College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Stanford University
• California Institute of Technology
• Johns Hopkins University

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• University of California—Berkeley
• University of Wisconsin—Madison
• University of Michigan
• Pennsylvania State University

Classes in the Major

Biology. Okay, so biology is a pretty big field. Some people major in biology with a focus on some kind subfield like microbiology or neurobiology. Of course, general biology is also an option. General biology majors usually take courses on the structure of cells and organisms, while also studying the systems of the body. Obviously, knowing the basic functions of the human body is a fundamental requirement, but to be nice and well-rounded, taking a few biology electives is also necessary.

Medical Professionals. A lot of doctors (i.e. pediatricians, obstetricians, ER doctors, surgeons, etc.) started out with a degree in biology. Naturally, biology majors spend a lot of time hitting the pre-med books. This means taking classes about everything from anatomy to biochemistry. These courses will also help you decide what type of medicine you'll want to practice or study. Some career fields require more classes on physics, while others focus more on genetics.

Physics. Biology and physics might seem different, but they actually overlap a lot. Students have to learn about matter, energy, and momentum if they really want to know how the body works, inside and out. After all, all organisms are affected by physical laws and the physical world. For example, how can you explain what happens to a scuba diver when they submerge too quickly? That's pure physics, Shmoopers.

Chemistry. So you probably figured that hey, this is the biology major. You don't have to touch chemistry with a 10-foot pole, right? Well, think again. Chemistry is all about how matter reacts with other matter. If you feel like you and chemistry have zero chemistry together, hopefully you'll warm up to it. You'll need to take a bunch of classes on organic chemistry. You'll also probably be asked to bust out the white lab coat and goggles, because a few labs will also be required.

Math. Math is an integral part of the biology major. We know calculus might make you want to derive off a cliff, but we're here to help. You might feel indifferential about it now, but…okay, enough jokes. We hear a lot of biology majors gripe about the calculus requirement, but the truth is that a basic understanding of math is needed to model differential equations in cellular biology and genetics especially. 

All biology majors have to take a few rounds of calculus and statistics so they know what's up with how medicine interacts with body. By the end of your math classes, you'll be able to tell the difference between exponential and periodic functional forms. Plus, you'll sound smart for just saying that.