Help people take control of their health and wellness as a doctor, nurse, dentist, physician assistant or physical therapist. Provide compassionate care to animals as a veterinarian.

Major Roadmap

Explore your options — classes, internships, research and study abroad. Utilize the Biology BS Major Guide or Biology BA Major Guide to find what interests you, discover what you love, and create a major experience that jumpstarts your future. 

Educate the next generation as a science teacher. Conduct valuable research that advances our understanding of the natural environment and the development of lifesaving drugs.

As a Biology major, you’ll learn the fundamental principles of biology at work in genes, cells, organ systems and even ecosystems. Then direct your studies toward a career in the health professions, research, industry, public health or teaching. Choose from courses in molecular biology, cellular biology, developmental biology, microbiology, neurobiology, zoology, botany, ecology or other fields.

Conduct research using state-of-the-art equipment and light-filled labs in the John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center — or the Ashe juniper-covered hills of Wild Basin Creative Research Center in West Austin, a nature preserve managed by St. Edward’s. And present your discoveries at academic conferences, where you’ll network with other scientists and connect with even more opportunities.

What do our graduates do?

Biology majors go on to a variety of careers and graduate schools from St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample.

  • Scientist at AstraZeneca, after earning a PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Data scientist at St. David’s HealthCare, after earning a Master of Public Health from Yale University
  • Senior digital strategy consultant for Health, Life Science and Fitness at Ernst & Young
  • Director of the Americas at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Global Affairs
  • Consulting analyst at the global consulting firm Accenture
  • Regulatory affairs specialist at Becton, Dickinson and Co.
  • Graduate students at the University of Notre Dame, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Saint Louis University, DePaul University, Wake Forest University and the University of California Davis

Alumni Go Full On

Professors and research made the difference for Biology major Leon A. Venegas ’10. Read how he took what he learned at St. Edward’s to become a scientist at AstraZeneca in Washington, D.C.

The Classroom and Beyond

Whether you plan to enter a career in research, medicine, health education, clinical laboratory science or science journalism, you’ll find opportunities outside the classroom to learn, give back, and prepare for your future with your fellow Biology majors.

biology students
biology students
biology students

Experiential Education

In Entomology, which focuses on studying the evolutionary adaptations and incredible biodiversity found among insect groups, you’ll learn how to collect, preserve, and identify insects in the field.

Students in the Introductory Biology labs have collected water samples from Bee Creek, at Wild Basin Creative Research Center, to analyze levels of nutrients like nitrates and phosphorus.

In Cell Biology, you’ll work in groups on a semester-long project to collect and analyze your own data to address a complex research question. You’ll have the advantage of using the Fluoview FV3000 laser scanning confocal microscope, a state-of-the-art $200,000 piece of equipment the university recently purchased with a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Grant. The final project is a scientific seminar in which you’ll present the results of your work to an audience of faculty from the department.

If you are planning to enter a health profession, you’ll take the First-Year Seminar in Pre-Health Professions your freshman year. This course gives you insight into what life is really like as a doctor, physician’s assistant, or other healthcare practitioner. Local professionals visit the class to share their day-to-day responsibilities, how they handled the college years, and their approach to work-life balance. You’ll conduct an informational interview with someone in your field and possibly job-shadow that person.

If you’re on the health professions track, as a junior or senior you’ll take Navigating the Health Application Process. In this class, you’ll choose the schools where you want to apply, put your application together and write your personal statement.

SEU to You

Associate Professor of Biology Lisa Goering talks about her General Biology I course.