Biology Major
At A Glance
Program Type
Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Experience
Robust research opportunities
Class Size
Labs capped at 20 students for more faculty interaction
On this page:
Have you considered the impact your knowledge of science could have on the world? Many of our graduates have, and today they’re using the skills they learned at Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox to seek cures for cancer, serve as medical professionals, teach future scientists and conduct research to develop drugs that combat disease.
The possibilities are limitless. What field of science are you passionate about?
A Community that Pushes You to Grow
At Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox, you are in a learning community that pushes you to grow, shapes you for today, and serves you well for tomorrow in a wide range of scientific fields for you to choose – whether that be in research, teaching, industry, governmental agencies or environment consulting.
Practical Training Beyond the Classroom
As a biology major at Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox, you’ll be trained in the theoretical fundamentals and the practical skills of the biological and chemical sciences. And, in addition to classroom work, you will gain practical training through field research trips, our project-based laboratories, and research internships.
Beyond that, you’ll study in a Christian college environment that recognizes God as Creator – and be challenged to use your degree not just to “get a good job,” but to be a difference maker and world changer.
Program Distinctives Why Study Biology at Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox?
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Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox owns a Leica Microsystems confocal microscope that allows Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox faculty and students to perform cutting-edge research. The confocal microscope represents a type of microscopy that leverages laser physics to provide high-resolution data to uncover the relationships of molecules within a sample.
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Biology professor John Schmitt is renowned for his breast cancer research, earning significant grant research funds from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
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Learn from professors who teach sound scientific curriculum from a Christian point of view. A firm belief in God does not mean sacrificing the integrity of the sciences. Our faith is also what enables us to create such a good community within this major.
Courses / Curriculum What Will I Study?
Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox will teach you the basics first, giving you a solid foundation to expand upon, eventually leading to you doing your own research along with more challenging coursework to prepare you for graduation.
- You will take introductory classes in biology, chemistry and mathematics.
- You will pick classes that support your interests. Classes include neuroscience, evolution, genetics, anatomy, etc.
- Many of the classes include lab work, allowing you to see what you’re learning up close.
- With support from your professors, you can petition to do a thesis, allowing you to learn how to run and publish your own research.
- Your professors will teach you how to be a scientist with observational and critical thinking skills, integrity and perseverance.
Cornerstone Core
The Cornerstone Core is a set of 12 courses across 10 academic disciplines that undergraduate students take at Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox to cultivate their character within the Christian context.
As an alternative to Cornerstone Core, students can participate in our great books honors program.
Bachelors (BS) in Biology Requirements
×Biology Core Requirements (18 credit hours)
Complete the following:
Biology Upper-Division Electives (16 credit hours)
Complete at least one course from each of the following groups.
Choose one of the following:
Choose one of the following:
Choose one of the following:
Physical Sciences (16 credit hours)
Choose four of the following:
Quantitative Skills (6-8 credit hours)
Complete the following:
Choose one of the following:
Optional Thesis
Students can petition the department thesis committee by the end of the fall semester of their junior year for permission to do original research as part of their degree requirement. Students allowed to pursue the thesis option must:
- Complete an acceptable research proposal and the Research Methods course (BIOL 384) by the end of the spring semester of the junior year.
- Take up to 4 hours of Biological Research (BIOL 465) between the spring semester of their junior year and graduation, and Senior Thesis (BIOL 496) during the spring semester of their senior year.
- Complete a written thesis acceptable to the thesis committee by April 1 of their senior year.
- Prepare a poster and give an oral presentation of their research prior to graduation.
The department considers this an honor to be noted on the student's transcript. The thesis is designed to enhance a student's preparation for graduate or professional school.
Bachelors (BA) in Biology Requirements
×Core Requirements (41-45 credit hours)
Complete the following:
Choose one of the following sequences:
Sequence 1
Sequence 2
Complete the following:
Complete the following:
Complete MATH180 or higher. Students who complete MATH 180 College Algebra are encouraged to take MATH 240 Statistics (3) as well.
