(Bachelor of Science)

Biology is one of UW-Green Bay's most popular academic programs. The curriculum explores living systems from subcellular organelles to ecosystems. Biology majors can customize their academic plans to emphasize cell and molecular biology, animal biology, or ecology and conservation science. These tracks prepare students for a wide variety of interdisciplinary careers in resource management, fisheries and wildlife biology, health sciences, genetics, microbiology, science communications (technical writing, journalism, and nature interpretation), and many other fields.  About 40 percent of Biology graduates pursue advanced degrees in graduate or professional schools in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, biological sciences, wildlife biology, or ecology and conservation biology. Students at UW-Green Bay also can combine a Biology degree with a program in primary or secondary school education.

Graduates of UW-Green Bay's Biology program are employed today in government agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, local government agencies); hospitals and clinics, including veterinary hospitals and zoos; private corporations (pharmaceuticals, food processing, agriculture, etc.); environmental consulting firms; conservation organizations; and educational institutions ranging from elementary schools to universities.

Biology majors often combine their studies with a minor. Human Biology is commonly chosen as a minor by Biology majors with interests in pre-medicine, health sciences or exercise science. Students interested in ecology, biodiversity conservation, and management of biological resources such as wildlife, forests, and fisheries, typically combine a minor in Environmental Science. Other popular subjects for Biology majors include Business Administration and Environmental Policy and Planning.

Students who prefer a  Biology minor (rather than a major) often choose majors in Environmental Science or Human Biology. Students who desire to become science teachers often combine the Biology major with the professional program in Education. Information about teacher certification requirements can be found at the UW-Green Bay Education Office.

UW-Green Bay's Biology program provides outstanding opportunities for students to gain practical experience. Many undergraduates work with faculty on field or laboratory research projects. Internships are widely available with private industry, public agencies, and non-profit organizations. These hands-on experiences are critical for developing a competitive resume for the job market or admission to graduate and professional schools.

The Biology program has well-equipped laboratories for coursework and faculty-guided research. In cellular and molecular biology laboratories, students become familiar with techniques of tissue culture, in situ hybridization, affinity chromatography, agarose and polyacrylamide gel, electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction, and the use of monoclonal antibodies. In physiology laboratories, students learn techniques to study physiological functions. Teaching and research facilities available to ecology and conservation biology students include the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, the 290-acre Cofrin Memorial Arboretum surrounding the UW-Green Bay campus, four off-campus natural areas managed by the University, the Richter Natural History Museum, small animal laboratory, the Gary A. Fewless Herbarium, a greenhouse, and state-of-the-art computer labs. Advanced undergraduates are able to participate in research projects on Great Lakes ecosystems, northern forests, agroecosystems, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and even tropical forests and mangroves.

Students in the Biology major develop basic skills such as statistical design and analysis, laboratory proficiency, and familiarity with major taxonomic groupings of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Many high paying occupations today require a college-educated individual who can write and speak well, solve problems using a scientific approach, learn new information quickly, and work well with others on a team. UW-Green Bay's Biology students acquire and apply these skills with excellence.

Biology Program Mission Statement 

The Biology Program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay provides a quality educational curriculum in the study of life and living systems, from the molecular level to the ecosystem level. The disciplinary major and minor complement UW-Green Bay’s interdisciplinary programs, especially those in Human Biology, Environmental Science, and the professional program in Education. The biology major prepares students for careers in ecology, organismal biology, physiology, genetics, cell and molecular biology, medicine and human health, veterinary science, wildlife management, education, agriculture, and science communication. Faculty and staff teach students to think critically and to solve complex problems scientifically by providing hands-on laboratory and field experiences as well as meaningful scientific research opportunities. The Biology Program contributes intellectual, cultural, and economic outreach activities and scientific research that enriches the quality of life for people in northeastern Wisconsin and elsewhere. 

Biology Student Learning Outcomes

Students in the Biology Program will:

1. Describe the organization and diversity of life at levels of complexity from subcellular to ecosystem.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of genetic information, hereditary processes, and their relevance to evolutionary change as a product of mutation and natural selection
3. Explain the important processes and pathways that sustain living organisms including functional systems for exchange of energy and matter
4. Solve problems by applying a scientific process of inquiry, including the effective use of appropriate techniques, instrumentation, and data analysis
5. Identify and interpret findings of scientists and communicate results of scientific work to others in the scientific community and the general public