Course of Study

Your faculty adviser will work closely with you to plan a series of required and elective courses based on your individual interests and career goals.

A core of basic science courses is followed by a range of electives covering animal behavior, aquatic biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell biology, conservation biology, developmental biology, histology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology, pathophysiology and more.

Laboratory sections generally have smaller enrollments than lectures and thus are especially good for interaction with faculty and other students, providing integrative, collaborative and inquiry-based learning.

Study of Biology can be combined with another field, such as Business, Chemistry, or Psychology. 

The Bachelor’s degree in Biology has the greatest degree of overlap with the Pre-Physical Therapy program requirements and the Pre-Physician Assistant program requirements of any major in the University (See assured admission requirements for these programs). 

It is the policy of the Biology Department that General Biology I and II must be taken in the Biology Department at Arcadia or transferred in from an accredited four- or two-year college. Credits earned through an Advanced Placement Exam or International Baccalaureate do not substitute for General Biology I or II.  When you are enrolled in the biology major at Arcadia you are expected to take your biology courses at Arcadia or at an approved study abroad site.

The biology major at Arcadia University requires the examination and dissection of animal tissues, organs, and bodies and the use of animals in biological research.  Animal use is a cornerstone of biology instruction. We follow all federal and state statutes in labs to fulfill clearly-defined educational objectives. Ethical treatment of animals used in teaching and research is ensured by oversight by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Students who want certain career paths may choose to specialize in one of the following concentrations. For some career goals, additional coursework may be required. 

Students interested in secondary certification should consult with their disciplinary adviser and their School of Education adviser as early as possible, preferably freshman year. All Arcadia undergraduates seeking certification must declare Secondary Education as a minor and formally apply into the teacher certification preparation program during the spring semester of their sophomore year.

Students completing the 3+2 BA or BS in Biology and the MS in Forensic Science will complete all degree requirements in five years. Eligible students will be invited to apply for admission to this accelerated program when they apply for admission to Arcadia University. Currently, enrolled undergraduates at Arcadia University may not apply for this program. 

This program entails four years of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, plus two years of graduate study leading to the Master of Science in Forensic Science degree from Arcadia University. Students choosing the 4+2 option must pursue an undergraduate major in Biology or Chemistry. This program will ensure that students meet all required prerequisite and recommended coursework for the master’s program in Forensic Science. In the fourth year, students have the option of taking FS515 (Research Methods) with approval of the Director of the Forensic Science program and the Chair of the Biology Department. Assured admission into Arcadia’s master’s program in forensic science is available for select qualified students from the 4+2 program each year.

See the catalog sections on Forensic Science for additional information.

Pre-Physical Therapy (Pre PT) is a 4+DPT year pathway leading to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Arcadia University. Students frequently pursue an undergraduate major in a discipline such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Sociology, Business, or Health Administration, but you can choose any major that captures your interest, and that enables you to complete the prerequisite courses.

Prerequisite courses needed for graduate-level study include Biology, Human Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Statistics.

The 3+4 and 4+4 Pathways to University of the Sciences Doctor of Pharmacy Program allow students to enter Arcadia’s Biology and Chemistry majors having a clear pathway to achieving a doctorate in Pharmacy degree from University of the Sciences. Students may choose either 3+4 or 4+4 pathway, and may choose to switch pathways before the start of their Junior year. The accelerated 3+4 track includes taking elective Pharmacy courses at University of the Sciences during the Senior year which will be transferred to Arcadia as major undergraduate electives. University of the Sciences guarantees five seats to Arcadia undergraduates, with additional seats possible. This program is open to Arcadia University undergraduate students who have completed appropriate coursework, including transfer students that have completed the required biology and chemistry courses. Students will receive a BA or BS in Biology or Chemistry at the end of Year 4. Students interested in the program will discuss with their advisors whether taking graduate courses as Senior electives is appropriate for the student during their Junior year.

This program offers four competitive seats in the 2-year full-time Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program at Salus University to students who meet the criteria, according to agreement between the two universities. Additional Arcadia applicants will be considered along with all other non-Arcadia applicants for admissions to the MSOT program.