Biology
The Biology (BIOL) program offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees and a Biology minor in order to prepare students for a variety of careers in biological science; provide a background of skills, attitudes and knowledge needed for further study in professional and graduate schools; and promote enjoyment and appreciation of the organisms that populate our planet.
Stockton's Biology courses emphasize the diversity of life-forms that have evolved
and the wide range of levels at which they can be studied: molecular to ecosystem.
Many courses have laboratory and/or field components, and seminar, tutorial or independent
project modes of instruction are also utilized.
About the Program
The Biology program takes advantage of the University's 1,600-acre setting in the New Jersey Pine Barrens close to the Atlantic Ocean. It is an area rich with diverse terrestrial, estuarine and marine habitats. Nearby are the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and many other federal, state, county and private wildlife preserves. The laboratory complex includes a greenhouse, animal rooms, environmental growth chambers, computer apparatus for physiological studies, light microscopes of many descriptions, plant and animal tissue culture facilities, and modern biological instrumentation including centrifuges, thermocyclers, and instrumentation for automated DNA sequencing.
Program Co-Chairs
Nathaniel Hartman
Associate Professor of Biology
609.626.3417 | USC1-212
Nathaniel.Hartman@stockton.edu
Michael Lague
Associate Professor of Biology
609.652.4746 | USC2-310
Michael.Lague@stockton.edu
Program Features
- All program faculty hold doctoral degrees from highly reputed institutions.
- Opportunity for one-on-one assistance.
- Biology seminar series.
- Research opportunities in field and laboratory work.
- Diversity of faculty and of Biology allows students the freedom in choosing their coursework.
- Talk to the professors about their research; they love to talk about it!
Biology Alumni Highlights
Additional Information
Curriculum
A student has several choices of concentrations within the B.S. and B.A. degrees, including the General Biology concentration. Concentration structures are intended for general guidance in selecting a coherent set of recommended courses to prepare toward biology careers and/or graduate/professional education that supplement the general requirements.
- B.A. / B.S. Biology: is a versatile degree that provides a broad program of study to prepare the students for a broad spectrum of biology-related careers or a targeted specialized career of student’s choice, where a customized program of study is designed with guidance from a Preceptor.
- B.A. / B.S. Biology | Pre-Professional Concentration: includes prerequisites for most medical, veterinary, dental, optometry, podiatric, physician assistant, chiropractic, pharmacy, and other schools in the health sciences requiring similar preparation.
- B.S. Biology | Dual Degree Medical Technology Concentration: intended for those with a broad range of career options in hospital and commercial laboratories, in vitro fertilization laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, instrument manufacturing, etc.
- B.S. Biology | Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration: designed for students intending to apply to a graduate degree program in Physical Therapy. Completion of this concentration does not guarantee admittance to the DPT graduate program at Stockton.
- B.S. Biology | Biotechnology Concentration: intended for students desiring laboratory careers in the pharmaceutical industry or graduate study in molecular biology-related applied fields
- B.A. Biology | Education Concentration: suitable for those wishing to pursue a career as a high school biology teacher. This concentration includes education and related courses necessary for certification in the State of New Jersey
- Minor
Worksheet
To see the curriculum for your area of interest you’ll use the web program, Degree Works. This program is accessible even if you are not currently a student with Stockton University.
If you are a current student at Stockton University, access Degree Works through the portal, then choose the “what if” option to explore the various paths towards degree completion.
Prospective freshman or transfer students, can use the Curriculum & Transfer Equivalency Tool below. In addition, the program degree map below provides valuable degree information and is a guide to assist in planning academic coursework, but should not substitute academic advisement.
Instructions on How to Use Curriculum Tool
- At the next page you are prompted with three (3) options. Select the one that says “continue without signing in.”
- Respond to each prompt using the pull-down menu in the center of the page. [Please be patient. It may take a few seconds for the system to process your request. If you see a NO symbol, you need to wait a moment!]
Prompts include:
- Enrollment dates (Choose intended semester attending)
- Intended level (Choose“undergraduate”)
- What degree you will pursue? (Choose “Bachelor of Science” or “Bachelor of Arts”)
- What is your intended major? (Choose “Biochemistry Molecular Biology”)
- What is your intended concentration? (Choose “General”)
- What is your intended minor? (Choose “none” or select one - it is not required)
- For prospective students, choose “I’m all done" button.
- For transfer students, use the “class” button to see how courses already taken fit into the Stockton degree path.
