vertebrate Physiology, and Bio 35: Computational Biology, allowing students to begin shaping the degree around their interests.

Year 3: Students deepen their specialization through upper-level courses such as Bio 105: Molecular Biology, Bio 143: Evolutionary Biology, Bio 145: Computational Genomics, or Bio 163: Recombinant DNA Technology. Students also complete advanced laboratory work, with options including Bio 50: Experiments in Molecular Biology, Bio 55: Microbiome Research Lab, and Bio 168: Biotechnology Projects Laboratory.

Year 4: The final year provides opportunities to integrate advanced biological knowledge with research, quantitative analysis and independent study. Students can use electives for Bio 193: Independent Research in Biology or Bio 199: Senior Honors Thesis, while advanced options such as Bio 263: Bioinformatics and Genome Analysis support preparation for research and further study.

Focus areas: Molecular and cellular biology, genetics, biotechnology, physiology, evolution, ecology and conservation, computational biology, bioinformatics, genomics, microbiology and quantitative biology.

Learning outcomes: Students develop laboratory and experimental skills, scientific problem-solving, data generation and analysis, large-dataset management, research-literature evaluation, scientific communication, and an understanding of ethical and societal considerations in biological research.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The official Tufts Biology pages do not state a separate professional accreditation for the BS in Biology; therefore, no specific program accreditation is claimed here. The degree is designed for pathways including medicine, biotechnology, conservation, education, consulting, law and biological research.

Reputation (employability rankings): The Tufts Biology Department states that its undergraduate biology program has been ranked among the top undergraduate biology programs in the country. Tufts also reports 178 Biology graduates in 2024–25, representing 10.0% of students with an undergraduate major, making Biology one of the university's largest degree-awarding majors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Tufts University’s B.S. in Biology build practical skills through advanced laboratory courses, independent research and field-based projects. The curriculum offers hands-on options such as Experiments in Molecular Biology, Experiments in Ecology, Microbiome Research Lab, Computational Genomics, Recombinant DNA Techniques, Biotechnology Projects Laboratory and Tropical Ecology and Conservation. Students can also work directly with faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in active research laboratories, with opportunities to contribute to ongoing studies and develop their own research projects.

Key experiential opportunities include:

Advanced laboratory courses: Students can choose from laboratory-based courses including Experiments in Physiology, Experiments in Molecular Biology, Experiments in Ecology, Experiments in Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics Projects Lab, Microbiome Research Lab, Developmental Biology Research Lab and Biotechnology Projects Laboratory.
Computational tools: Computational Genomics provides training in computational approaches to biological research, while the Reed Lab specifically lists R and GIS skills as useful for undergraduate research projects in ecology.
Independent research: Through Bio 93 (Research in Biology), students work at least 10 hours per week on a laboratory or field research project, collaborate closely with a research supervisor and produce a 5–10 page report on their research results.
Research laboratories: The Biology Department has 24 unique research labs available for undergraduate opportunities, covering areas such as developmental biology, genetics, ecology, aging, microbiomes, neurobiology and cellular biology.
Collaborative projects: In the Wolfe Lab, undergraduate students can join existing teams or develop their own research project with a mentor, with research involving metagenomics, comparative genomics/transcriptomics, genome engineering and microbial communities.
Field research: The Starks Lab provides hands-on experience with honey bee observation hives, outdoor research enclosures, field colonies, behavioral data collection and colony maintenance, connecting laboratory work with ecological field conditions.
Research equipment: Tufts Biology research facilities include molecular biology workspaces, microscopy and imaging resources, environmental growth rooms and shared analytical facilities, depending on the research laboratory.
Summer research internship: The Biology Undergraduate Summer Research Internship, established in 2025, provides funding for undergraduate research in the Department of Biology; students must have permission from a principal investigator to work in the laboratory before applying.
Laboratory employment: The Biology Department also offers undergraduate lab assistant positions, where students can be trained in laboratory techniques and procedures while supporting faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and other undergraduate researchers.
Senior research: Students can pursue Bio 199: Senior Honors Thesis, allowing qualifying students to undertake a substantial research project during their senior year.
Research centers: Biology students can engage with interdisciplinary research through centers and programs such as the Allen Discovery Center, which investigates bioelectric signaling, cell communication, pattern formation and regeneration.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biology at Tufts University builds a broad foundation for careers spanning medicine, biotechnology, conservation, education, consulting, law, and biological research. Students develop laboratory, experimental-design, data-analysis, scientific communication, and research-literature skills that can support both immediate employment and further professional or graduate study.

Career roles: Biological Research Technician, Biotechnology Associate, Environmental/Conservation Specialist, Laboratory Technician.
Career services: The Tufts Career Center provides Handshake for job and internship listings, individual career coaching, networking events, and lifetime career services for alumni.
Employment experience: 86% of Tufts graduates in the Class of 2025 completed at least one internship, while 65% completed two or more; Tufts counts research, study abroad, volunteer service, summer employment and internships within this experiential category.
Employment outcomes: Tufts maintains destination dashboards that allow students to explore employment, graduate-school and internship destinations by academic program, including employers, position titles, locations and graduate institutions.
Research connections: Biology undergraduates can work alongside faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students on projects involving areas such as disease genetics, cell signaling, climate-change biology, habitat loss and animal physiology.
Industry environment: Tufts highlights its location near Boston and Cambridge, describing the area as a hub for academia and industry and noting opportunities for students to build research and career networks with nearby institutions and companies.
Research infrastructure: The Biology Department reports state-of-the-art research equipment and facilities for the specialties represented by its faculty, alongside central computing facilities, research-focused software and online access to extensive biological journals and databases.
Research opportunities: The department has 24 research labs offering undergraduate opportunities, including labs working in developmental biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, physiology and other biological fields.
Salary figures: A specific employment salary figure for graduates of the B.S. in Biology is not stated on the official undergraduate Biology or Tufts Career Center pages reviewed, so no program-specific salary figure is provided.
Accreditation: A specific professional accreditation for the B.S. in Biology is not stated on the official Tufts Biology program page; therefore, no specific accreditation value should be assumed.
Graduation outcomes: Tufts Biology graduates are prepared for pathways including medicine, biotechnology, conservation, education, consulting, law, basic research and applied research.

Further Academic Progression: After the B.S., students can pursue Tufts' M.S. in Biology, which offers areas including molecular biology, genetics, ecology and bioinformatics and can prepare graduates for biotechnology, biomedicine or academic careers. Students can also pursue doctoral-level study or professional programs in areas aligned with their interests, with Tufts' Biology Department specifically supporting progression into research and graduate education through undergraduate research, independent research courses and senior thesis opportunities.