BS Biology major

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Pennsylvania

Program Overview

The BS Biology major at the University of Pennsylvania provides a broad foundation in biological science, covering topics from cellular and molecular biology to genetics, physiology, ecology, and evolution, while keeping pace with areas such as computational genomics, proteomics, molecular evolution, and epigenetics. Student fit: It suits students interested in biological research, healthcare, graduate study, laboratory work, conservation, and other life-science careers, with the flexibility to explore different areas of biology through advanced coursework.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their biological-science foundation through introductory coursework such as BIOL 1101 Introduction to Biology A and BIOL 1102 Introduction to Biology B, or the accelerated BIOL 1121 Introduction to Biology – The Molecular Biology of Life, BIOL 1123 Introductory Molecular Biology Laboratory, and BIOL 1124 Introductory Organismal Biology Lab sequence for students with advanced preparation.

Year 2: Students build on introductory biology with intermediate and advanced biological-science study while developing supporting knowledge in areas such as chemistry, mathematics, and other natural sciences. The major is designed around core areas including cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, and ecology and evolution, giving students a broad scientific base before deeper specialization.

Year 3: Students move further into upper-level Biology coursework and can explore the department's wide range of topics, including modern approaches to molecular evolution, computational genomics, proteomics, and epigenetics. This stage provides greater flexibility to select advanced Biology courses aligned with research interests and longer-term career or graduate-study goals.

Year 4: Students complete their advanced Biology requirements and use their remaining coursework to deepen their interests within the discipline while completing the College's broader degree requirements. Students pursuing honors can also develop a senior thesis, with Penn's Biology BA catalog specifying a minimum 3.25 major GPA for honors eligibility.

Focus areas: Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Physiology, Ecology and Evolution, Molecular Evolution, Computational Genomics, Proteomics, Epigenetics.

Learning outcomes: Strong foundation in biological sciences, scientific reasoning and analysis, understanding of biological processes across molecular-to-ecosystem levels, preparation for biological research, healthcare-related graduate study, laboratory careers and conservation-related work.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Penn's official Biology materials do not state a separate professional accreditation for the Biology BA/major; the program is offered through the School of Arts and Sciences and requires concentrated study in the major as part of the College's Bachelor of Arts curriculum.

Reputation (employability rankings): Penn's official sources describe the Biology major as preparation for graduate study, health-related professional training, teaching, laboratory employment, and conservation-related employment; an official program-specific QS or Guardian employability ranking is not stated on the Biology program page.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Penn’s BA in Biology, students build practical skills through laboratory-based introductory courses, advanced biology coursework, faculty-mentored research, and opportunities to work with biological research groups across the University. The curriculum includes dedicated molecular and organismal biology laboratories, while Penn’s research programs can provide sustained laboratory experience, independent projects, summer research, and exposure to computational and analytical approaches in modern biology.

