Bachelor of Arts in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Kansas

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology at the University of Kansas provides a broad and flexible foundation in the biological sciences, allowing students to explore areas such as ecology, microbiology, organismal physiology, evolution, and biochemistry. It is well suited to students seeking a versatile biology education for scientific, healthcare, environmental, research, or further graduate and professional study, with supporting coursework in chemistry, mathematics, physics, and statistics.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their foundation in biological and chemical sciences through BIOL 150: Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, BIOL 152: Principles of Organismal Biology, and BIOL 154: Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors. They also begin CHEM 130: General Chemistry I, CHEM 135: General Chemistry II, mathematics, and the KU Core 34 requirements.

Second Year: Students strengthen their quantitative and molecular-science preparation through BIOL 350: Principles of Genetics, BIOL 370: Introduction to Biostatistics, CHEM 330: Organic Chemistry I, and CHEM 331: Organic Chemistry I Laboratory. This stage develops the genetics, statistics, chemistry, and laboratory foundation needed for advanced biology courses.

Third Year: Students move into upper-level biological sciences with BIOL 412: Evolutionary Biology and choose from courses such as BIOL 413: The Tree of Life, BIOL 414: Principles of Ecology, or BIOL 428: Introduction to Systematics. They also select advanced study in areas such as BIOL 400: Fundamentals of Microbiology, BIOL 416: Cell Structure and Function, or BIOL 417: Biology of Development, alongside physics and additional electives.

Fourth Year: The final year emphasizes advanced biology electives, laboratory work, and a capstone experience, with options including BIOL 405: Laboratory in Genetics, BIOL 426: Laboratory in Cell Biology, BIOL 490: Internship and Practical Applications, and BIOL 599: Senior Seminar. Students complete advanced 400-level biology coursework and laboratory electives while completing BIOL 412: Evolutionary Biology and the remaining degree requirements.

Focus areas: The flexible B.A. structure allows students to build coursework around ecology, microbiology, organismal physiology, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, genetics, evolution, and related biological sciences.

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop an understanding of biological structures and functions from molecules to ecosystems, explain genetic variation and evolutionary processes, understand gene expression and biological responses to environmental change, apply scientific, quantitative, statistical, and informatics approaches, evaluate scientific evidence, and communicate scientific ideas and research findings effectively.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The University of Kansas is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The official KU accreditation information does not list a separate programmatic accreditation specifically for the B.A. in Biology, so no additional specialized accreditation is stated for this program.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): KU is an Association of American Universities (AAU) member and a research-intensive institution, supporting a strong research environment for biological sciences. A specific current QS, Guardian, or other employability ranking for the B.A. in Biology itself is not stated on the official University of Kansas program or catalog pages.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the B.A. in Biology at the University of Kansas build practical skills through laboratory courses, faculty-guided research, field-based study and opportunities to work with biological specimens and modern research equipment. The program connects classroom learning with hands-on experiences across areas such as ecology, evolution, molecular biology and organismal biology, while KU's biology facilities support undergraduate research and laboratory-based training. Students can also participate in faculty research through structured undergraduate research opportunities, giving them experience with the methods and practices used by professional biologists.

Practical opportunities include:

Undergraduate Research: KU Biology offers undergraduate research opportunities that allow students to work with faculty members on active research projects and gain direct experience in biological research.
Teaching & Research Laboratories: Biology students use KU's teaching and research laboratories for hands-on work in areas including molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, ecology and organismal biology.
Natural History Collections: KU's Biodiversity Institute maintains extensive scientific collections and research resources, providing opportunities for students to engage with biodiversity research and biological specimens.
Field-Based Learning: Biology coursework can include field-oriented experiences that allow students to study organisms and ecological systems beyond the traditional laboratory environment.
Biodiversity Institute: Students can benefit from KU's Biodiversity Institute, a major research center focused on documenting and understanding Earth's biodiversity through research, collections and education.
KU Natural History Museum: The KU Natural History Museum houses extensive biological collections and provides a valuable resource for studying biodiversity, evolution and natural history.
Research Collections: The Biodiversity Institute's collections include resources in areas such as ichthyology, herpetology, ornithology, mammalogy, entomology and paleontology, giving students access to substantial biological research resources.
Internships & Career Experience: KU Biology supports students in connecting academic study with professional experience through undergraduate research, internships and career-development opportunities relevant to biological sciences.
Collaborative Learning: Laboratory and research experiences allow students to work alongside faculty, graduate researchers and other undergraduate students, developing practical scientific communication and teamwork skills.
Research Equipment & Facilities: KU Biology research spans molecular, cellular, organismal and ecological approaches, giving students opportunities to encounter specialized laboratory methods and equipment appropriate to their research area.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.A. in Biology at the University of Kansas provides a broad foundation for careers across scientific research, healthcare, conservation, public safety, government and related industries. Students can strengthen their career profile through faculty-mentored research, field experience, internships and professional preparation, while the flexible degree structure also supports progression into graduate and professional programs.

Career roles: Biological Technician, Research Assistant, Laboratory Assistant, Environmental or Conservation Specialist.

Career support and progression: KU connects biology students with dedicated academic, research and career resources that can help them move from undergraduate study toward employment or further education:

Career services: The KU University Career Center provides career coaching, career fairs, assessments, résumé assistance and job-search resources, while Handshake gives students access to hundreds of employer-posted jobs and internships across local, national and international locations.
Biology career guidance: KU Biology provides dedicated resources for biological-science careers, including the University Career Center, biology internship guidance, Handshake, USAJOBS and conservation and science-sector job boards.
Employment and salary: KU does not publish a program-specific employment rate or graduate salary figure for the B.A. in Biology on the official program pages reviewed. Therefore, no program-specific salary figure is stated here.
Industry connection: KU has documented a biotechnology collaboration with Design-Zyme, a Lawrence-based biotechnology company, involving research toward Lyme disease and Chlamydia vaccines. KU reports that the collaboration has included commercial laboratory and academic research and that a former KU intern at Design-Zyme became the company's chief science officer.
Research-to-industry opportunities: KU's Office of Research provides industry partners access to KU faculty expertise, advanced equipment, specialized core laboratories and students, while the KU Innovation Park provides an additional research and collaboration ecosystem adjacent to campus.
Research preparation: Biology students can work with faculty mentors in research laboratories, conduct independent research, pursue Biology Honors research and apply for NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates.
Professional development: The BESST program provides eligible STEM juniors and seniors with paid research-assistant experience, faculty or staff mentoring and professional-development activities designed to support transitions into internships, graduate school and careers.
Long-term accreditation value: The University of Kansas is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The official KU degree page identifies the B.A. in Biology as an accredited bachelor's degree; no separate program-specific professional accreditation is stated for the B.A. in Biology.
Graduation outcomes: KU states that its Undergraduate Biology Program prepares students for scientific research, medical professions, conservation, public safety and other pathways. Graduates can also use the degree as preparation for graduate or professional education.
Graduate examples: KU's biology alumni include graduates who have progressed into clinical research and industry; for example, a KU biology graduate profiled by the department became a Clinical Site Manager at Roche, coordinating research studies involving diagnostic products.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.A. in Biology, students can continue into graduate study in biological sciences and related research areas, or pursue professional education in fields such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and other health professions. KU's Biology program itself connects students with graduate programs in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Molecular Biosciences, while undergraduate research, honors and mentoring opportunities can help students prepare competitive applications for advanced study.