Related Majors, Minors, and Complementary Disciplines

Biology is an integral part of various interdisciplinary majors and minors available to undergraduate students. The biomath initiative supports research and courses in computational modeling of biological phenomena, bioinformatics, and biostatistics. The marine science minor includes courses taught by faculty at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and provides students with an interdisciplinary background in marine science. The biochemistry minor bridges biology and chemistry, offering entry into a major field of interdisciplinary science. The environmental science major combines elements of biology, chemistry, geology, and policy to address how humans use, affect, and manage our environment. The neuroscience major bridges the fields of biology and psychology (as well as math and biophysics), and is an excellent choice for those interested in the functions and mechanisms of behavior and physiological control. Students interested in public health and medicine may choose the public health minor.

Some important categories of law include biology, and a few Biology majors head to law school each year. Biology provides excellent preparation for particular areas of law such as patent law, biomedical law, and policy. Because not many students have an aptitude for both science and law, a B.S. in Biology combined with a law degree can be an excellent path toward an interesting career.

We hope that many of our students will consider teaching as a profession. This can include college-level teaching (which requires at least a master’s degree, and usually a Ph.D.) or teaching in grades 6–12 (a teaching certification is recommended). The Biology Department has an active partnership with the W&M School of Education to train new grades 6–12 teachers certified in science. This includes summer stipends, project support, and scholarship funds of up to $10,000 per year in the junior and senior years for students willing to commit to teaching. There is also $10,000 per year in support for a master’s in education for those graduating with a degree in biology or another science who just need the specialized training to become a teacher. For more information, consult the general information on the School of Education web page and the specific information on the Noyce Scholars and Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow web pages.