Biology
Want to prepare for medical school, graduate study or a top-notch job? Study the principles of life from the molecular level to the biosphere.
We train our majors broadly across all areas of biology from the biomedical to the ecological using an evolution-centered curriculum. Many biology students are interested in attending medical, dental or some other health professions school, while others are interested in working in academia or research.
Visit Department WebsitePrograms Offered
Sample Courses
- Ecology and the Environment
- Genetics
- Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
- Topics in Medicine
- Immunology
- Virology
Special Admission Requirements
There are no special admissions requirements for our undergraduate program. For information on our graduate programs, please see our graduate admission requirements.
Our Faculty
Research plays a major role in the professional life of our tenure-track faculty. These research programs support our teaching mission and allow us to engage our students in the process of science. Many of our faculty members also serve on the Health Professions Advisory Committee. Meet our faculty.
What Sets Us Apart
We have a rigorous undergraduate biology program that prepares students for future careers in a variety of fields. For example, Biology majors who apply to medical school are accepted at twice the national average and our alumni report feeling well-prepared for health-related professional programs and research-based graduate programs. The preparedness of our undergraduate students is reflected by their performance on the ETS Major Field Test, a national exam which assesses a student’s mastery of concepts in a range of biological disciplines, including cell biology, genetics, ecology, and evolution. Our students consistently score in the top 10% nationally.
In addition, our undergraduate students are able to meaningfully engage in biological research with faculty who regularly publish in their fields. Many students will spend two or more years conducting research, providing them with the opportunity to develop a variety of laboratory and/or field skills including data analysis and scientific communication. Our students have unique opportunities to apply for research grants, present their research at several TCU-sponsored events, travel to scientific meetings to present their work, and even co-author scientific publications.
We offer research-centered graduate degrees in biology. Graduate students work closely with their faculty mentors to design, carry out and communicate their research. Over 90% of our MS students publish their research in peer-reviewed international journals and nearly 100% present their work at scientific meetings. Course work provides graduate students not only with the opportunity to deepen their subject knowledge, but also to prepare them for scientific writing, teaching, and other aspects of professional development. Graduate students find themselves well-prepared for Ph.D. programs, as well as scientific careers in industry and government.
Career Prospects
The field of biology is broad and provides students with a diverse set of opportunities after graduation. Many biology graduates choose to continue their education by attending medical, dental, or other health-related professional schools. Students with an interest in research find themselves well-prepared for Master’s or Doctoral programs in a variety of biological disciplines.
Recent graduates have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at University of Colorado, University of Pennsylvania, Notre Dame, Duke University, Louisiana State University, and University of Utah. Other students, including those who complete their graduate degrees in biology, pursue careers in industry, government, or academia. Recent graduates have obtained positions with the Tarrant Regional Water District, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, Western EcoSystems Technology, Proctor & Gamble, the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, and the University of Texas-Arlington.