Biology

Biology
Offered as a major (B.A. or B.S.) and a minor

Through small classes and hands-on learning, explore life science through the study of molecules, organisms, and ecosystems as a biology major or minor at Saint Anselm. Dive into science and come out with an individualized experience and real laboratory, research, critical thinking skills and the ability to synthesize information.

You’ll experience a diverse curriculum and in depth, specialized courses with many opportunities for enrichment that will prepare you for graduate studies and careers in a range of roles from conservation biologist and ecologist to physician assistant and veterinarian.

As a Biology major, you can pursue your degree as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S).

Biological Sciences Department

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I am very interested in going to graduate school to pursue research long-term. The studies I conducted at Saint Anselm were essentially a trial run and gave me a taste of what a future in biological research might look like.

— Alaina Frias ’26, Biology major

Featured Course

Plant Biology

In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of plant structure and function through the study of plant anatomy, physiology, and the life cycle of plants. Laboratory classes provide a hands-on approach to familiarizing yourself with the diversity and ecology of local plant species. Through field identification hikes within the extensive natural areas on campus, and plant cultivation experiments within the greenhouse – you’ll never be bored as a Biology major.

Research Opportunities for Immersive Learning

Students like you can participate in summer (or fall or spring) research projects under the direction of or in collaboration with faculty. Research grants support students’ activities with a salary, summer on-campus housing, and funding for supplies for research efforts. The opportunities in the field or the lab provide you with skills other undergraduates don’t get until graduate school. Recent research fellows studied the neurological patterns of zebrafish, fiddler crab ecosystem challenges, and bacterial pathogenesis.

Read the news story about summer research →

Innovative Tools and Technology

Our Biological Sciences Department has state-of-the-art tools and technology including a six-figure Leica THUNDER microscope, an advanced microscope that allows for microscopic imaging of live samples and depth of tissue for 3D reconstructions of cells and tissues.

Check out the Leica THUNDER Scope on social media →

Prepping for Success After Saint Anselm

Whether you prefer learning about botany in our greenhouse, or tropical biology on a field study in Belize or health sciences in the laboratory, studying biology will set you up for success in your graduate studies or a lifelong career in the sciences. Graduates are well prepared to undertake advanced study in graduate, medical or dental school, or for a career in business or education.

Learn more about internships for Biology majors →

See pre-professional opportunities for Biology majors →

Additional Biology Major and Minor Information

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biology offers a diverse range of course for a broad scope of knowledge and field skills to benefit your long-term career growth. Students interested in fields of business, communication, education, etc., would be best served by this degree.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology provides rigorous laboratory and research courses to prepare you for a science-based career. Students interested in pursuing work in pharmaceutical fields, laboratories, hospitals, etc. would be best served by this degree.

Postgraduate Partnerships

As a Saint Anselm student, you will find a number of opportunities available to support your postgraduate goals including the Master in Public Health (MPH) Pathway Program with Tufts University. Specialized programs like this can take your career to the next level.

SEE OUR PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS →

Recent Outcomes

Recent Career Outcomes

Aerotek
Affinivax Inc.
Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment Center
Atlantic Equine Services
Atrius Health
Beth Israel Lahey Health
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston University’s Animal Science Center
Cabot Corporation
Central Maine Healthcare
Central Maine Medical Center
Charles River Laboratories
Charm Sciences
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Colorado State University
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
DEKA Research and Development
Epoxy Technology Inc.
EyeSouth Partners
Free Motion Physical Therapy
Georgia Aquarium
Hartford HealthCare
Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Joslin Diabetes Center
Keyence Corporation of America
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Massachusetts Dermatology Associates
Massachusetts General Hospital
Mill Brook Animal Clinic
Mount Auburn Hospital
Mystic Aquarium
Norton Healthcare
Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston
Procter & Gamble
Riverside Veterinary Clinic
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Tufts Medical Center
United States Forest Service
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vedanta Biosciences, Inc.

Recent Graduate Schools

Brandeis University
Bucknell University
Brown University
Dartmouth College
Harvard University
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Merrimack College
Northeastern University
Rutgers University
Suffolk University
Tufts University
University of Connecticut
University of Massachusetts
University of New Hampshire
University of North Florida
University of Notre Dame
University of Vermont
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Find Your Program

Related Majors and Minors

BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

HEALTH SCIENCES

NATURAL SCIENCE

CHEMISTRY

COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH

STUDENT PROFILE: ABBY FRANKAUSKI ‘27

For as long as Abby Frankauski ’27 can remember, she has been interested in science (biology, to be exact). Through expansive research opportunities in her undergraduate program, the ambitious pre-med student is well on her way to a successful career as a medical doctor.