Laboratory Training: BIOL 1123 Introductory Molecular Biology Laboratory and BIOL 1124 Introductory Organismal Biology Lab give students direct laboratory experience as part of the Biology major.
Research Experience: FERBS (First Exposure to Research in the Biological Sciences) allows Biology majors to conduct weekly research in a Penn laboratory for four semesters, complete two paid summer research internships, and undertake a two-semester senior thesis or independent project with a faculty research mentor.
Research Institutes & Labs: Penn Medicine research departments and laboratories provide additional opportunities for undergraduate biological-science research, including work in genetics, cancer biology, immunology, cellular and molecular biology, and bioinformatics.
Summer Internships: Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) provides a 10-week, full-time laboratory research experience with a principal investigator, alongside scientific seminars, professional-development activities, and a final research symposium.
Computational & Digital Tools: Computational biology is incorporated into Penn's advanced Biology curriculum; for example, BIOL 3020 provides students with a cloud-based computational platform for programming and assignments, while BIOL 5262 develops skills related to genomics and omics technologies.
Group Projects & Scientific Communication: BIOL 5262 Biological Foundations for Bioengineering and Biotechnology: Genomics and Omics Technologies includes hands-on active learning where possible and culminates in a final group presentation, giving students experience communicating biological research collaboratively.
Field-Based Learning: BIOL 4600 Field Botany uses weekly field trips to study Pennsylvania flora and plant communities, with students learning field identification, use of a dichotomous key, specimen collection, laboratory study, and herbarium archiving.
Ecological Fieldwork: BIOL 4606 Urban Botany takes students into and around Penn's campus to examine plant communities and ecological impacts in urban environments, including applications in agriculture, medicine, bioremediation, and community health.
Mentored Research: Vagelos Scholars Program in Molecular Life Sciences connects participating students with research groups on or near Penn's campus and provides stipend-supported research during the summers after the second and third years.
Independent Research: Department of Cancer Biology works with Penn's undergraduate research programs to place students in laboratories, with opportunities for year-long independent-study projects that can form the basis of thesis work.
Research Funding & External Laboratories: Penn Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) lists research opportunities such as the DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship, which places students in participating national laboratories for summer or semester research experiences.
Facilities & Resources: Penn Biology and affiliated research facilities provide access to teaching laboratories, faculty research laboratories, biological collections and field-learning resources across the University. The official Biology program information and course catalog provide the relevant facilities, laboratory courses, research opportunities, and biological-science resources.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS Biology major at the University of Pennsylvania provides a strong foundation for careers and further study across biological research, biotechnology, healthcare, and related life-science fields. Penn also emphasizes that Biology students can build research experience and prepare for graduate, medical, dental, veterinary, or other professional schools.

Typical Job Roles: Biological Research Assistant, Laboratory Technician, Biologist, Clinical Research Coordinator.

Career Support & Employment Opportunities:

Career Services: Penn Career Services provides career exploration, job and internship resources, Handshake, employer recruiting, and career fairs for undergraduate students.
Biological Sciences Recruiting: The BioSciences Career Fair connects Penn students with employers across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, consulting, science writing and publishing, government, nonprofits, startups, policy, and related fields.
Research & Internships: Students can pursue internships through Career Services, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF), faculty members, and other Penn programs.
Alumni Networking: MyPenn connects students with Penn alumni, while the College Alumni Mentoring Series provides opportunities to learn directly from alumni about career paths and professional options.

Employment Stats & Salary Figures:

Graduate Outcomes: Penn Career Services publishes an interactive First Destinations report that allows outcomes to be explored by class year, school, and major/concentration, including employers, job titles, and graduate schools.
Salary Data: Penn's official Career Services pages provide annual-earnings information through its Labor Market Insights resources, using employment and earnings data from labor-market sources. A specific Biology BS salary figure is not stated on the official Penn pages reviewed, so no unsupported salary number is provided.

University–Industry Connections: Penn's BioSciences Career Fair attracts employers from biotechnology, pharmaceutical, consulting, science publishing, patent and intellectual-property, government, nonprofit, startup, and policy sectors; Penn's employer listings also include organizations recruiting for life and physical sciences.

Long-Term Accreditation Value: Penn's official Biology materials reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for the BS Biology major. The degree therefore should not be presented as carrying a specialized Biology accreditation unless Penn explicitly identifies one.

Graduation Outcomes: Penn's College of Arts and Sciences reports that graduates move into diverse destinations including science, healthcare, technology, consulting, education, government, law, medicine, and other professional fields. Students interested in scientific careers can also use research experience and advanced coursework to prepare for PhD programs, while students pursuing healthcare can prepare for medical, dental, veterinary, and other health-profession schools.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS Biology major, students can continue into PhD and other graduate programs in biological and life sciences, as well as professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. Penn specifically encourages science students considering PhD study to gain advanced coursework and research experience, while pre-health students can complete the required science core alongside their chosen major.