Biological Sciences—BS

All About Life

From the smallest cell to the largest mammal, biology is literally all around you. It’s the science of all life and living organisms—how they function, their origins and evolution, and the ways in which they interact with other living things and the environment.

With a BS in Biological Sciences from Michigan Tech, you’ll learn the basics of cells, genes, and organisms and apply it to the real world through innovative laboratory investigations, field research, and one-on-one work with professors. With a strong, quantitative education in natural sciences, you’ll have the framework needed to excel in whatever comes next—whether you’ve got your sights set on medical school, advanced graduate work, or a career in industry.

The Keweenaw Is Your Classroom

Learning about the living world from inside a classroom doesn’t make much sense. Michigan Tech’s location amid diverse ecosystems teeming with life—waters, forests, wetlands, and more—makes it a prime location to study biology. And when you are in the classroom, you’ll learn in up-to-date labs and research facilities, with access to some of the most advanced technology in the industry.

  • You can work on advanced DNA analysis, confocal microscopy, cell sorting, chromatography, and more. 
  • You’ll get to work in the Great Lakes Research Center, a state-of-the-art facility on the waterfront that supports faculty in their high-level research of water, atmospheric science, and conservation. 
  • You’ll utilize our Anatomage Tables- think life-sized human cadaver meets iPad- in your human anatomy labs in the new $53 million H-STEM Complex.

There’s a benefit to studying biology at a technological university!

Plenty of Job Opportunities in Biology

According to Cushman and Wakefield, life sciences employment grew 11.4% in 2021. The accelerated growth of jobs in the life sciences sector shows that careers for biology majors will continue to be in high demand.

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  • #5
    best college for biology in Michigan
  • 11.4%
    life sciences employment growth

Tomorrow Needs Talented Biologists

The demand for individuals with a robust, quantitative education in the biological sciences with a strong emphasis on high-level laboratory investigation and field research opportunities is great. A bachelor of science degree in biological science prepares you for a successful career. You’ll graduate thoroughly prepared to find success in medical school, environmental stewardship, advanced graduate programs, or a career in the biotechnology, genomics, or pharmaceutical industries. 

Career Opportunities for Biological Sciences Majors

Your future career options are unlimited with a degree in biological sciences. Career opportunities include:

  • Academia

  • Environmental consulting

  • Forensics

  • Governmental agencies

  • Health care

  • Non-profit sectors

  • Pharmaceuticals

  • Product development

  • Quality assurance

  • Secondary education

Additional Career Opportunities

Michigan Tech Biological Science Majors Have Been Hired By

The growing list of companies that have hired Michigan Tech biological sciences graduates includes:

  • Abbott Labs
  • Axalta Coating Systems
  • Cason & Associates
  • Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands
  • Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
  • Dental Advisor
  • Elite Medical Scribes
  • Emergency Care Consultants
  • Hortech Inc.
  • IHA
  • Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc.
  • Oryana
  • OSF HealthCare
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Michigan Medicine- University of Michigan
  • Munson Medical Center
  • PPD
  • PreventionGenetics
  • RMB Environmental Laboratories
  • SePro Corporation
  • University of California Hospital
  • University of Florida
  • University of Iowa
  • University of New Hampshire
  • University of Rochester Medical Center
  • University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • USDA
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service
  • White Water Associates
  • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about studying biological sciences at Michigan's flagship technological university.

"Biological sciences allowed me to easily get in all of the prerequisites for medical school. This major made me more well-rounded because we had to take classes we never would have otherwise, like Ecology, where I gained more outside knowledge rather than just getting educated in strict biology/medicine."

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Cassie Cecchettini
Cassie Cecchettini '18
BS Biological Sciences

Student Learning Goals

When you complete our bachelors of science biological sciences degree, you can expect to achieve the following:

  • Have knowledge of the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels of organization.
  • Increase critical thinking and problem solving skills.
  • Employ the scientific method to synthesize and report results.
  • Apply knowledge to broader global issues.
  • Be aware of the ethical and moral issues in biology.

Study Biological Sciences at a Technological University

At Michigan Tech, you will build knowledge and research foundations required to succeed in graduate school, research, or the job market. You’ll learn and experience first-hand how biology is central to solving real-world problems in sustainability, human health, environment and industry. With biology faculty that also serve as your research advisors and mentors, you’ll use biology in the lab and present results in classrooms, research symposia, and scientific journals.

Undergraduate Majors in Biological Sciences

Not sure which major is the right fit? No problem.
Just declare the General Sciences and Arts major, give yourself time, and decide when you arrive on campus. To learn more speak to an academic advisor.

Undergraduate Minors

Specialize in a secondary discipline outside of or complementary to your major, expand your knowledge base, and boost your potential career options with these nine biology-centric minors. A minor in a pre-professional program such as Pre-Law or Pre-Health prepares you for graduate school and future careers in law and medicine. You can declare a major anytime, but it is recommended you begin your minor studies as early as possible in your academic career. To learn more, speak to an academic advisor.

  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Bioprocess Engineering
  • Ecology
  • Fish Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Nanoscale Science and Engineering
  • Plant Biotechnology
  • Plant Sciences

Tomorrow Needs You

Supercharge your biology skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow's high-tech business landscape.

"All of the faculty and staff wanted the best for each student and were willing to help outside of class with extra materials, grad school applications, and letters of recommendation. Anything the students needed they were there ready to help."Shane Astrike ‘23, BS Biological Sciences, minor pre-health professions