Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Programs

The Department of Biology offers two degree programs, the bachelor of science and the bachelor of arts in biology. An environmental biology track is also available in either degree program. These two programs are structured to meet the needs of all students who are interested in a career in the broad area of the life sciences.

The undergraduate programs provide an excellent preparation for those students who are preparing to attend graduate school and medical, dental, or other medically related professional schools. A degree in biology prepares students for a wide range of careers in the biological sciences including environmental biology, biotechnology, genetics, and other biologically related technical fields in government and private industry. In addition, with appropriate electives, students with a degree in biology can pursue a career in a wide array including law, journalism, teaching, health care administration, and business.

Irrespective of the degree program chosen, students will experience a wide variety of classroom environments from large lecture sections to small group discussions and intensive laboratory-oriented courses. Laboratory courses include topics such as cellular/molecular biology, comparative anatomy, ecology, ichthyology, invertebrate zoology, molecular genetics, plant systematics, and recombinant DNA technology, as well as many other laboratory experiences across the biological disciplines.

Biology Scholarship

In addition to the financial aid offered by WVU, the Department of Biology maintains two scholarship programs specifically for biology majors. The Ethel C. Montiegel Award is awarded to students, usually in their junior year, who have shown a particular aptitude for biology and have demonstrated a clear desire for a career in the biological sciences. The Henry W. Hurlbutt Memorial Endowment is awarded to undergraduate students who are conducting independently mentored research through the Department of Biology?s Undergraduate Research Program. This endowment provides resources for students to attend professional meetings, travel to perform research, or to support the cost of research activity within WVU.

Admission Requirements

In addition to college requirements, admission to the program requires a 2.0 overall grade point average, 12 hours of biology, and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 for courses in biology. To maintain biology major status and graduate, students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative average for biology courses at WVU.