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Biology
At a Glance
Uncover life’s secrets — in single cells and across entire ecosystems — through a program that engages students in a supportive learning environment beginning on Day One. From lab-based courses to independent research projects, you’ll collaborate with faculty mentors in a quest for new knowledge. Graduates gain the critical-thinking skills, analytical abilities, and experience to launch a rewarding career or to pursue graduate school.
Undergraduate Program Options
Majors
Biology, BA
greater flexibility in course selection should you choose to pursue graduate school and/or a career path
Biology, BS
includes the breadth of sciences needed for careers in research and medicine
Teacher Preparation
Biology Secondary Education, BA or BS
New Jersey teacher certification in grades 6–12
Inclusive Education (BS) and Biology Dual Major
New Jersey teacher certification in grades P–3 or K–6 and additional endorsements
Minors
Computational and Mathematical Biology Minor
Accelerated/Dual-Degree Program Options
Get a jumpstart and enter the workforce with a master’s or professional degree. Accelerated options get you there faster and more affordably through fewer semesters of classes. Dual degrees offer a streamlined path to earning two degrees, often with direct admission to the graduate portion.
Medicine
Biology + Medicine, BS/MD — NJMS
First-year applicants can gain direct admission to New Jersey Medical School in this Seven-Year Medical Program (3+4).
Biology + Medicine, BS/MD — SKMC
Qualified juniors can apply to an early assurance program with Sidney Kimmel Medical School in this eight-year (4+4) dual-degree program.
Optometry
Biology + Optometry, BS/OD
First-year applicants can gain direct admission to the SUNY College of Optometry in this Seven-Year Optometry Program (3+4).
Pharmacy
Biology + Pharmacy, BS/PharmD
First-year applicants and first-year students can apply to the Jefferson College of Pharmacy in this 8-year (4+4) dual-degree program.
Physical Therapy
Biology + Physical Therapy, BA/DPT or BS/DPT
First-year applicants can gain direct admission to the Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences in this 7-year (4+3) dual-degree program.
You’ll Benefit From:
- Small class sizes, a close-knit learning community, and a spirit of discovery
- A curriculum customizable for tailored study, double majors, and minors
- Challenging, hands-on research with state-of-the-art lab equipment
- The development of essential critical-thinking and analytical skills
- Knowledge-building foundation courses and in-depth, upper-level study
- Participation in mentored research, internships, and active student groups
- Guidance on premedical and allied health paths from the Medical Careers Advisory Committee
Careers
As a biology major, you’ll have a wealth of professional and higher-education options to consider. Students go on to pursue medicine, veterinary sciences, dentistry, or careers in allied health, including working as physician assistants or in physical or occupational therapy. Many graduates opt for graduate school or private-sector, government, or academic research. Others establish careers in bioinformatics, biotechnology, conservation, ecology and the environment, forensics, genetic counseling, genomics, journalism, law, pharmaceuticals, public health, science communications, or teaching.
Recent Graduate Schools
- Cornell University
- Penn State University
- Princeton University
- Rutgers University
- UCLA
Recent Medical Schools
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Work alongside faculty as junior collaborators, not passive observers. TCNJ biology student research teams make key scientific contributions, from lab work on cells and genes to fieldwork in local forests and Alaskan lakes. You can become fully engaged researchers at the forefront of knowledge creation.
Culture of Investigation
A spirit of discovery anchors our curriculum. Even courses and labs incorporate research, challenging you to sharpen critical-thinking and analytical skills while mastering the use of modern lab equipment. You’ll build breadth of knowledge through foundation courses and depth through upper-level study in your own areas of interest.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Undergraduate researchers are entrusted with their own keys to access research facilities and equipment, including cutting-edge molecular biology labs, confocal and electron microscopes, and a climate-controlled greenhouse. The dedicated Biology Building boasts 75,000 square feet of teaching and research space.
Each faculty member has a research lab that accommodates up to seven independent study students. Various instrumentation labs can be found throughout the building.
- The molecular biology facilities include an instrumentation lab, a cold room, a wet darkroom for developing radiographs, and a dry darkroom for image analysis of gels and blots. Instruments include thermocyclers, a DNA sequencer, real-time PCR, a NanoDrop, and an electroporator.
- The analytical instrumentation room houses 12 spectrophotometers and a plate reader.
- The microscopy center includes TEM, SEM, confocal, and fluorescence research light microscopes as well as image analysis and digital photographic production capabilities.
- Other instrumentation labs include a tissue culture facility, centralized dishwashing and autoclave, animal rooms, aquatic rooms, a greenhouse, and three walk-in environmental chambers.
Faculty
Our biology faculty members are world-class teacher-scholars who are passionate about forming close mentoring relationships with undergraduates in both the small classes they teach and in the cutting-edge research labs they lead.
