BS in Biological Sciences

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Missouri

Program Overview

The BS in Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri provides a broad but science-intensive foundation in the study of living organisms, combining biology with substantial coursework in chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics. It is well suited to students interested in research, biotechnology, healthcare, conservation, graduate study or professional schools, while allowing students to shape their studies through biology electives and specialized areas such as molecular biology, ecology, neuroscience and genetics.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students establish their scientific foundation through courses such as BIO_SC 1500: Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory, BIO_SC 1550: Introduction to Life Science Research, and CHEM 1400/1401: College Chemistry I and Laboratory. Mathematics, general education and related science coursework are introduced alongside laboratory-based biology and chemistry, giving students the preparation needed for more advanced study.

Second Year: The curriculum moves into core biological concepts through BIO_SC 2200: General Genetics and BIO_SC 2300: Introduction to Cell Biology, while students continue with organic chemistry, statistics and related science requirements. This stage develops understanding of heredity, cellular processes and quantitative approaches used in biological science.

Third Year: Students begin more advanced laboratory and diversity-focused biology while completing physics and upper-level chemistry requirements. Options such as MICROB 3200: Medical Microbiology and Immunology, BIO_SC 3210: Plant Systematics, BIO_SC 3650: General Ecology, or BIO_SC 4974: Molecular Biology Laboratory allow students to explore particular areas of biological science.

Fourth Year: Students complete advanced biology, evolutionary science and a capstone experience, with options including BIO_SC 4976: Molecular Biology, BIO_SC 4978: Cancer Biology, BIO_SC 4982: Human Inherited Diseases, BIO_SC 4983: Molecular Ecology, or BIO_SC 4994: Senior Seminar. Students can also use BIO_SC 4950/4952: Undergraduate Research in Biology as their capstone, providing an opportunity to conduct and present an independent research project under faculty supervision.

Focus areas

Genetics and genomics, cell and molecular biology, developmental biology, ecology and evolution, organismal biology, plant sciences, neurobiology and behavior, microbiology, conservation biology, computational biology

Learning outcomes

Students develop knowledge of biological systems, laboratory and research methods, quantitative and statistical reasoning, scientific investigation, data analysis, mathematical modeling and simulation, critical thinking, scientific communication and the ability to evaluate ethical issues in biological research.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The BS in Biological Sciences is offered through the University of Missouri's College of Arts and Science. The University of Missouri is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; the university's official accreditation listing does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Biological Sciences BS.

Reputation (employability rankings)

The University of Missouri reports that 95.4% of its bachelor's degree graduates achieve a successful outcome within six months of graduation, including employment, continuing education, military service and service programs. The Biological Sciences division also highlights its integration of research, undergraduate training and community engagement, with students able to progress into graduate and professional education or careers across health, biotechnology, industry, government, conservation and education.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS in Biological Sciences gives students substantial opportunities to move beyond classroom learning through faculty-supervised research, laboratory courses, internships and field-based experiences. Undergraduate research can begin as early as the first or second year through BIO_SC 2950: Directed Independent Research, while upper-level students can undertake independent field or laboratory projects through BIO_SC 4950/4952, including developing research questions, designing experiments, analyzing data and publicly presenting their findings.

Students can also gain practical experience through BIO_SC 2940: Internships in Biological Sciences, which provides academic credit for research or work with a private company or other non-academic organization. Mizzou's biological sciences facilities provide access to specialized resources spanning DNA sequencing, genomics, microscopy, proteomics, plant transformation, bioinformatics and field research:

DNA Core: DNA sequencing, fragment analysis, genotyping, genomic variation analysis, gene-expression analysis, PCR/qPCR and robotic instrumentation.
Advanced Light Microscopy Core: Confocal microscopes, micro-injection systems, fluorescence microscopy, microtomes and scientific image analysis.
Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center: Custom peptide synthesis, protein sequencing, HPLC and capillary electrophoresis.
Electron Microscopy Core: Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, immunoelectron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis and digital imaging.
Bioinformatics and Analytics Core: Genome-wide sequence data assembly and annotation, high-throughput data analysis and custom web-enabled software development.
Animal Modeling Core: Transgenic mouse generation, genotyping, cell culture and micromanipulation facilities.
Plant Transformation Core: Plant tissue culture and transformation involving soybean, maize, switchgrass, sorghum, tobacco and Arabidopsis.
Tucker Prairie/Clair L. Kucera Research Station: A 146-acre prairie research site containing more than 250 plant species and used by MU faculty and students for biological research.
Undergraduate research programs: BioFlare, Cherng Summer Scholars, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, FRIPS, Discovery Fellows, MARC, McNair, Mizzou Forward Undergraduate Research Training Grants and Translational Biomedicine Summer Research.
BioResearch Canvas: Used for course materials, research forms and program assignments associated with undergraduate research courses.
Research presentation opportunities: Students can present work through Show Me Research Week, Undergraduate Research Days, the Research and Creative Achievements Forum and Health Sciences Research Day.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Biological Sciences is designed to support several directions after graduation, including graduate study, professional schools, healthcare, biotechnology, industry, government, conservation and education. Students can strengthen their preparation through undergraduate research, internships, career planning and specialized upper-level coursework, while the curriculum also provides a strong science foundation for students considering medicine, veterinary medicine or other professional programs.

Typical career roles include Biologist, Biological Technician, Research Assistant and Laboratory Technician.

Students can build toward these opportunities through the following:

Career support: The MU Career Center provides career exploration resources, self-assessment tools and career guidance, while Biological Sciences advisors help students plan courses, integrate internships and study abroad, explore careers and build an academic and professional portfolio.
Employment outcomes: Across Mizzou bachelor's graduates, 95.4% achieved a successful outcome within six months of graduation. The university defines successful outcomes as employment, continuing education, military service or service programs.
Internship experience: BIO_SC 2940: Internships in Biological Sciences allows students to gain hands-on experience in research, private companies or other non-academic environments while earning up to three credit hours.
Research opportunities: Students can work with research-active faculty across Biological Sciences and other departments, including Animal Sciences, Biochemistry, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Plant Sciences, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences and Veterinary Pathobiology.
Research partnerships and field experience: Tucker Prairie is operated by the Division of Biological Sciences in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation, providing a dedicated site for biological research and field study.
Salary information: The official Biological Sciences sources reviewed do not publish a specific salary figure for graduates of the BS in Biological Sciences, so a program-specific salary should be recorded as NA rather than estimated.
Long-term accreditation value: The University of Missouri's institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission provides institutional quality assurance, while the university does not list a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Biological Sciences BS.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into the University of Missouri's MS or PhD programs in Biological Sciences or pursue graduate and professional programs in areas such as medicine, veterinary medicine, other health professions, biotechnology and biological research. The department specifically notes that many Biological Sciences majors continue to graduate school, while the BS curriculum is also designed to support professional-school preparation.