Biological Science

Programs

The Department of Biological Sciences offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences, as well as offering a minor in the area.  We currently offer six concentrations within our Biology program, a General Concentration, a Biotechnology Concentration, a Neuroscience Concentration, an Ecology/Evolution Concentration, a Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration, and a Pre-Health Concentration. The department also manages the Allied Health Technologies program (also listed separately) where students can get a Bachelor of Science in any of three concentrations: Clinical Lab Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Technology, and Radiation Therapy.  We also offer graduate degrees in Biological Sciences (M.S. or M.A.). Brief descriptions of these programs are listed below.

Biology - General Concentration

Typically students enter the program under the General Concentration, and choose their concentration of interest after they have completed the first year of General Biology. The General concentration allows students to major in Biology without focusing in a specific concentration, and allows students who started off in a different concentration and changed their mind about whether they want to continue in it. The General Concentration can also provide a means by which students can select electives in their own area of interest.

Biology - Biotechnology

The Biotechnology Concentration is designed for students who are interested in focusing on courses that provide the laboratory skills and background that are utilized in many areas of the emerging field of Biotechnology, i.e. the use of technologies with biological organisms. The use of biotechnology spans history since nearly 2000 B.C. through to modern day use of new pharmaceutical therapies and genetically engineered organisms/products of organisms. The field of biotechnology continues to expand and influences decisions about how we use organisms and the products made by these organisms. Biotechnology has had a tremendous impact on several disciplines within biology that include: microbiology, bioethics, agriculture, environmental biology, forensic sciences, health, and medicine.

Biology - Cell and Molecular Biology

The Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration focuses on molecular biology and relates it to functional aspects at the cellular level. This is especially pertinent with the forefront of science rapidly moving toward a functional understanding of genes and proteins that were identified with molecular biology techniques. Functional understanding of genes and proteins requires both fields of cell and molecular biology.  The Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) concentration curriculum is designed to focus on the structure and function of living organisms at the cellular and molecular level, expose the biology major student to recent advances in the field of CMB, and acquire relevant technical skills in the field of CMB.

Biology - Ecology and Evolution

The courses in the Ecology and Evolution Concentration focus on understanding the relationships between organisms and the natural environment as well as how those relationships change or have changed over time.  Students with an interest in ecology, evolution, animal behavior, developmental biology, paleontology or organismal biology should consider this concentration.

Biology - Neuroscience Concentration

The Neuroscience Concentration involves a biology field involved in the understanding of the relationship between the nervous system and behavior of an organism, a relationship that has been a topic of study for thousands of years by individuals from fields ranging from philosophy to biology. The field of neuroscience itself has expanded significantly in the last twenty years, attracting students interested in understanding how birds migrate to those interested in understanding the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease. The Neuroscience concentration at DePaul will provide students majoring in either Biology the opportunity to design a curriculum that will prepare them for a career or future study in Neuroscience.

Biology - Pre-health

Students who intend to enter medicine or a wide range of other health-related professions such as dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy, or optometry may find it most appropriate to select the Pre-health Concentration.  The Pre-health science curriculum includes core classes that will prepare students who are applying to health profession training programs after graduation from DePaul, as well as those wanting a deeper understanding of the biology underlying human and animal physiology. It will also expose students to the breadth of fields within biology while allowing them to select from courses with a human biology focus. In addition, the department is working with other science departments at DePaul to provide a health advising committee, and has a specialized pre-medical advisor, Dr. Joanna Brooke.

General Information

Students who want to think about their career options in Biology may want to take a look at our sheet on Careers in Biology (.doc file)

Biology Minor

Students can gain a minor in Biological Sciences by taking the General Biology sequence (BIO 101, 102 and 103) along with three majors level elective courses.  The list of our majors level elective courses can be found in the back pages of our Guidebook.

Allied Health Technologies

The department manages the program of Allied Health Technologies (see more information under separate listing) in which students have the opportunity to work with associated institutions to earn degrees in specialized fields of Biology. The AHT program currently supports three concentrations Upon completion of a program almost identical to the standard major, the student enters a one-year internship in a medical center or hospital associated with DePaul University.

Clinical Lab Sciences - A program where students earn a B.S. degree at DePaul followed by a one year internship at Evanston Hospital

  • Nuclear Medicine Technology - A program involving 3 years of study at DePaul and 1 year at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
  • Radiation Therapy - A program involving 3 years of study at DePaul and 1 year at Northwestern Memorial Hospital 

Teacher of Biology - Secondary Level

Through the School of Education, the department offers courses in which the student obtains most of the requirements for a major in biology along with Education courses needed for certification for teaching biology at the middle and high school levels

Mathematics Proficiency

If math skills are a particular problem (e.g. you are assessed to take Math 101), you are strongly urged to use your elective slots in the first year for any pre-calculus math requirements, then take general chemistry and general biology in your second year, and your core courses and Biology electives in your junior and senior year.

AP credit from High School

Students generally get credit for one quarter of General Biology credit for a "3", two for a "4", and a full year for a "5" score on a Biology AP exam. For less than a full year’s credit, we suggest the student sit down with an academic advisor to determine, based on their high school curriculum, which quarter(s)should receive the credit. We also encourage those students with strong backgrounds (e.g. "5" on the AP exams) to start their freshman year by taking the biology core courses if appropriate, allowing them to take additional biology electives in their senior year.