Skip to main content
Penn State Berks
Hotline Give Apply Visit
  • Admission
  • Academics
    • Baccalaureate Degrees
    • Associate Degrees
  • Campus Calendar
  • Information For
    • Future Students
    • Parents & Families
    • Current Students
    • Adult Students
    • Alumni
    • Faculty & Staff
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Berks
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Hotline Give Apply Visit
  • This is Penn State
    • Campus Leadership
    • Chancellor's Welcome
    • Penn State Berks at a Glance
    • Our History
  • Academics
    • Baccalaureate Degrees
    • Registrar
    • Course Schedule
    • Academic Advising Center
    • Thun Library
  • Admission
    • First Year Students
    • Visit Us
    • En Español
    • Adult Learners
    • International Students
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarship Eligibility
    • Tuition & Cost Calculator
    • Paying Your Bill
  • Continuing Education
    • Adult Students
    • Services for Organizations
    • Summer Camps
    • Workforce and Professional Development
  • Student Life
    • On-Campus Housing
    • Residence Life
    • Moving In
    • Clubs and Organizations
    • Family and Homecoming Weekend
    • Student Events Calendar
  • Athletics

Find Information For:

  • Future Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Current Students
  • Adult Students
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff

Helpful Links

  • Canvas
  • First Year Seminar
  • LionPATH
  • Driving Directions
  • Educational Equity and Diversity Programs
  • Faculty Directory
  • Staff Directory
  • University Police and Public Safety

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram
  1. Home
  2. Academics
Decorative image

B.S. in Biology

Biology is the scientific study of life: the diversity and organization of organisms, from single-celled bacteria to multi-cellular plants and animals, including humans. These different levels of biological organization range from the molecules and cells that compose an organism, to the interacting organisms that make up an ecosystem. Hands-on experiences, from designing and conducting lab experiments to making field observations, using many different procedures and instruments, play an important role in gaining biological knowledge.

Download the degree flyer

Skills for the Real World

The B.S. in Biology at Penn State Berks is designed to educate students about the world of living things through a broad biology curriculum. All students in the major will take courses in introductory biology, ecology, cell and molecular biology and animal/plant physiology. Faculty in the Department of Biology at Penn State are exploring ways to cure neurological diseases, to conserve coral populations in tropical oceans, to discover more efficient ways to use plants for food and bioenergy, to develop vaccines for infectious diseases, and investigating many other facets of biology, all with the goal of positively impacting humans and the environment.

Concentrations or Academic Tracks

View the Suggested Academic Plans.

  • General Biology
  • Genetics and Developmental Biology

Internship Opportunities

Students may choose to participate in one or more of the various internship opportunities. These professional work experiences allow students to apply their education in a real-world setting and perform research in their field of interest. Many students attain internships with local zoos or wildlife programs, while others pursue internships either outside the local area or abroad.

Graduates from this degree program have completed internships at:

  • Berks Conservation Owl Internship
  • Disney
  • Philadelphia Zoo
  • NSF-REU Programs

Research Opportunities

Graduates from this degree program have conducted research in:

  • field experimentation in water birds
  • biochemical and genetic experiments in the fruit fly
  • cell culture
  • microbiological systems
  • food microbiology
  • theoretical chemistry
  • analytical chemistry

Double Majors

Students can pair the following programs with this degree program for a double major:

  • Chemistry

Minors

Students can pair the following minors with this degree program:

  • Applied Psychology
  • Business
  • Communication

After Graduation

The Biology major prepares students for work in a variety of fields including park and recreation, laboratory technicians, and pharmaceutical work. The degree provides the prerequisite coursework for a variety of professional schools including medical and veterinary. The degree also prepares students for graduate study in a variety of biological disciplines.

Graduates from this degree program have gotten jobs at:

  • Merck
  • Eurofins

Graduates from this degree program have gone on to graduate school at:

  • Harvard University
  • Cornell University
  • Hershey Medical School
  • Thomas Jefferson University

 

B.S. in Biology

  • B.S. in Biology Overview
  • B.S. in Biology Program Goals
  • B.S. in Biology Faculty
  • Request Information about Biology
Apply Now!
Get Started
Visit Us
Schedule Now
Questions or need more info?
Send an email to [email protected]

See Also

  • Suggested Academic Plans
  • Undergraduate Bulletin
  • Degree Flyer
Locations of Penn State's campuses throughout Pennsylvania with Penn State Berks highlighted

Penn State Berks

Nestled on 258 beautifully landscaped acres in Berks County and easily accessible from anywhere in eastern Pennsylvania and neighboring states.
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram
Give Apply Visit
  • This is Penn State
    • Chancellor's Welcome
    • Penn State Berks at a Glance
    • Campus Leadership
    • Advisory Board
    • Our History
    • Freyberger Gallery
  • Academics
    • Baccalaureate Degrees
    • Registrar
    • Course Schedule
    • Academic Advising Center
    • Thun Library
  • Admissions
    • First Year Students
    • Visit Us
    • En Español
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Adult Students
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarship Eligibility
    • Tuition & Cost Calculator
    • Paying Your Bill
  • Research
    • Undergraduate Research
    • Research in Engineering, Business & Computing
    • Research in Humanities Arts and Social Sciences
    • Research in Science
  • Continuing Education
    • Adult Learner Admissions
    • Practical Nursing Program
  • Resources
    • Canvas
    • First Year Seminar
    • LionPATH
    • Driving Directions
    • Faculty Directory
    • Staff Directory
    • COVID Information
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • University Police and Public Safety
Penn State University
Tulpehocken Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19610 610-396-6000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2023
  • We Are Penn State