Biology Bachelor of Arts

The information on this page pertains to requirements for students who matriculated in the current academic year. Students who matriculated in a prior year should view historical catalog information here.

Program Overview

Biology is the study of life and all its remarkable forms and processes. Drake University’s biology program uses an inquiry-based and integrated approach throughout the curriculum. This modern approach engages students in scientific methods and research from the first year of study, giving students a jump-start on developing skills in research, critical thinking, scientific communication, and data analysis.

Coursework toward a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Biology exposes students to microscopic cells, complex ecosystems, and everything in between (and beyond). Drake’s biology curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation of biological understanding in four core subject areas. Students also can delve more deeply into disciplines of their choosing in preparation for graduate and professional programs, careers in the health sciences, or other areas in the biological sciences. We are committed to supporting all Drake students in their pursuit to better understand life on earth and build a roadway to success in their own lives after Drake.

The department's diverse and dedicated faculty provide students access to more than 50 different courses, covering biological content from molecules to ecosystems, examining microbes, invertebrates, vertebrates or plants, and covering an array of topics from ethnobotany to kinesiology, histology to animal behavior, and nature photography to experimental design and data analysis. Drake’s affiliations with Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Mississippi provides opportunities for Drake students to earn credit towards a Biology degree while taking specialized courses such as soil genesis, watershed hydrology, prairie ecology, marine biology and ecology, marine mammals and ichthyology, coastal herpetology and oceanography.