B.A. in Biology

Program Overview

The B.A. in Biology at Lycoming College offers a flexible framework, allowing students to pursue various interests within the vast field of biology. It provides four distinct tracks: Anatomy and Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Comprehensive Biology, and Ecology. This allows students to tailor their studies to their specific career aspirations, whether they are aiming for health professions, research, environmental science, or teaching. The program emphasizes experiential learning, ensuring students gain practical skills from their first year.

STEM-Designated: Yes, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biology at Lycoming College is generally considered a STEM-designated program. While some institutions may offer a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) for a more science-intensive biology degree, Lycoming explicitly states that its Biology major can lead to either a B.A. or B.S. degree. Biology, as a field, falls under the "Biological and Biomedical Sciences" classification by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for STEM designation purposes, which is important for international students seeking the STEM OPT extension. The curriculum's focus on scientific inquiry, laboratory skills, and quantitative analysis aligns with STEM criteria.

Curriculum: The Biology curriculum at Lycoming College is robust and actively engages students in scientific discovery. All tracks require 13 courses for the B.A. degree (not including zero or 1-credit courses), plus a math requirement. Core courses typically cover fundamental biological concepts. Depending on the chosen track, students delve into specialized areas. For example, the Anatomy and Physiology track emphasizes human body systems, while Cell and Molecular Biology focuses on processes at the cellular and molecular levels. The Comprehensive Biology track provides a broader foundation, and the Ecology track focuses on environmental systems. The curriculum integrates experience with advanced instrumentation in labs for cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, advanced microscopy, and analysis of water quality. All students must complete a practical experience, a presentation in a colloquium, and a department exit examination as capstone requirements.

Research Focus: Research is a central and distinctive feature of the Biology program at Lycoming College. Students are invited to become involved in active research labs as early as their freshman year, allowing them to develop their skills over all four years. The department emphasizes collaborative student-faculty research, with opportunities to present findings at local, national, and even international conferences. The new Lynn Science Center provides state-of-the-art facilities, including labs for cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, advanced microscopy, an aquarium room, greenhouse, cadaver lab, and animal lab. The Lycoming Biology Field Station and the Clean Water Institute further provide unique fieldwork and research opportunities, particularly for environmental biology students.

Industry Engagement: Lycoming College places a high priority on practical industry engagement for its Biology students. The program ensures that students thrive on a wide array of opportunities, including competitive internships and co-curricular professional experiences. Students have pursued internships or fellowships with prominent institutions such as UPMC Susquehanna, The Atlantis Project, Lycoming Physical Therapy, and the Department of Environmental Protection. The college's Center for Enhanced Academic Experiences (CEAE) assists students in securing these vital real-world opportunities. Additionally, the proximity to two hospitals and strong ties to world-class health systems like UPMC Susquehanna and Geisinger Medical Center create ample opportunities for pre-med and health professions students.

Global Perspective: A global perspective is integrated into Lycoming College's Biology program through several avenues. The curriculum itself often examines biological concepts and environmental issues on a global scale. Students have unique opportunities to experience learning outside the classroom through May Term travel courses, such as studying tropical marine biology in the Bahamas or desert ecology in Arizona. This direct exposure to diverse ecosystems and biological phenomena in different parts of the world broadens their scientific understanding. Furthermore, courses like "Medical Microbiology" (BIO 324) explore how past pandemics changed societies across time and around the world, inherently incorporating a global and cultural dimension into biological study. Lycoming's broader institutional commitment to global education, including over 100 study abroad locations, further encourages students to gain diverse cultural experiences and understand biological challenges from an international viewpoint.