Students working in the biology lab
  • Program Type
    Major
  • Degrees Offered
    B.A., B.S.
  • School
    Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences

Prepare for a career as a secondary school teacher or for graduate study in the sciences or health-related fields.

What You’ll Learn

Colleges of Distinction Education Seal

The biology education program will provide you skills that you can apply directly to your career in teaching biology to students or to further graduate study. You’ll gain leadership experience through a wide range of experiential learning opportunities; apply Christian, Catholic, Benedictine values to work and life; and work alongside world-class faculty with professional experience.

Be Competitive in the Job Market

The unique focus of the program will give you a leg up in securing employment as a secondary school teacher.

Develop Technical Proficiency in the Lab

In addition to general lab work, laboratory courses include genetics, botany, organic and inorganic chemistry, and physics.

Strengthen Research Skills

Students search for and access sources of information, synthesize what they find, and evaluate it for relevance and reliability.

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Accreditations

Chair of Biology Dr. Jim Maskey, Chair of Biology Education Dr. Michael Lares, and students share what it’s like to study biology and biology education at Mary.

Careers & Outcomes

Employment Trends

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 67,100 openings for high school teachers each year, on average, from 2022 to 2023. With a bachelor’s degree in biology education, you can pursue careers in a wide range of fields related to science and education, including pre-med.

Career Paths

  • High School Teacher
  • Elementary School Teacher
  • Health Care Professional
  • Researcher
  • Science Journalist
Morgan Heier Headshot

My time as a biology education major has inspired my passion and curiosity for nature, while challenging me to look at science with a new perspective. As I learned effective strategies to communicate the intricacies of science to my future students, I was also preparing to inspire them to see the world in a new way.

Morgan Heier, ’19

Featured Faculty

Wendy Larson, PhD

Chair of Biology Education, Assistant Professor of Biology

I enjoy teaching introductory biology lectures and labs at the University of Mary because it gives me the opportunity to guide students as they apply and expand upon what they are learning in the classroom by performing their own experiments in the laboratory. I am grateful that the University of Mary has the technology and resources needed to allow students to explore a variety of scientific topics, ask creative questions, and design their own hypothesis-driven research.

Alexander Mains, MEd

Assistant Professor of Education, Director of Secondary Education

As the director of the secondary education program, I have the opportunity to work with prospective middle school and high school educators to help them grow in their skills and develop a love of learning for their future students. I work within eight different subject areas for my program, teaching various methods courses and education courses and visiting practicum schools where my future educators observe classroom teachers and practice teaching their lessons to real students.

Take Your Next Step in Biology Education