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Biology (B.A.)
Biology is the study of life—plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and protists. Biologists ask questions, make observations, perform experiments and offer interpretations of the living world.
Overview
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By the numbers
- 85%
- Biology students who participate in undergraduate research with a professor
- $6 million
- Research and technology grants awarded to the biology department since 2005
- 100%
- Biology professors who have a PhD in their fields
With a lesser emphasis on research, Calvin's bachelor of arts in biology allows you to combine your bio degree with other majors like psychology, business, international development studies or education.
As a biology student at Calvin, you will:
- explore what it means to be a Christian scientist
- take a wide variety of courses, ranging from immunology to anatomy to cellular biology
- learn how to think about the world from a biological perspective
Careers in Biology (B.A.)
- Environmental Lawyer
- Technical Writer
- Teacher
- Psychologist
- More
See job placement rates for Calvin grads.
Student involvement
Become a lab assistant; assist a professor with summer research; participate in the Environmental Stewardship Coalition; work at the Bunker Interpretive Center (Calvin's on-campus ecosystem preserve).
Course Requirements 2012-13
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Biology (BA)
Prerequisite to a program of concentration in biology or biotechnology is a minimum average of C (2.0) in Biology 123, 224, and 225 or approved equivalent courses.
(35 semester hours)
- BIOL-123 The Living World: Concepts & Connections
- BIOL-224 Cellular & Genetic Systems
- BIOL-225 Ecological & Evolutionary Systems
- BIOL-250 Research Design & Methodology
- BIOL-295 (taken twice, one concurrently with BIOL-250)
- Four from:
- BIOL-311 Field Botany
- BIOL-313 Paleontology
- BIOL-321 Genetics and Development
- BIOL-323 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
- BIOL-325 Biotechnology
- BIOL-331 Comparative Animal Physiology
- BIOL-332 Plant Physiology
- BIOL-333 Immunology and Hematology
- BIOL-334 Cell and Tissue Culture
- BIOL-335 Cell Physiology
- BIOL-336 General Microbiology
- BIOL-338 Animal Behavior
- BIOL-341 Entomology
- BIOL-344 Vertebrate Biology
- BIOL-345 Ecosystem Ecology and Management
- BIOL-346 Plant Taxonomy
- BIOL-364 Global Health, Environment, & Sustainability
- BIOL-385 Internship in Biology
- BIOL-390 Independent Study
- BIOL-399 Undergraduate Research
- CHEM-324 Biochemistry II
- An approved interim, three of which must have a laboratory component (Chemistry 383 fulfills the laboratory component for Chemistry 324)
- One from:
- Completion of the biology major field test
Cognates (15-17 semester hours)
Scholarships
Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.
- AJV Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,000
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.0+
- financial need required; strong Christian character, desire to model Christ in their work as a nurse and medical professional; interest in mentoring relationship with the donor
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Stephen P. Beals Family Scholarship
-
- amount of award: $1,500
- junior or senior pursuing a pre-medicine program
- GPA 3.0+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Henry Bengelink Memorial Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,100
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need considered; intend to become a teacher at the high school or college level
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. and Mrs. Harvey J. Bratt Medical and Missions Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.00+
- financial need considered; interest in service to the poor and needy
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Thomas F. Caldon, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,050
- first-year
- HS GPA 3.3+
- financial need required
- automatic consideration
- Calvin College/U of M Medical School Partnership Scholarship
-
- award amount: 100% of tuition
- first-year
- HS GPA of 3.9+ and ACT of 31+ or SAT of 1340+
- US citizen or lawful permanent resident; demonstrate a passion to serve God's world through the field of medicine; preference given to underrepresented North American students
- complete the Medical School Partnership application
- Calvin Dental Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,000
- junior or senior
- financial need is not required, but may be considered; demonstrate involvement in research, extracurricular college activities, or in the dental community here or abroad
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Bruce and Joanne Deckinga/Compassion International Scholarship
-
- award amount: $3,100
- sophomore, junior, or senior pursuing elementary education or a pre-med program
- GPA 3.0+
- financial need required; preference to students who worked on a garbage truck or play the organ
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Debra Deur Scholarship
-
- award amount: $3,800
- sophomore, junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Kathryn De Weerd Memorial Scholarship
-
- award amount: $1,900
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.0+
- financial need considered; planning to pursue a career in chiropractic or osteopathic medicine or physical therapy
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. Paul and Mrs. Doris Dirkse Health Care Scholarship
-
- award amount: $1,900
- junior or senior
- good academic record
- financial need considered; Christian character; motivation; potential for service
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Arnold and Mary Dood Medical Services Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- sophomore, junior, or senior
- GPA 3.30+
- financial need considered; serving spirit
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Alan and Genevieve Gebben Family Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,300
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required; demonstrate interest/desire to preserve and protect Earth's creatures
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- God Has No Border Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $1,500
- first-year
- HS GPA 3.0+
- financial need required; interest in service; preference to applicants from underserved area (national or missionary kid)
- prospective students submit a letter to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid describing your qualifications by February 1
- Carl and Sandra Gronsman Family Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,100
- junior or senior
- GPA 2.75+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- William and Winifred Haeck Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,400
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.3+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- James and Beatrice Harkema Family Scholarship
-
- award amount: $1,750
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required; pursuing biomedical science
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dewey and Marilyn Heetderks Family Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,000
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.3+