Complete the following:
Choose one of the following field studies courses:
Choose one of the following diversity courses:
Choose one of the following form/function courses:
Choose one of the following cell/molecular courses:
Upper-division BIOL electives
Liberal Arts Emphasis (14-16 credit hours) - choose one
Complete the following:
Choose 12 credit hours of electives from the following:
Option 1
Complete the following:
Spanish language sequence:
Option 2
Complete the following:
Spanish language sequence:
Choose 6-8 credit hours of Global/Cultural Understanding electives from the following:
Complete the following:
Choose three of the following:
Complete the following:
Complete the following:
Introductory course taken by majors in the field (3 hours)
Take 12 upper-division elective hours, as agreed upon by department chair of chosen discipline and biology department head. (12 hours)
Biology Minor Requirements
×20 credit hours
Choose one of the following sequences:
Sequence 1:
Sequence 2:
Complete the following:
Our spaces / Where Will I Learn?
Biology Labs
Learn surgical techniques in our anatomy and physiology laboratories located in the Edwards-Holman Science Center. These labs are used in our upper-division physiology classes and house three cadavers.
The department owns a $180,000 state-of-the-art Leica Manufacturing confocal microscope that provides opportunities for new research and helps uncover molecule relationships.
VR Labs
In 2021, Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox opened its Virtual Reality (VR) Lab . In it, students interact with two programs:
- The 3D Organon VR Anatomy program is an immersive self-discovery experience into human anatomy, allowing for the manipulation of bones, muscles, vessels, organs and other anatomical structures in 3D space.
- Complete Anatomy is an advanced 3D anatomy platform that includes a detailed atlas of the entire human body, instructional videos, 3D models, virtual dissections, injury and pathology simulations, and radiology images.
The lab is equipped with 24 Vive Focus 3 virtual reality headsets with 5K resolution and 120-degree field of view. Each station includes high-end computers for additional lab work.
Career Outlook What’s After Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox
There are many job opportunities available for individuals majoring in biology, as this field of study can lead to a wide range of career choices. Specifically, there have been recent increases in the fields of medical science and food and agricultural sciences. Additionally, there is always high demand for medical personnel and science teachers.
- Researcher, Druker Lab at OHSU
- Physical Therapist, St. Anthony’s Hospital
- Pediatrician, Vancouver Clinic
- High School Biology Teacher, Hillsboro High School
- Tribology Analyst, Portland Tribology Lab
- Nurse, Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Chiropractor, Back Pain & Accident Chiropractic
- Remote Sensing Analyst, Watershed Sciences Inc.
- Hematology/Oncology Researcher, Dartmouth University Hitchcock Medical Center
- Associate Director of Histocompatibility, OHSU
- Chairman of Anesthesiology, East Jefferson General Hospital
- Cancer research, Oregon Health & Science University
- Stem cell research, Oregon Health & Science University
- Medical mission work, South America
- Samaritan’s Purse, Sudan
- World Vision, Albania
- Quiet Waters Outreach
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eugene, Ore.
- Harvard University
- Duke University
- Oregon Health & Science University
- Loma Linda University, School of Medicine
- Pacific University, School of Optometry
- University of Southern California, School of Medicine
- University of Washington, School of Medicine
- Creighton University, School of Nursing
- Oregon State University, School of Veterinary Medicine
- Johns Hopkins Graduate School
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Dentistry
- University of California San Diego
Graduates Seek and Serve God in Microscopic Territory of Human Cancer Cells
Every day is different. Same goal, different virus. Always hope.
And if she tires, if she begins to forget why, Quinlan Morrow remembers when she steps onto the tram at Oregon Health & Science University. Because as she rides, it isn’t the grand vista of God’s work – the Willamette River and a snowy Mt. Hood rising in the distance – nor the work of man evidenced in the sleek buildings below that reminds her. It’s what she sees in the faces of patients wheeled into the tram with her. She sees weariness reflected there, sometimes hope, always God. In their faces she sees evidence of the Creator, and this reminds her.
Jessica Neal
Class of 2023
In addition to the rigorous courses that have prepared me for my future career, Fox has provided me with relationships that will last a lifetime. My professors invested not only in my academic success but in my personal growth as well, helping me find a future career I am passionate about and preparing me to get there. Professor John Schmitt helped me discover my passion for the laboratory and supported me in both my academic and faith journeys during my studies.
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