College of Science

Biological Sciences

  1. What sets Purdue's program apart?

  2. What can I do with an biology degree from Purdue?

  3. How should I prepare for the biology program in high school?

  4. What courses will I take as a biology student?

1. What sets Purdue's program apart? (top)

The Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University offers students many opportunities for excellence. Seven of its faculty members have received Purdue's Outstanding Teacher Award, and many are more than willing to offer undergraduate students the chance to serve as research assistants under their leadership. Recent graduates have continued on to schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Duke after receiving their degree in one of the 10 different specialization options available in the major:

2. What can I do with a biology degree from Purdue? (top)

Many students choose to use their undergraduate biology education as a stepping stone to higher education such as medical school, vet school, or dentistry. However, there are many other options as well. Some graduates have become high school biology teachers, worked in pharmaceutical sales, or as environmental regulators, while others have gone into widely varied fields of science research and development. Those that continued on to the work force earned starting salaries between $30,000 and $45,000.

Read more about recent graduates from the Careers site.

3. How should I prepare for the biology program in high school? (top)

It is extremely important to take as many classes as you can in biology, physics, chemistry and calculus. You also should continue taking your foreign language of choice for as many years as possible.

4. What courses will I take as a biology student? (top)

In your first two years, you will take a common core of biology courses and labs which cover topics including Cell Structure & Function, Genetics & Molecular Biology (as well as the topics listed in the section below.) You will also take general chemistry, organic chemistry, English composition, two semesters of calculus, and four semesters of a foreign language. Later in the curriculum, you will also be required to take:

Typical Freshman Year Coursework

Semester one:

BIOL 121, Diversity, Ecology and Behavior, 2 credit hours

BIOL 136/137, Quant. & Problem Solving, Handling Cells & Tissues, Microscopy, 1 credit hour

CHM 115, General Chemistry I, 4 credit hours

MA 161 or 165 or 223, Calculus I and Analytical Geometry, 3-5 credit hours

ENGL 106, English Composition, 4 credit hours

Foreign Language, 3 or 4 credit hours (credit hours permitting)

Total: 14 to 16 credit hours (without Foreign Language course)

Semester two:

BIOL 131, Development, Structure, and Function of Organisms, 3 credit hours

BIOL 138/139, Information & Comm. Skills, Measurement & Solution Chem., 1 credit hour

CHM 116, General Chemistry II, 4 credit hours

MA 162 or 166 or 224, Calculus II and Analytical Geometry, 3-5 credit hours

Foreign Language, 3 or 4 credit hours

General Education course, 3 credit hours (credit hours permitting)

Total: 14 to 17 credit hours (without General Education course)

* Students must earn a minimum of 124 credit hours to graduate , which is an average of 15 .5 credit hours / semester.

 

Science at Purdue

By phone: 765.494.1771 or 800.804.8061
By web: www.science.purdue.edu
Department of Biological Sciences: www.biology.purdue.edu
By email: advising@science.purdue.edu (for advisors)
ScienceQuestion@purdue.edu (for current students)