Biology major

Biology: courses, careers, and where to study

Biology is the foundational pre-health major, covering molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels of living systems.

A Biology major covers cellular and molecular biology, genetics, organismal biology, ecology, evolution, and physiology. Programs require a strong chemistry sequence (general and organic), physics, and calculus. Many BS-track programs require additional biochemistry and statistics. Common concentrations include Cell & Molecular, Ecology & Evolution, Marine, Microbiology, and Biotechnology.

Biology is the most common pre-medical major and a strong feeder into PhD programs in biological sciences. Graduates work in research labs, biotech, pharmaceutical, environmental, and clinical fields.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Biology maps to CIP 26.0101, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, within the BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:

A general program of biology at the introductory, basic level or a program in biology or the biological sciences that is undifferentiated as to title or content. Includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • General biology, cell, and molecular biology
  • Genetics
  • Ecology and evolution
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Lab techniques (PCR, gel electrophoresis, microscopy, sequencing)
  • Senior research project

Typical careers

Typical salary range: $48,000–$72,000 early-career (varies; PhD significantly higher)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Biology. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Biology major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Biology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Biology department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Most Biology programs are covered by their institution's regional accreditation; specialized programmatic accreditation is less common in this field. Confirm any field-specific accreditation or licensure that matters for your goals.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Biologycareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Biology program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Biology programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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Related majors

How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.