Grow as a scientist in one of the best public biology programs in the state.
The biology program at Worcester State will provide you with broad knowledge in the biological sciences through a core curriculum and upper-level courses in specialized areas of study. A hands-on approach for teaching laboratory techniques and fieldwork is emphasized. Throughout the program, you will be encouraged to develop effective communication skills and an awareness of the societal and global implications of biology.
Students may pursue a major in biology; minors in ecology, cellular and molecular biology, or psychobiology; or a concentration in bioinformatics. Students interested in medical, dental, veterinary, or physician assistant school may complete a biology major with a minor in chemistry for the health professions. The biology major also provides a path to meet most of the prerequisites necessary for other programs in the health professions, such as optometry, physical therapy, and pharmacy. The Accelerated Pharmacy Program with MCPHS also can be completed through the biology major.
The accelerated Pharmacy and Health Science option gives you the skills to be a world-class pharmacy professional in a wide variety of rewarding careers. Worcester State partners with Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to provide you with the most cutting-edge pharmacology education possible.
Students are required to meet with their department advisor to review their upcoming semester academic choices. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.
View requirements and timeline.
This interdisciplinary concentration will prepare you to enter the computer-intensive fields of bioinformatics, computational biology, computational chemistry, and molecular modeling including genomics and proteomics. With the ever-increasing number of fully sequenced genomes, including the human genome, databases such as GenBank and EMBL have grown at such a rate that storing, organizing, indexing, and ultimately mining the data have become key to answering biological questions.
Questions of gene expression have led to computational biology, the process of analyzing genomic sequences, and to the field of proteomics, the understanding of protein structure and function. The information obtained by computational biology and computational chemistry is used in the design of new drugs to treat a variety of diseases. Major drug and biotechnology companies are seeking people trained in bioinformatics.
This concentration is intended for biology majors who aspire to attend medical school, dental school, or veterinary school after completing their undergraduate degree. The concentration is a means to ensure that you have the best possible academic preparation and advising as you prepare for a post-graduate program. The Pre-Medical Concentration requirements include courses that are not part of the Biology Major but are designated as core prerequisites for these professional schools as well as some additional courses that are not part of the core prerequisites but are strongly recommended.
The concentration curriculum also includes a one-credit seminar taken during the sophomore or junior year that is designed to familiarize you with the requirements for admission to medical, dental, and veterinary schools. The seminar will help you develop a personal plan for fulfilling these requirements so that you have the best possible chance of admission to post-graduate study. A first-year seminar targeted at pre-medical students is offered, but not required, for completion of the concentration
Grade point averages of at least 3.2 overall and 3.2 in biology, chemistry, math, and physics courses are required for the Pre-Medicine Seminar.
*Only Biology majors will be eligible for this concentration. The 13 credits specified for the concentration include the courses required for the concentration that are not required for the Biology Major. Students will still have to complete all of the credits required for the major as well.
The Honors Program in Biology is designated as a distinction bestowed on those outstanding undergraduate biology majors who have demonstrated distinct competence in overall biology coursework and have completed an independent research project of substantial merit. This program offers motivated students the opportunity to develop research and communication skills in preparation for graduate school or a professional career.
For more information and specific program requirements, contact Dr. Randall Tracy in the Department of Biology.
