The Department of Biological Sciences at Southwestern Adventist University encourages thoughtful investigation of living systems and analytical skills needed to become an exceptional and competent biologist.
A degree in biology is an excellent stepping stone for a variety of careers. Students who pursue a biological science degree at Southwestern Adventist University will be prepared for service careers in health care, research, conservation, resource management, education, and even more.
What sets us apart
- Research-centered, hands-on learning (learn about travel opportunities)
- Potential for student work to be published before graduation
- Small class sizes offer a more personal and interactive learning experience
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Programs
B.A. Biology
B.S. Biology, Biomedical Emphasis
B.S. Biology, Ecology and Conservation Biology Emphasis
B.S. Integrative Biology
Certification - B.S. Biology, Life Science Secondary
B.S. Medical Laboratory Science
Department Stats
SWAU biology graduates exhibit a high level of field understanding, which opens doors for their next steps to medical school or another relative field.
10:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
70%
Biology majors who are preparing for medical school
94%
Students who are employed or who are in graduate school after graduating
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Ecology Research Update
We have dinosaurs
Did you know that Southwestern Adventist University has the world's largest digitally documented collection of cretaceous-age dinosaur bones? Come and visit our museum, and learn what opportunities await you in paleontology.
Preparation for Medical School
Start your professional career here
Are you interested in becoming a doctor someday? Southwestern Adventist University offers a pre-professional program for students who plan to continue their education beyond a bachelor's degree. Find out how you can take the first steps toward your professional career here.
Stem Grant Growth and Development
STEM excellence is happening here
Southwestern Adventist University was recently awarded a $4 million Hispanic-Serving Institution Title III F STEM Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, provided by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), for their STEM Excellence project proposal. This comes just a year after receiving a $2.5 million Title V grant awarded in October 2020. Read more here.
Ecology Research Update
We have dinosaurs
Did you know that Southwestern Adventist University has the world's largest digitally documented collection of cretaceous-age dinosaur bones? Come and visit our museum, and learn what opportunities await you in paleontology.
Preparation for Medical School
Start your professional career here
Are you interested in becoming a doctor someday? Southwestern Adventist University offers a pre-professional program for students who plan to continue their education beyond a bachelor's degree. Find out how you can take the first steps toward your professional career here.
Stem Grant Growth and Development
STEM excellence is happening here
Southwestern Adventist University was recently awarded a $4 million Hispanic-Serving Institution Title III F STEM Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, provided by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), for their STEM Excellence project proposal. This comes just a year after receiving a $2.5 million Title V grant awarded in October 2020. Read more here.
Biology Alumni
"My time at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) is something I cherish deeply. I made long-lasting friendships and had lots of opportunities to grow academically as well as in other aspects of my life. As a student in the biology department, I am clearly biased, but I would still say that it was the best department I could have chosen at SWAU. I owe a significant amount of that to the department's faculty and staff. They were people who were excellent at teaching, sensible in their mentoring, and exemplary in their demeanor, not only during our interactions at school but also during the many times they entertained us at their homes. I would say that my time at SWAU shaped and polished my professional goals and was instrumental in providing me with the tools to achieve them."
Patricia Principe
Biology Alumni
"My time at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) is something I cherish deeply. I made long-lasting friendships and had lots of opportunities to grow academically as well as in other aspects of my life. As a student in the biology department, I am clearly biased, but I would still say that it was the best department I could have chosen at SWAU. I owe a significant amount of that to the department's faculty and staff. They were people who were excellent at teaching, sensible in their mentoring, and exemplary in their demeanor, not only during our interactions at school but also during the many times they entertained us at their homes. I would say that my time at SWAU shaped and polished my professional goals and was instrumental in providing me with the tools to achieve them."