Biology
Earlham’s biology program encompasses all facets of biology, from cells to ecosystems, from neuroscience to environmental science and health. From day one, you will have unparalleled access to our faculty who teach and do research in and at the intersection of our different disciplines—environmental science, neuroscience, biochemistry, health science, ecology, evolution, and cell and molecular biology.
Our alumni have found work as physicians, nurses, zookeepers, museum specialists, vets, biomedical researchers, GIS specialists, conservation biologists, university professors, wildlife biologists, stem cell and cancer researchers, and educators, among many others. They have worked with state and federal governments and major corporations around the world.
Top jobs for 2017-2019 graduates were in education, recreation and tourism, environmental/sustainability management and veterinary/animal care.
“Through the biology department, I have had the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience, which is an important aspect of my pursuit of a career in biology. After graduation, I get to continue doing what I love and effect change on a larger scale within this field.”
Hannah Grushon ’23
Biology Major
“The depth, breadth, and flexibility of curriculum the Biology Department offers is quintessential of the Earlham experience. One moment I was studying giraffe behavior in Tanzania, and the next, I was isolating viruses in the lab. You can truly do-it-all with the faculty and resources offered in the Earlham biology department.”
Sarah Dickman ’22
Biology Major
“The biology faculty at Earlham are almost unmatched in their commitment to students’ growth, learning, and wellbeing. I always felt their support through my coursework and owe so much to the guidance they have given me. Paired with excellent opportunities, like studying natural history in Florida and learning tangible skills through ecological field research in Iowa, I am incredibly grateful to the biology department and its faculty.”
Josh Angell ’22
Biology Major
“I entered the Biology Major expecting to get a degree. I left with a long resume, lifelong mentors, a new career path, and a mission to make the world a better place.”
Thea Clarkberg ’22
Biology Major
“One thing I love about Earlham is getting to know students as individuals. Chatting about biology in hallways and offices, analyzing details of scientific papers, and working closely in student-faculty research projects are just a few ways Earlham excels at presenting students with opportunities to go beyond classroom material and engage deeply with biology.”
Emmett Smith, Ph.D
Professor of biology
“In biology, we prepare our students to ask questions, think critically and find solutions to real-world problems. Through a deep understanding of core concepts, hands-on experiences, field trips, abroad experiences, and research, our students have a unique tool kit to meet current challenges and make a real difference in the world.”
Wendy Tori, Ph.D.
Professor of biology
“Biology at Earlham is not a spectator sport. We do, we change, we grow, we engage, and we form strong relationships within our student and faculty community. Our students engage in research from the moment they step into our program during their first year at Earlham and throughout their Epic journey where they get the opportunity to travel the world to places like: Tanzania, Borneo, Peru, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Galapagos, Iceland and more.”
Jose I. Pareja, Ph.D
Professor of biology
“Earlham is a place where spending time with students doing quality research is highly valued. Our undergraduates gain valuable research skills while making important contributions to the pipeline for vaccine discovery.”
Peter Blair, Ph.D.
Professor of biology
The world is our laboratory, and the laboratory is our world
Hands-on research begins with your first biology course. Throughout your Earlham experience, you’ll do research in the field and lab. You’ll also apply what you learn beyond campus through internships, opportunities with our research partners and amazing off-campus experiences across the U.S. or overseas.
Hands-on experience
Recent biology majors have completed internships at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, the Alaska Zoo, Schepens Eye Research Institute and the United Nations, among other places.
Exceptional facilities
From a fully equipped molecular biology lab, human cadaver lab and college-owned field sites to a greenhouse, herbarium and the Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History, you’ll have access to top-notch facilities for your studies.
Our faculty
Our faculty believe in developing the whole person, as well as the biologist within.
Program details
In the biology major at Earlham, you’ll be part of a community that cares about you and has a rich history of success in placing students into a wide variety of life science graduate and professional programs. Our faculty will get to know you by first name (you’ll do the same with them) and they will use their resources and networks to help you discover and follow your career path.
Students interested in majoring in biology should speak with a biology faculty member early in their undergraduate career.
Faculty will help lay out a four-year plan that includes required courses, elective courses, opportunities for off-campus study, and possible internships. Early consultation is important to the sequencing of several courses so that off-campus study remains an option.
In general, students should take BIOL 111 and CHEM 111 in their first semester, CHEM 221 and BIOL 112 in their second semester and BIOL 341 in the fall of their sophomore year. A summer research experience is highly recommended, and faculty work with students to identify appropriate opportunities.
As a liberal arts college, Earlham offers multiple disciplinary and interdisciplinary majors and minors in which students cultivate deep and specific knowledge and experience. Equally important, the College expects every student to develop broad, general skills and proficiencies across the curriculum.
As part of their general education, students complete six credits in each academic division of the College: humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and visual and performing arts. In addition, students meet requirements for first-year courses, analytical reasoning, perspectives on diversity and wellness.
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, you must complete the following courses, in addition to general education requirements:
- BIOL 111 Ecological Biology
- BIOL 112 Cells, Genes and Inheritance
- BIOL 226 Biological Diversity
- BIOL 341 Cell Physiology
- BIOL 480 Senior Seminar
- BIOL 488 Senior Capstone Experience
- CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry
- CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I
- One of the following courses:
- CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 331 Equilibrium and Analysis
- CS 128 Programming and Problem Solving
- ENSU 151 Environment, Science and Sustainability
- GEOL 201 Earth and the Environment
- MATH 120 Elementary Statistics
- MATH 180 Calculus A
- MATH 280 Calculus B
- PHYS 120 General Physics I
- PHYS 125 Analytical Physics I
- PSYC 245 Research Methods and Statistics
- PSYC 250 Brain and Behavior
- Majors should complete at least 16 additional credits in upper-level biology courses, of which at least 13 must be from courses numbered from 342 to 471.
Yes! To minor in biology, you must complete a total of 24 credits in biology, including at least two of the following courses:
- BIOL 111 Ecological Biology
- BIOL 112 Cells, Genes and Inheritance
- BIOL 226 Biological Diversity
Twenty-one (21) credits must be in courses numbered below BIOL 472. Four credits for the minor may be from CHEM 111 or CHEM 221.
Note: CHEM 221 is included as an option for the minor for those students who test out of CHEM 111 but still want to take more chemistry.
Recent biology majors have interned at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, the Alaska Zoo, Schepens Eye Research Institute, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the University of Arizona Natural History Museum Collections and the United Nations, among other places.
Biology majors are strongly encouraged to plan for an off-campus study semester. Talk to your adviser early in your college career to plan for this. Learn more about upcoming opportunities through the Center of Global and Career Education.
Through our 3+1 Education Program, you can earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and teaching license—all in just nine semesters.
You’ll leave Earlham with two degrees, licensed to teach grades 5-12 in Indiana. (And it’s easy to transfer your license to other states—many of our graduates do!)
If you’re interested in biology research, natural resource management, healthcare, veterinary medicine or education, the biology major may be for you.
Recent graduates have earned prestigious post-graduate fellowships including National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships, Fulbright Grants and Watson Fellowships.
Our alumni have found work as physicians, nurses, zookeepers, museum specialists, vets, biomedical researchers, GIS specialists, conservation biologists, university professors, wildlife biologists, stem cell & cancer researchers, and educators, among many others. They have worked with state and federal governments, and major corporations around the world.
Looking for information about the biology senior seminar and comprehensive exams?