Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Biology

The University of Washington’s B.A. in Biology gives students practical experience through laboratory courses, fieldwork, faculty-led research, internships, and study opportunities beyond the classroom. Students can work directly with UW Biology faculty, develop laboratory and scientific-method skills through undergraduate research, and explore biological systems in settings ranging from UW’s research facilities and greenhouse to the Pacific Northwest and Friday Harbor Laboratories. More than one-third of UW Biology students participate in original research with faculty, while the department also provides opportunities to gain professional experience through internships and applied learning.

Students can build this hands-on experience through several program-specific opportunities:

• Undergraduate Research: Students can enroll in BIOL 499 – Undergraduate Research, working with a faculty mentor on research projects and developing practical laboratory skills, scientific-method experience, and the ability to evaluate scientific literature. Research opportunities are available across areas including molecular and cellular biology, ecology, evolution, physiology, and other biological disciplines.
• Biology Internship: BIOL 399 – Biology Internship Program allows students to earn academic credit while gaining practical experience in a professional setting. UW Biology identifies internship opportunities with medical facilities, biotechnology companies, environmental organizations, and local, state, and federal government agencies.
• Data & Computational Tools: Students can take BIOL 419 – Data Science for Biologists and BIOL 460 – Systems Biology I, developing data-oriented and systems-level approaches relevant to modern biological research.
• Research Laboratories: UW Biology occupies Hitchcock, Johnson, and Kincaid Halls, with extensive teaching and research laboratories, more than 16,000 square feet of greenhouse space, seawater facilities, growth rooms, electron microscopes, and other specialized equipment. Undergraduate students, particularly those involved in research, have access to many of these facilities.
• Biology Imaging Facility: Students involved in research can benefit from access to advanced imaging infrastructure including confocal microscopes, super-resolution live-cell imaging microscopes, a transmission electron microscope, and sample-preparation laboratories.
• UW Biology Greenhouse: The Biology Greenhouse serves as a research and teaching environment where students and faculty study living plant collections and biological questions including plant-pollinator interactions and other areas of plant biology.
• Friday Harbor Laboratories: Students can take biology courses and research opportunities at Friday Harbor Laboratories in the San Juan Islands. Options include FHL 470 – Research in Marine Biology, where students conduct laboratory experiments or fieldwork and collect, analyze, write up, and present their own data.
• Field-Based Learning: Courses such as FHL 471 – Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Marine Organisms include field trips to collect local organisms, physiology experiments, and CT scanning, while FHL 420 – Marine Ecology of the Salish Sea provides immersive field and laboratory study of coastal ecosystems.
• Research Apprenticeships: The Friday Harbor Labs Research Apprenticeship is a full-time, quarter-long opportunity in which students receive training in research methods, tools, data collection, and research-product development through intensive field or laboratory work.
• Collaborative Learning: UW Biology emphasizes active learning through experience, discussion, and practice, while students work with faculty and solve biological problems as part of interdisciplinary, collaborative teams.
• Study Abroad: Biology undergraduates can complement their classroom and laboratory training with study-abroad opportunities, adding international field and academic experiences to their degree.

The B.A. in Biology gives students a broad foundation for careers in health sciences, research, environmental science, education, science policy, government, business, and nonprofit organizations. Students can combine coursework with research and internships to build practical experience for roles such as Laboratory Researcher, Microbiologist, Environmental Consultant, and Health Communications Specialist.

Career Development & Employment Opportunities:

• Career & Internship Center: UW's Career & Internship Center supports students with career planning, aptitude testing, résumé development, and finding experiential-learning opportunities, while the university also provides internship coaching and employer connections.
• Employment Outcomes: 92% of UW graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation, while 94% of recent graduates agree that their UW experience prepared them to achieve their career goals.
• Internship Experience: 78% of UW students graduate with internship experience, supported by more than 26,807 internship postings annually and over 1,000 unique employers hiring UW graduates each year.
• Salary Figures: The University of Washington's official Biology pages do not state a specific salary figure for B.A. Biology graduates, so a program-specific salary should not be assumed.
• Industry Partnerships: Biology students can access internship opportunities through partnerships with medical facilities, biotechnology companies, environmental organizations, and government agencies; recent placements have included Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
• Research Opportunities: Around 40% of undergraduate Biology majors participate in faculty-mentored research, presenting their work at scientific meetings and contributing to research publications.
• Employer Network: UW's wider employer network includes organizations such as Amazon, Boeing, Deloitte, Expedia, Meta, and Accenture, giving students access to opportunities beyond traditional biology careers.
• Accreditation Value: The official UW Biology information does not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for the B.A. in Biology. The degree instead provides broad preparation for employment, professional schools, and graduate study across biological and health-related fields.
• Graduation Outcomes: In 2026, UW Biology celebrated 590 undergraduate graduates, while the department reports that its graduates progress into medicine, research, conservation, biotechnology, education, policy, and other areas.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.A. in Biology, students can continue into master's and doctoral study in Biology or pursue professional programs in areas such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, physical therapy, and other health professions. UW Biology specifically identifies graduate and professional schools as established pathways for its students, while the department itself offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Biology for students seeking advanced research and academic careers.