- financial need considered; consideration given to Christian commitment and interest in medical missions
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- William John Heule Memorial Scholarship
-
- award amount: $3,000
- junior or senior
- GPA of 2.3+
- financial need not required; demonstrate a passion for fishing (preference for bass fishing)
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. Roger A. and Bradley J. Hoekstra Memorial Scholarship
-
- award amount: $1,600
- junior or senior
- GPA 2.5+
- financial need considered; Christian character; motivation; potential for service
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Hazel Holtrop Natural Resources Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,000
- junior or senior
- GPA of 2.5+
- financial need required; have an interest in a natural resource career
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- first-year
- HS GPA of 3.5+; minimum ACT score of 28 or SAT of 1250
- financial need not required
- complete the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship application
- Ann, Myrtle, Eunice, Faith and Marie Huizenga Scholarship for Women
-
- award amount: $1,900
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.2+
- financial need required; interested in missions
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. and Mrs. Lee S. Huizenga Memorial Scholarship
-
- award amount: $1,800
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.2+
- financial need required; interest in missions or service work
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Martin and Frances Karsten Biology Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,700
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need considered
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Keuning Scholarship
-
- amount of award: N/A
- junior or senior
- GPA 2.5+
- financial need considered; receiving services from office of services to students with disabilities
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- William J. and Glenda Masselink Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required; pursuing pre-dentistry, pre-medicine or physics
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- McNamara Scholarship
-
- award amount: $3,000
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.5+
- financial need required; preference may be given to a student in the honors program or who has been adopted
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- McNamara Scholarship
-
- award amount: $3,000
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.5+
- financial need required; preference may be given to a student in the honors program or who has been adopted
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Meeuwsen Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $3,200
- sophomore, junior, or senior
- GPA 3.3+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- NSF Scientific Computing Scholarship
-
- award amount: $5,000 to $8,000
- any class level
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required; US citizen; full-time student; demonstrate an interest in scientific computation and modeling
- apply through the Integrated Science Research Institute
- Mike and Bette Oostendorp Family Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,600
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.0+
- financial need required; participation in volunteer activities
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Pool Family Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.5+
- financial need required; strong Christian character
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Paul and Thelma Schutt Family Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.0+
- financial need required; Christian character and caring personality
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Secondary Science Education Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,400
- sophomore, junior or senior
- financial need required; major in secondary science education
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Drs. Richard James and Susan Beving Strikwerda Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,000
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.5+
- financial need not required; preference to graduates of Holland Christian HS, David Glasgow Farragut HS, or Montgomery County Public HS
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- James and Dolly (Hofman) Strikwerda Family Scholarship
-
- award amount: $1,900
- junior or senior
- GPA 2.5+
- evidence that the scholarship is needed to help meet educational expenses
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. Bernard J. Ten Broek Biology Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,350
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.3+
- financial need required; demonstrate interest in the area of animal biology
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Peter V. Tigchelaar Pre-Medical/Dental Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,350
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.5+
- financial need required; involvement in community or extracurricular college activities
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Arnold and Janice VanderBok Family Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,700
- first-year
- financial need required; speak Spanish fluently; preference to Hispanic students
- prospective students submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal
- Joseph and Ralph Gelmer Vander Laan Memorial Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,200
- junior or senior
- GPA 2.5+
- good academic record
- financial need required; interest in medical missions
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. Corwin G. and Ina June VanderVeer Family Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,300
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.3+
- financial need not required; christian character and caring personality
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- VanDerWoude Science Scholarship
-
- award amount: $4,000
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.3+
- financial need not required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. Glenn VanDommelen Family Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,500
- senior
- GPA 2.5+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- John and Lillian Van Oosten Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,700
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Victor VerMeulen Medical Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,000
- junior or senior
- GPA 3.0+
- financial need considered
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- West Michigan Optometric Scholarship
-
- award amount: $1,500
- junior or senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need required; intending to pursue a career in optometry
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Dr. Morris Wilderom Scholarship
-
- award amount: $2,900
- junior or senior
- GPA 2.5+
- financial need required; motivation, Christian character, ability to contribute to the profession
- apply through the Calvin Portal
- Steven M. Zifferblatt Memorial Scholarship
-
- award amount: $4,700
- senior
- GPA of 3.0+
- financial need not required; pursuing a career in a health care profession
- apply through the Calvin Portal
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