At A Glance

Biology is the study of life, from the simplest forms of plants and animals to the highly complex structure of the human being. The field of biology seeks to better understand how organisms develop, function, and interact with each other and the environment.

Major

  • Bachelor of Arts in Biology
    Bachelor of Science in Biology

Minor

  • Biology

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Special Programs

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Earn your biology degree at Carthage

Biologists study the evolution of life, which connects molecules to cells, tissues to systems, and organisms to ecosystems, through the unbroken chain of ancestors to descendants.

The curriculum at Carthage will prepare biology majors for academic and industrial research positions, graduate study in fields from conservation to molecular genetics, and entry into health careers.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,387,393/38734_10738_163701665847155.rev.1698895119.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,387,393/38734_10738_163701665847155.rev.1698895119.webp 2x"/> <source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,387,393/38734_10738_163701665847155.rev.1698895119.png 2x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,387,393/38734_10738_163701665847155.rev.1698895119.png" alt="Maverick Leer" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,387,393/38734_10738_163701665847155.rev.1698895119.png 2x" data-max-w="387" data-max-h="387" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The Biology Department at Carthage has strong research opportunities and lots of interesting classes to take. The professors are helpful and are very good to get to know.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2562-maverick-leer">Maverick Leer</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,854,640/38265_Juan-Alberto-Gomez-Solis-25.rev.1692384716.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,854,640/38265_Juan-Alberto-Gomez-Solis-25.rev.1692384716.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,854,640/38265_Juan-Alberto-Gomez-Solis-25.rev.1692384716.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,854,640/38265_Juan-Alberto-Gomez-Solis-25.rev.1692384716.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,854,640/38265_Juan-Alberto-Gomez-Solis-25.rev.1692384716.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,854,640/38265_Juan-Alberto-Gomez-Solis-25.rev.1692384716.jpg" alt="Juan Alberto Gomez-Solis ?25" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,854,640/38265_Juan-Alberto-Gomez-Solis-25.rev.1692384716.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/118/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,854,640/38265_Juan-Alberto-Gomez-Solis-25.rev.1692384716.jpg 3x" data-max-w="854" data-max-h="640" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The professors have all been very generous and passionate about their teaching. I am very grateful they go above and beyond to ensure their students succeed in class! Many of them make the environment comfortable — where you can be your true self.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2001-">Juan Alberto Gómez-Solis</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1125,1125/35337_34171_Nadia_Musaitef_25.rev.1663099958.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1125,1125/35337_34171_Nadia_Musaitef_25.rev.1663099958.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1125,1125/35337_34171_Nadia_Musaitef_25.rev.1663099958.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1125,1125/35337_34171_Nadia_Musaitef_25.rev.1663099958.png 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1125,1125/35337_34171_Nadia_Musaitef_25.rev.1663099958.png 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1125,1125/35337_34171_Nadia_Musaitef_25.rev.1663099958.png" alt="Nadia Musaitef ?25" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1125,1125/35337_34171_Nadia_Musaitef_25.rev.1663099958.png 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1125,1125/35337_34171_Nadia_Musaitef_25.rev.1663099958.png 3x" data-max-w="1125" data-max-h="1125" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I love how small and tight-knit the community is, and I really love the personal relationships that are made here. Carthage is more than just a school — it’s a family.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1808-nadia-musaitef">Nadia Musaitef</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,424,1258,1684/38816_10867_163701665847155.rev.1700495946.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,424,1258,1684/38816_10867_163701665847155.rev.1700495946.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,424,1258,1684/38816_10867_163701665847155.rev.1700495946.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,424,1258,1684/38816_10867_163701665847155.rev.1700495946.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,424,1258,1684/38816_10867_163701665847155.rev.1700495946.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,424,1258,1684/38816_10867_163701665847155.rev.1700495946.jpg" alt="Brett Jackson" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,424,1258,1684/38816_10867_163701665847155.rev.1700495946.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,424,1258,1684/38816_10867_163701665847155.rev.1700495946.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1258" data-max-h="1260" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “There is a variety of specialties and skills you can learn as a biology major. I came to Carthage for its paleontology program, which is rare in undergraduate studies and even rarer to have it through a biological and anatomical perspective.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2574-">Brett Jackson</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,114,1721,1836/37817_8319_163701665847155.rev.1684856863.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,114,1721,1836/37817_8319_163701665847155.rev.1684856863.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,114,1721,1836/37817_8319_163701665847155.rev.1684856863.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,114,1721,1836/37817_8319_163701665847155.rev.1684856863.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,114,1721,1836/37817_8319_163701665847155.rev.1684856863.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,114,1721,1836/37817_8319_163701665847155.rev.1684856863.jpg" alt="Mel Krukow ?26" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,114,1721,1836/37817_8319_163701665847155.rev.1684856863.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/134/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,114,1721,1836/37817_8319_163701665847155.rev.1684856863.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1721" data-max-h="1722" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Not only a perfectly sized smaller school, but Carthage also offers everything I need to become a paleontologist.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2446-mel-krukow">Mel Krukow</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Research Experiences as a biology major

All freshman biology majors gain authentic research experience in introductory courses and agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and NASA support other ongoing experiments. Research is further ingrained through the required senior thesis and the paid Summer Undergraduate Research Experience. Carthage biology students are also competitive for research positions in laboratories abroad and prestigious Fulbright fellowships.

Recent student research projects have made discoveries in molecular biology, cancer biology, space biology, human physiology, ecology, and paleontology. Students work with faculty mentorship on their own or in a small group, designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and making significant contributions to science. Student researchers present research results at a campus seminar, and many choose to share their findings at a regional or national scientific conference and prepare manuscripts for publication in disciplinary journals.

 

Beyond the Classroom

Student organizations such as Beta Beta Beta honor society, Pre-Health Club, and Carthage United to Rescue the Earth (CURE) are popular among biology majors.

On faculty-led J-Term study tours, you can assist with medical care or water quality in Nicaragua or hunt for dinosaur fossils with a renowned paleontologist in Montana. Other recent study tours have taken students to learn about life in places such as Arizona, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, Singapore, Taiwan, and China.

opportunities for biology students

 

Special Academic Options for Biology Majors

PRE-HEALTH

Aspiring healthcare professionals frequently consult a faculty coordinator to select courses matching their abilities and goals. Carthage pre-health students can apply for early admission to the medical or dental program at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and sometimes bypass the entrance exam.

Pre-Health at Carthage

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Motivated students can shorten their educational route by a full year in this dual-degree program with Washington University in St. Louis.

Occupational Therapy at Carthage

ENGINEERING

In this dual-degree program, you will spend three years at Carthage and the final four to five semesters at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland or Washington University in St. Louis.

3+2 engineering program

See more dual-degree opportunities

 

Where Carthage biology Majors go

Employers

  • Abbott Laboratories
  • Santa Barbara (Calif.) Zoological Society
  • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Medical or other graduate programs

  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Tufts University
  • University of Wisconsin
  • Yale University

Careers in Biology

 

Scholarships for Biology Majors

Carthage awards two full-tuition Math/Science Scholarships each year to incoming students. These scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate ability in biology, computer science, mathematics, and other natural sciences and are renewable for four years. 

Math/Science Scholarships