Biology

The biology program will allow you to actively participate in new discoveries and scientific advances through research-focused teaching and hands-on projects that ensure you understand the process of science rather than simply memorizing facts.

Highlights

  • Our core curriculum will provide you with a well-rounded background in the biological sciences, while allowing the flexibility to pursue your specific interests and engage in coursework alongside dedicated and energetic classmates.
  • You will work directly with faculty experts, many of whom are known nationally — even globally — in their fields of study.
  • You will find a second home and state-of-the-art research facilities in Parker Science Building.
  • You will have access to a variety of internships and clinical experiences allowing you to apply your classroom studies to real-world practice. Recent biology internships include the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and SIU School of Medicine.
  • Nearly 100% of students in the biology program participate in at least one research project, giving you access to opportunities that many other undergraduate programs can’t offer. Recent student-faculty research has been focused on areas like preservation of endangered species of orchids, the behavioral ecology of bats, DNA repair, lens regeneration, human skeletal anatomy and biomechanics.
  • You will have the opportunity to study and conduct research around the world, including locations such as the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii, Ecuador, Madagascar, Japan, Cuba and the United Kingdom.
  • Working closely with knowledgeable advisers, you will choose a path that includes learning experiences to prepare you for your next challenge after graduation — whether that’s graduate school, professional school or a career in the sciences.

Outcomes

Recent alumni have been accepted into some of the top graduate programs in the country, like John Hopkins University, Vanderbilt University, Michigan State, Washington University in St. Louis, SIU School of Medicine, University of Florida and the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri. 

You will also find graduates of Illinois College’s biology program working for some of the most sought after employers on the globe, in successful careers as doctors, scientists, nurses, engineers, veterinarians, professors, researchers and more.