Bachelor of Arts in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New Mexico

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology at the University of New Mexico provides a broad foundation in biological science for students interested in understanding life from cellular and molecular processes through ecology, evolution, biodiversity, and organismal biology. It suits students seeking a flexible biology education for careers, research, health-related professional programs, or further graduate study, with opportunities to complement coursework through research and specialized upper-division biology courses.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with foundational biology and supporting sciences, developing an understanding of core biological concepts alongside chemistry, mathematics, and other general education requirements. Courses such as BIOL 2110C – Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Lecture and Laboratory introduce cellular and molecular biology through combined lecture and laboratory study, while BIOL 2410C – Principles of Biology: Genetics Lecture and Laboratory develops foundations in genetics.

Year 2: Students progress into broader biological systems and begin building the upper-level foundation required for the major. BIOL 303/303L – Ecology and Evolution/Ecology and Evolution Laboratory examines ecological and evolutionary concepts with laboratory investigation, while BIOL 304/304L – Plant and Animal Form and Function/Plant and Animal Form and Function Laboratory develops understanding of organismal structure and function through lecture and laboratory work.

Year 3: Students move further into upper-division biology and can shape their studies around areas of particular interest. The BA requires upper-division biology electives, with options including BIOL 300 – Evolution and BIOL 310 – Principles of Ecology, allowing students to deepen their understanding of evolutionary processes and ecological systems.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced biology electives and completion of the degree's upper-division requirements, giving students flexibility to connect their biology studies with their intended career or further-study pathway. Students interested in specialist areas can choose courses such as BIOL 450 – General Virology, BIOL 482L – Parasitology, BIOL 485L – Entomology, BIOL 486L – Ornithology, BIOL 487L – Ichthyology, BIOL 488L – Herpetology, or BIOL 489L – Mammalogy, subject to the applicable curriculum and prerequisites.

Focus areas: Cellular and molecular biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, organismal biology, biodiversity, conservation, physiology, and related biological sciences.

Learning outcomes: Students develop knowledge of biological systems across multiple levels of organization, laboratory and scientific investigation skills, quantitative and analytical abilities, and an understanding of how biological knowledge is generated through research.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The University of New Mexico is continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), with institutional accreditation covering UNM's campuses and programs. The university states that its accreditation was reaffirmed following its 2019 comprehensive review.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of New Mexico's official Biology sources describe the department as a major undergraduate program within the College of Arts and Sciences and emphasize its active research environment, but the official program sources reviewed do not state a specific QS, Guardian, or program-level employability ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.A. in Biology at the University of New Mexico combines laboratory-based coursework with opportunities to participate directly in biological research. Students can develop practical skills through faculty-led research, independent research in the Honors Program, and specialized opportunities connected to UNM’s major research programs, with work spanning areas from molecular and cellular biology to ecology, evolution, immunology, and organismal biology. More than 200 undergraduate scholars participate in research with faculty, graduate students, and staff each year, giving students opportunities to experience how biological knowledge is generated in active research settings.

These program-specific opportunities include:

Laboratory coursework: The Biology curriculum includes hands-on courses such as Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Lecture and Laboratory, Principles of Biology: Genetics Lecture and Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, and Plant and Animal Form and Function Laboratory, providing practical experience across major areas of biology.
Undergraduate research: Students can join a faculty-led research laboratory or pursue independent research through the Biology Honors Program, where students conduct their own research project under the supervision of a research faculty member.
Museum of Southwestern Biology: The Museum of Southwestern Biology is a Biology Department research and teaching facility with natural-history collections, associated databases, and faculty research laboratories, including the Cook Molecular Evolution and Ecology Lab, Loker Lab of Parasitology and Comparative Immunology, Miller Lab of Insect Systematics, and Turner Aquatic Conservation Lab.
Research institutes and centers: Students can engage with research connected to the Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI), Center for Stable Isotopes, Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research Program, and New Mexico Natural Heritage. CETI also connects UNM Biology with Computer Science, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Santa Fe Institute.
Stable-isotope research: The Center for Stable Isotopes is a research-focused laboratory and analytical facility supporting stable-isotope research involving Biology and other scientific disciplines, giving students access to an interdisciplinary research environment.
Research training programs: Programs such as U-RISE provide research training designed to prepare undergraduate students for graduate school and careers in biomedical research.
Research mentoring and presentation: UNM’s Undergraduate Research, Arts & Design Network (URAD) helps students identify research areas, find faculty mentors, and learn how to present their research.
Computational and data-focused opportunities: UNM Biology participates in the Environmental Data Initiative, which curates and archives data from Long-Term Ecological Research sites, while interdisciplinary research also connects Biology with computational and data-oriented work.
Specific software: The official B.A. Biology sources reviewed do not identify a specific required software package for the degree, so no software is listed here as a program requirement.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology at the University of New Mexico provides a broad biological foundation that can support careers in research, education, environmental and conservation work, healthcare-related fields, and other applied areas. UNM specifically notes that B.A. students may use the degree as a foundation for careers such as science education, environmental journalism, law, and community planning, while the biology major also supports pathways into research and health professions.

Typical career roles: Biology graduates may pursue roles such as research assistant, laboratory technician, wildlife biologist, or biology teacher, depending on their additional training and career goals.

Career development and employment opportunities:

Career Services: UNM Career Services provides individual career advising, career assessments, career fairs, on-campus recruiting, workshops, and employer connections. UNM also uses Handshake to connect students with employers, jobs, and internships.
Biology-specific support: The Biology Department provides academic advising and research guidance, while the URAD office helps undergraduate students identify research areas and connect with potential research mentors.
Employer access: UNM reports that hundreds of employers attend its career fairs each year. The Engineering & Science Career Fair specifically brings employers seeking biology and other STEM students for internships and full-time positions.
Employment and salary figures: UNM's official Biology career materials identify potential employment areas and occupations, but they do not publish a specific employment rate or salary figure for graduates of the B.A. in Biology.
Industry and professional pathways: UNM identifies potential biology employment areas including biomedical fields, biotechnology, environmental management, government agencies, natural-resource management, research, teaching, and laboratory work.
Research opportunities: UNM's Biology Department offers opportunities to participate in faculty-led research and independent research through its Honors Program, giving students experience that can strengthen applications for employment or advanced study.
Long-term accreditation value: The University of New Mexico has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1922, with the accreditation covering UNM's campuses and programs. UNM states that institutional accreditation supports recognition of coursework and degrees by other higher-education institutions and employers.
Graduation outcomes: The degree can lead into biological research, laboratory and environmental careers, education, and other applied fields, while also providing preparation for professional and graduate programs in areas such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, and graduate Biology.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.A. in Biology, students can continue into graduate study in Biology or related life-science disciplines. UNM's Department of Biology itself offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs, and the bachelor's degree can also provide prerequisite preparation for professional health programs such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, and veterinary medicine.