- You will see an overview of the degree you have selected, including all requirements.
- At the bottom of the screen, you could save or print worksheet.
Minor
The core course requirement contributes breadth and the elective component contributes depth in biology. The minor might be of interest to almost any student curious about the living world. Students for whom the minor would fit most easily include those majoring in BCMB, CHEM, ENVL, MARS, PSYC, and PUBH.
As with all minors within the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, all courses taken within the minor must be completed with a C or better. A C grade is not acceptable. Additionally, at least the Seminar (BIOL 4600) and the two elective courses must be taken at Stockton.
Faculty
Our faculty have diverse scholarly interests and a commitment to undergraduate education, providing a broad educational experience in the biological sciences, and opportunities for faculty mentoring and undergraduate research.
Richard Colby, Biology Professor Emeritus /Adjunct Faculty
Gale Donohue, Biology Adjunct Faculty
Ilene Eberly, Biology Adjunct Faculty
Candace Ochs, Biology Adjunct Faculty
Salman Rahman, Biology Adjunct Faculty
Thushani Rodrigo Peiris, Biology Adjunct Faculty
Steven Schain, Biology Adjunct Faculty
Opportunities
- Local internships: Mentoring is available at wildlife refuges and other public and
private facilities for monitoring, rehabilitating and otherwise studying local wildlife,
zoos, museums, aquariums, botanical gardens, hospitals and other healthcare practices
and laboratories, nursing homes, the State Police forensic laboratory, the Federal
Aviation Authority Technical Center, pharmaceutical companies, environmental testing
laboratories, etc.
- Washington, D.C. Internship: The University participates in a program open to all
majors. Biology students have been assigned to the Walter Reed Hospital and Research
Center, the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health laboratories,
etc. See Washington Internship program in the Bulletin.
- Semester abroad: There is a semester- or year-abroad program, in which Biology majors
have enjoyed taking classes at universities in Britain, Ireland, Australia, etc. See
International Education in the Bulletin.
- Research: Most Stockton faculty maintain research programs, which engage students.
- Teaching Certificate: Students who combine a Biology degree with preparation for a
teaching career have developed projects to introduce new teaching or laboratory instructional
units as part of their practice teaching in a local school.
- Independent study: Students are invited to approach faculty with ideas for learning
topics not included in the regular curriculum, which are then pursued by independent
study or tutorial modes of instruction.
- Minor: The opportunity to combine a Biology degree with a minor in Chemistry, Biochemistry/Molecular
Biology, Mathematics, Language, Performing Arts, Economics, etc., is particularly
valuable.
- Certificate programs: Certificates may be earned in Energy, Forensic Science, Gerontology and Holocaust-Genocide Studies. Certificates indicate that students have successfully completed course work in theses interdisciplinary subjects beyond those completed as part of the Biology degree.
The Biology Program also offers a number of opportunities for students to get involved in various areas of interest outside of the classroom.
Careers
Biology program alumni report that the largest employment niche for graduates has been the research and development laboratories of pharmaceutical companies and other industries, university research labs and clinics. Graduates also find employment in other industrial and commercial niches (such as pharmaceutical sales) and in the public sector as teachers or as technicians in federal, state, or county laboratories and agencies. Other Biology graduates go on to professional or graduate school, and several are now faculty members at major universities. Virtually all graduates report the need for frequent use of their writing and computer skills, suggesting that future graduates should take full advantage of Stockton’s writing program and opportunity for minors. Many graduates develop careers by combining their preparation in biology with expertise in computer science, library science, drawing, journalistic, creative or technical writing, environmental law, accounting, marketing, management, psychology, etc.
Explore information in:
There is a wide variety of jobs within biological sciences.
Sample list of careers:
Employment in life, physical, and social science occupations is projected to grow 5 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, and will result in about 68,200 new jobs. Increasing demand for expertise in the sciences, particularly in occupations involved in biomedical research, psychology, energy management, and environmental protection, is projected to result in employment growth.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Office of Institutional Research collects information on where our alumni land
within six months of graduation. To learn more about Biology alumni, use the Graduate Outcomes tool.
- Using the down arrow, uncheck 'All' and select 'Biology'
The connections you made with your professors and preceptors are invaluable resources for your career planning. Beyond providing assistance on coursework and scheduling, they can give you guidance in planning for your post-college career.
In addition, we have a student Career Center that is available to guide you through your career development journey - from CV writing, interview prep or general guidance.
