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Department of Biology

 


Birmingham-Southern College biology students don't just study science, they DO science—in our classrooms and laboratories, on field trips and research projects, and through pre-professional internships and study abroad experiences. Our program emphasizes hands-on learning in ways that sharpen the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that are the foundation of a successful career.

Birmingham-Southern biology students go on to be doctors, dentists, and nurses, researchers seeking to cure diseases, and teachers educating the next generation of scientists. But there are other options you may not have thought of patent lawyers, genetic counselors, biomedical illustrators, and many more.

Our job is to feed your curiosity. In the end, you're only limited by your own goals.

Interested? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Fill out the form to the right and an admissions representative will follow up with you to start your Hilltop journey.

Chart your course with BSC Biology!


 

Why study Biology at BSC?

  • Our program emphasizes hands-on learning in ways that sharpen the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that are the foundation of a successful career.
  • Small classes and labs allow faculty to guide students in small groups and one-on-one settings.
  • Our classrooms and labs are housed in the state-of-the-art Elton B. Stephens Science Center, stocked with equipment undergraduates at many other schools never see.
  • Our Health Professions Advisory Committee advises students from day one on how to prepare for professional school and helps with the application process so you have the best chance of getting into the professional school you want.
  • Our active Pre-Health Program allows students to work alongside practitioners with internships and shadowing opportunities and meet with administrators from medical, dental, and other professional schools.


Dive Deeper:

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    Biology Programs

    BSC biology offers the following degrees:

    • A major or minor in Biology
    • Dual degree in Nursing
    • Dual Degree in Environmental Studies at Duke University

    Additional programs available for science students:

    For details, see the current edition of the  College Catalog.
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    Pre-Health

    Our acceptance rate to medical and health professional schools is well above the national average—and our programs for pre-health students are part of that.

    The Health Professions Advisory Committee will help you prepare your applications to the professional schools of your choice.

    The committee helps pre-health students set up internships and opportunities to shadow doctors, dentists, and others in the workplace during our unique  January Exploration Term.

    The BSC chapter of the pre-health student honor society, Alpha Epsilon Delta, invites speakers to campus and raises funds for causes such as Doctors Without Borders.

    BSC has close partnerships with select health professional schools, including:

    • A dual-degree program with the Vanderbilt School of Nursing; students complete approximately three years at BSC and then enroll in Vanderbilt’s two-year Master of Science and Nursing Program.
    • BSC participates in the Alabama Medical Education Consortium, which was initiated to address the shortage of primary care physicians and dentists in underserved areas and allows unique opportunities for our graduates to enroll in Osteopathic medical and dental schools across the country.
    • The chance to study abroad  to see first-hand how medicine is practiced in other countries. BSC has exchange programs and partnerships with several universities; the programs can count toward your BSC degree and financial support is available.
    • An undergraduate research program  that shows professional schools that our graduates have professional maturity and determination—and gives BSC biology majors an edge when applying to very competitive programs.
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    Biology Faculty

    Sue Buckingham, assistant lecturer

    Andrew Gannon, professor

    Centdrika Hurt, assistant professor

    Sarah Faxel, visiting lecturer of biology