Programs

The Department of Biology houses majors, minors and a specialization at the undergraduate level that are tailored to fit a student's interests and career goals in the biological sciences and related fields. Both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degree options are offered at the major level. In addition to these traditional degree programs, the Department also offers a number of accelerated and/or guaranteed seat degree options where students can earn both their bachelors and an advanced degree through agreements with either graduate or professional schools in the region including paths to MD, DO, DMD, PA and PT graduate programs.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology offers a flexible curriculum allowing students to pursue individual interests in biology. The BA in Biology provides students with rigorous training in both basic and advanced biological concepts while facilitating flexibility in upper level course selection.

The BA in Biology is a strong option for those students wishing to earn their Secondary Education Teaching Certification through the Master of Education degree at Slippery Rock University.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology- Integrative Biology

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology: Integrative Biology offers students a broad biology degree that provides students a diverse background in many areas of biology including: plant biology, animal biology, cell/molecular biology and ecology. Students are then able to select upper level biology electives in their area of interest to develop a deeper understanding of their target area of biology and prepare for careers in zoology, botany, ecology, conservation biology, microbiology, fish and wildlife officers, government laboratories, education and environmental research.

This program can also link to the Pre-Masters of Education program at SRU.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Cellular and Molecular Biology

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology concentration is a biology degree that focuses on cellular biology, molecular biology and biochemistry. Students in this concentration will gain experience in this fast-growing area of biology. Students who complete this degree program may pursue graduate school (Masters, PhD), laboratory research jobs, forensic laboratory jobs, pharmaceutical research, pharmacy school. There is an option to complete a bioinformatics concentration with this degree program as well.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Pre-Health Professions

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology: Pre-Health Professions is a biology degree that incorporates the pre-requisites for most health-related graduate programs. This concentration includes courses in genetics, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, and cell/molecular biology. Students interested in becoming physicians (MD/DO), dentists, chiropractors, physician assistants, physical therapists, nurses, veterinarians, and other clinicians may select this degree program.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – Cytotechnology

Through the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Cytotechnology students learn to work as Certified Cytotechnologists collecting and analyzing specimens for early cancer detection and other pathological concerns.

Students in this degree program option spend their first three years at Slippery Rock University completing a minimum of 96 credit hours in biology and other subject areas.

The fourth and final year of the program is spent in a 12-month intensive training program at an accredited hospital School of Cytotechnology. You must be accepted into an accredited hospital. Most of our students attend the cytotechnology program at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

*Beginning Spring 2021, students will no longer be able to select this concentration. If you have any questions, please contact the program director, Dr. Stacy Hrizo at stacy.hrizo@sru.edu.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – Histotechnology

Through the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Histotechnology students learn to work as Certified Histotechnologists collecting and analyzing specimens for early cancer detection and other pathological concerns.

Students in this degree program option spend their first three years at Slippery Rock University completing a minimum of 96 credit hours in biology and other subject areas. In their third year, students apply for admission to an accredited histotechnology program.

Students in their fourth year complete their clinical training at an accredited histotechnology program. Slippery Rock students frequently attend the histotechnology program housed at UPMC Magee- Womens Hospital.

Beginning Fall 2023 students will no longer be able to select this concentration. If you have any questions please contact the program director, Dr. Stacy Hrizo at stacy.hrizo@sru.edu.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – Medical Technology

Through the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Medical Technology students learn to work as Certified Medical Technologists providing routine and specialized clinical laboratory testing on a variety of patient specimens.

Students in their fourth and final year complete their clinical training at an accredited medical laboratory sciences program. Slippery Rock students have received medical technology training in their fourth year at the following programs: York Hospital School of Medical Technology, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Clinical Laboratory Science Program, UPMC Chautauqua Medical Laboratory Science Program, St. Vincent Health Center School of Medical Technology, Altoona Hospital School of Medical Technology, Rockingham Memorial Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science, and Rochester General Hospital School of Medical Technology.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Pre-Masters in Education

For students interested in teaching high school biology, the Department offers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Pre-Masters in Education as a BA or BS.

Accelerated Affiliation Programs

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – LECOM: Osteopathic Medicine 3+4 or 4+4

The accelerated Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - LECOM: Osteopathic Medicine 3+4 program allows biology majors who have completed specific coursework the opportunity to apply for early admission to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). The requirements for this program are established by LECOM and may be found with their listed entrance requirements.

