Biology

This program is available at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses.

Commonwealth University's Bachelor of Arts in Biology program provides a firm background in Biology and cognate sciences while allowing for other interests to be pursued. Biology (B.A.) majors may select a concentration in Natural History that prepares students for a career in zoos, aquaria, science museums, and environmental education centers. This program includes a strong background in organismal and field biology with supporting coursework in geology and anthropology. 

The flexibility in this degree allows you to select courses that will prepare you to interact with the public.  Students earning a degree in Secondary Education Biology may earn a B.A. in Biology as well. This degree, which provides a strong background in the biological sciences, has considerable flexibility and is a good choice for students who want to double-major or minor in another academic discipline.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

This program is available at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses.

Commonwealth University's Bachelor of Science in Biology program provides a rigorous background in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. This program meets your needs if you plan to enter graduate or professional school in the natural sciences, and wish to seek employment in the private sector and government agencies. 

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

This concentration is available at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses.

Prepare for a career in zoos, aquaria, science museums, and environmental education centers. This program includes a strong background in organismal and field biology with supporting coursework in geology and anthropology. The flexibility in this degree allows you to select courses that will prepare you to interact with the public.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

This concentration is available at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses.

This concentration focuses on the relationship between living things and their surrounding environment to prepare you for a career in an array of fields including: environmental resource management, fisheries and wildlife biology, public health, pollution abatement, conservation, environmental education, and others. The natural habitats surrounding our campuses in central and north central Pennsylvania provide an excellent “laboratory” for hands-on field experiences.

You will also experience field trips to area rivers, class A wild trout streams, and wetlands where you will research the freshwater life of our area. The requirements and electives are tailored to develop skills in ecology, field biology, and environmental sciences. This program prepares students for careers in environmental protection, natural resource management, and conservation with state and federal agencies and conservation organizations.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

This concentration is available at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses.

This concentration emphasizes laboratory studies to prepare you for a career in molecular biology, forensics, genetics, or other laboratory-related fields or to continue your studies in graduate school. 

Our students have a high rate of acceptance into professional studies at schools such as Johns Hopkins University, University of New Hampshire, University of Tennessee, Temple University, and others. The upper-level classes include a variety of specialized courses such as: immunology, developmental biology, and bioinformatics and genomics just to name a few.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

This concentration is available at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses.

Commonwealth University's Biology (B.S.) with a concentration in Fisheries and Aquatic Biology prepares students to meet the highest professional standards in the field of fisheries sciences. Our curriculum is designed to achieve certification as Associate Fisheries Professional by the American Fisheries Society by placing a high value on individual-based learning, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving. Graduates have successful careers with Federal, State and non-governmental agencies and organizations.

Learn more about our Fisheries and Aquatic Biology program.

This concentration is available at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses.

The extensive hands-on experiences at Chincoteague Bay Field Station (CBFS) combined with classroom study and laboratory research will prepare you for a career as a marine biologist.  CU is a member of a Marine Science Consortium on the Delmarva Peninsula in Virginia.  The Consortium maintains a brand new, modern teaching/research campus and several ocean-going vessels with modern oceanographic equipment for use by faculty and students. 

This location provides ready access to wetlands and barrier islands as well as inshore and offshore ocean habitats.  In this track, you will be required to spend a minimum of three summer sessions (three weeks each totaling nine semester hours) at the CBFS facility where you will collect data and perform research on a diverse variety of aquatic life. Other resources near CBFS for student use include Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the Assateague National Seashore. You may complete all nine hours in one summer, but it is recommended that you spread this experience over two or more summers.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

The minor in biology is designed to broaden and expand the knowledge of students especially those in biology-related curricula. The requirements for a minor are a total of at least 18 hours of semester credit.

• Biology
• Natural History

Biology (B.S.)

1. Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension in five core concepts of biology at varying scales (molecules to ecosystems)  
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical, analytical, and integrative thinking to biological problems  
3. Apply the scientific method to design and conduct biological research, including analyzing and interpreting biological data  
4. Demonstrate skill and proficiency using appropriate scientific methods and instruments  
5. Clearly communicate biological ideas with scientists and the general public in both written and oral form  
6. Demonstrate the ability to select and use technology appropriate to the work of the discipline.  

Ecology and Environmental Conservation Concentration

1. Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension in five core concepts of biology at varying scales (molecules to ecosystems)  
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical, analytical, and integrative thinking to biological problems  
3. Apply the scientific method to design and conduct biological research, including analyzing and interpreting biological data  
4. Demonstrate skill and proficiency using appropriate scientific methods and instruments  
5. Clearly communicate biological ideas with scientists and the general public in both written and oral form  
6. Demonstrate the ability to select and use technology appropriate to the work of the discipline.  

Cellular Biology and Molecular Genomics Concentration

1. Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension in five core concepts of biology at varying scales (molecules to ecosystems)  
2. Advanced knowledge of molecular and cellular biology and genetics  
3. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical, analytical, and integrative thinking to biological problems  
4. Apply the scientific method and concepts from Molecular Biology and Genetics to design and conduct biological research, including analyzing and interpreting biological data  
5. Demonstrate skill and proficiency using appropriate scientific methods and instruments  
6. Clearly communicate biological ideas with scientists and the general public in both written and oral form  
7. Demonstrate the ability to select and use technology appropriate to the work of the discipline.  

Fisheries and Aquatic Biology Concentration

1. Demonstrate knowledge of fishery science, with a particular emphasis on the biology, husbandry and management of aquatic organisms.  
2. Identify and use appropriate tools for data collection in fisheries science.  
3. Apply theoretical and technical knowledge of quantitative (mathematical and statistical) sciences to fisheries research and management problems.  
4. Design and conduct quantitative fisheries stock assessments.  
5. Write and communicate fisheries management recommendations using quantitative assessment results and management strategy evaluations  

Marine Biology Concentration

1. Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension in five core concepts of biology at varying scales (molecules to ecosystems)  
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical, analytical, and integrative thinking to biological problems  
3. Apply the scientific method to design and conduct biological research, including analyzing and interpreting biological data  
4. Demonstrate skill and proficiency using appropriate scientific methods and instruments  
5. Clearly communicate biological ideas with scientists and the general public in both written and oral form  
6. Demonstrate the ability to select and use technology appropriate to the work of the discipline.

Biology (B.A.)

1. Describe and synthesize the five core concepts of biology at varying scales (molecules to ecosystems)  
2. Apply critical and analytical thinking to biological problems.  
3. Use the scientific method to design, conduct, and analyze biological research.  
4. Demonstrate skill using appropriate scientific methods and instruments  
5. Clearly communicate biological ideas with scientists and the general public in both written and oral form  

Natural History Concentration

1. Describe and synthesize the five core concepts of biology at varying scales (molecules to ecosystems)  
2. Apply critical and analytical thinking to biological problems.  
3. Use the scientific method to design, conduct, and analyze biological research.  
4. Demonstrate skill using appropriate scientific methods and instruments  
5. Clearly communicate biological ideas with scientists and the general public in both written and oral form  

Biology Minor

Upon completion of the minor students will be able to:  

1. Demonstrate knowledge of core concepts in biology (molecules to ecosystems)  
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical, analytical, and integrative thinking to biological problems  
3. Demonstrate skill using appropriate scientific methods and instruments  
4. Clearly communicate biological ideas in both written and oral form