Biology
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology from MSUM is the best regional choice for students aspiring to work in human health, molecular biology, animal and environmental science or pursue graduate schools. Students are afforded hands-on experience with sophisticated equipment similar to that found in professional settings. See all the Biology degree options
Follow a specialized degree path to fully prepare for careers in Human Health, including tracks for medical or dental school, physician assistant school, physical therapy, chiropractic school, occupational therapy, pharmacy programs, optometry school or public health.
Langseth Hall and Hagen Hall are modern facilities providing experiential, student-centered learning in interesting spaces that are devoted to research and discovery. In addition to outstanding labs on campus, you can learn and do research at a field station at the MSUM Regional Science Center.
Faculty-mentored research is the hallmark of an MSUM Biology degree. Faculty and student collaborators regularly publish in academic peer-reviewed journals and present at regional and national conferences. Faculty and student researchers meet regularly to discuss research.
Upper-level Biology courses average 10-15 students, ensuring you plenty of individual attention from faculty members who are not only master teachers, but also respected scholars in their respective field of expertise.
MSUM’s prairie restoration project is charged with restoring 160 acres of flora and fauna to pre-European prairie ecosystem. This project gives you an opportunity to do lab activities at the Regional Science Center gathering data, monitoring the recovery of restored sites and comparing data to data collected from original remnant prairie.
In addition to expert faculty, we enrich your learning experience in labs with Learning Assistants – peer undergraduates who facilitate individual student learning.
MSUM has a strong 3+3 articulation agreement with Northwestern Health Sciences University to fast-track to Doctor of Chiropractic after your junior year at MSUM.
Students studying in the health sciences get the rare undergraduate opportunity to study human anatomy based on cadaver dissection in a newly renovated lab.
Complete most of your bachelor’s degree coursework in your first three years and apply to for theMaster of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program in your junior or senior year. Start taking graduate MHA courses your senior year and earn a BS in Biology with a human health sciences emphasis and an MHA within five years.
Biology Student Success Stories
From Landlocked to Marine Biologist
Savanna Hohenstein, from landlocked Western Minnesota, pursued her passion for marine biology at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), where she engaged deeply with the Marine Ecology Lab. After co-authoring a research paper and dedicating herself to the lab, she graduated in 2020 and undertook multiple unpaid internships in Florida and Mississippi. Her dedication led her to a full-time role as a Rescue Biologist at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2022, where she now leads rescue efforts for injured marine animals. Her journey, marked by resilience and adaptability, inspires MSUM's new Marine Aquarist certificate program, encouraging future marine biologists.
A Piece of the Ocean: The MSUM Oceanarium's Metamorphosis
From a visionary school trip to community partnerships, MSUM's Oceanarium continues to embrace growth and change.
MSUM Students Use Film and Animation Skills to Bring Holiday Cheer
The holiday video is always a shining example of our students’ creativity, skills and patience for intricate work.
As a Biology major at MSUM, you will quickly learn that science is a verb – a method, a way of knowing. You will immerse yourself in meaningful, hands-on experiences that teach you to learn science and to be a scientist.
You might also be interested in…
Chemistry | Environmental Geology | Environmental Studies | Geosciences | Physics | Psychology
MSUM’s programs engage you in learning skills important for working in a wide variety of biological sub-disciplines. You will gain skills relevant to field and lab work in clinical or industry settings. Here is just a sample of high-paying biology careers that are predicted to have great job growth through this decade.
What are some Common Biology Related Careers?
| Career | Job Growth (2021-2031) | Median Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Forester | 10% | $97,000 |
| Geneticist | 26% | $79,000 |
| Toxicologist | 17% | $95,000 |