In the LECOM Osteopathic Medicine 3+4 program students spend their first three years completing the undergraduate biology program at Slippery Rock University before continuing on to the four-year medical school program at LECOM. If a student is granted early acceptance, the first year of the osteopathic program replaces the last year of undergraduate study.

In the LECOM Osteopathic Medicine 4+4 program students complete the undergraduate biology program at Slippery Rock University before continuing on to the four-year medical school program at LECOM.

Biology – LECOM: School of Pharmacy 2+3

Through the Biology - LECOM School of Pharmacy 2+3 students can complete an accelerated five-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Pharmacy.

Students in the program complete a two-year pre-pharmacy curriculum at Slippery Rock University before matriculating into the three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program at LECOM School of Pharmacy.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – LECOM: School of Dentistry 4+4

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - LECOM: School of Dentistry 4+4, program allows rising biology sophomores at Slippery Rock University to apply for early admission to the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program through the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medicine. The requirements for this program are established by LECOM and may found with their listed entrance requirements.

The l Early Admission Program (EAP) allows students to secure an early dental school placement, thus alleviating some of the stress and financial burden of the traditional dental school admission process.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – WVU: School of Dentistry 4+4

The WVU Dental 4+4 program provides rising sophomores with the potential for early admission into WVU's School of Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) program as part of the WVUSD Dental Early Admission Program (DEAP). Admission to DEAP is available to a maximum of two students annually through a competitive application and interview process. Requirements for the DEAP program can be found here .

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – Chiropractic 3+3

Through the accelerated Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Chiropractic 3+3 students can earn a BS in Biology and a Doctor of Chiropractic in six years.

Students spend their first three years at SRU completing coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and other non-science or math subjects. In their fourth year, students begin the Doctor of Chiropractic program at either Logan University College of Chiropractic or Palmer College of Chiropractic. If a student is granted early acceptance the first year of the Doctor of Chiropractic program replaces the last year of undergraduate study.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – Slippery Rock University Pre-Physical Therapy

Students in the accelerated Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Doctor of Physical Therapy program have the opportunity to earn a BS in Biology and Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Slippery Rock University in six rather than seven years.

Through an agreement between the Department of Biology and the Slippery Rock University School of Physical Therapy, students can apply for early admission into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program during the fall semester of their junior year. If a student is granted early acceptance the first year of the DPT program replaces the last year of undergraduate study.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – Slippery Rock University Pre-Physician Assistant

Students in the accelerated Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology: Pre-Physician Assistant Studies program have the opportunity to earn a BS in Biology and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) from Slippery Rock University in five rather than six years.

Through an agreement between the Department of Biology and the Slippery Rock University Physician Assistant Program, students can apply for early admission into the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at the end of their sophomore year. If a student is granted early acceptance the first year of the MPAS program replaces the last year of undergraduate study.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology – American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine 4+4

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine 4+4 program allows biology majors who have completed specific coursework the opportunity to apply for admission to the Doctor of Medicine program. The requirements for this program are established by AUA and may be found with their listed entrance requirements. In the AUA College of Medicine 4+4 program, students complete the undergraduate biology program at Slippery Rock University before continuing on to the four-year medical school program at AUA.

Minors

Biology Minor

The Biology minor is available to any student with an interest in the biological sciences who is not a biology major. The Biology minor consists of a minimum of 21 credit hours with courses in Biology I: Foundations of Ecology, Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells, Genetics and Biostatistics and Experimental Design and at least 6 credits of upper-division electives.

Marine Science Minor

The Marie Science minor allows students to pursue their interest in the marine environment while receiving a major at Slippery Rock University. As a member of the Chincoteague Bay Field Station, SRU provides students opportunities to take summer courses in the field at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station on Virginia's Atlantic shore.

Through the 26 credit curriculum, Marine Science minors take introductory and advanced coursework in biology, chemistry, oceanography, marine biology, and marine geology.

Specializations

Professional Biology and Bioinformatics

Students in the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology - Professional Biology and Bioinformatics program can choose to specialize in the expanding filed of computational biology and bioinformatics. This specialization exposes students to the field of Bioinformatics through coursework in biology, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics.

This specialization will further prepare students to solve some of the worlds greatest biological problems through careers and graduate study in the areas of computational biology / bioinformatics, genomics and proteomics, drug discovery and design, gene finding and more.

Biology

Program Options to Fit Your Interests

Programs

Biology

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